Golden Dragon beer brewed by Nagisa Beer for Nanki-Shirahama Airport sells nearly 3,000 bottles

Golden Dragon, an ‘airport beer’ brewed in western Japan, has sold nearly 3,000 bottles at the Nanki-Shirahama Airport and at the online store of its brewer, Nagisa Beer, during the annual airport beer project in March.

The beer was produced and sold through a collaboration between the airport and Nagisa Beer, with the beer’s name and label design chosen from suggestions submitted by the public. The label featured a golden dragon swimming in a sea of beer.

The beer was first unveiled in a ceremony held in the airport lobby on 17 March. It marked the third time that the annual airport beer project has been carried out by the Nanki-Shirahama Airport.

The project aims to revitalise and boost local beer pride and tourism, and foster a sense of community, according to the organisers. The beer was made with local hops including those grown on the grounds of the airport. “Growing hops in different places has brought the local community closer together. We hope to establish this as a Shirahama specialty,” said Shinichiro Okada, president of the airport’s operating company.

At the ceremony, about 30 locals had the opportunity to taste the beer, which was bottled three days before the event. Following its launch, a total of 2,853 bottles of the 330-millilitre beer priced at JPY400 (USD2.57) each bottle, were sold.

Also based in Wakayama Prefecture, Nagisa Beer has a tradition of partnering in community-focused projects to show support for regional flavours and local agriculture. The brewer is known for its use of local ingredients and traditional brewing techniques to create its unique beers.

Golden Dragon beer was described as having a rich aroma and a refreshing, fruity taste with minimal bitterness, according to the brewer.