If you translate the Japanese word iki, it means something like "positive life". Beer contributes to a positive life, so the name iki Beer is quite fitting for a brewery.
iki Beer comes from the Dutch town of s'Hertogenbosch and is a very special brewery. In times of globalization, borders are becoming increasingly insurmountable and the world is coming closer together. Distances of a thousand or more kilometers are no longer a reason for days of traveling and you can cross entire continents in a single day. The Internet connects the people of this world and there is a lively exchange of cultures. The team behind iki Beer was inspired by the spirit of the times and their idea combines two worlds: European brewing art meets Asian tea culture. The Dutch brewing craft is enriched by the heavenly aromas of Japanese Sencha tea. The green tea is supported by the varied and exotic flavors of Asia. iki beers are made with hand-picked ingredients from controlled organic cultivation.
Founder Arjen Hemelaar spent several years of the new millennium travelling the world and getting to know distant countries and cultures. He was so fascinated by Japan that he spent three years in a Japanese monastery and became closer to the country's customs and traditions in his daily life. He discovered the structured simplicity of Japan, learned to appreciate the minimalism and the pure, simple aesthetic of the country and fell in love with the diverse cuisine. Green tea is a big part of the local culture and is consumed and used in large quantities. Sencha was one of Arjen's favourites and sparked the idea of combining the Japanese's favourite drink with that of the Europeans. His research revealed that no one had married beer and green tea before. After beer had been the most popular drink in much of Europe for centuries and green tea was the top choice in Japan, a combination of the two was an obvious choice for Arjen. He returned to the Netherlands with this idea and, together with graduates from Wageningen University, developed the first beer with green tea. There are now a handful of different varieties, seasoned with different ingredients from Asian cuisine, which have long attracted international attention.
The Japanese-Dutch beer builds a bridge between Asia and Europe and harmoniously combines worlds of taste. Completely in keeping with the Japanese teachings of harmony and order.
