
The Abashiri Brewery in Hokkaido which, judging by its website, really is some kind of beer-themed Willy Wonka side project, boasts what may be the world’s first naturally blue beer.
Always ready to get drunk for the sake of our readers, RocketNews24 took it upon ourselves to investigate this mystifying beer anomaly, appropriately named the Ryuhyou Draft (“Ice Floe Draft”), at a beachside pub.
We half expected the whole thing to be some kind of hoax; a regular beer served in a blue novelty glass or what have you. But upon pouring the bottled brew into a clear glass (and again into a clear party cup), we were surprised to find that it is, in fact, completely blue.
And not just any blue. We’re talking intense, almost neon blue. Walter White’s meth blue.
So blue you’d be forgiven for thinking it was some kind of toxic substance, but in fact it’s okay to drink and also tastes great! True to the beer’s name, it’s crisp and refreshing with a good bite.
Ryuhyou Draft is made with the standard beer fare, plus naturally occurring substances that give the drink its distinctive color, and somewhat disturbingly, Chinese Yam (best known for its slimy consistency when grated and resemblance to a certain bodily fluid).
You can search for a location that sells Ryuhyou Draft, or order online at the Abashiri Brewery’s website.
Photos: RocketNews24
[ Read in Japanese ]






We try blue beer made with drift ice from Hokkaido
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s popular bead bonsai kit is as beautiful as it is gruelling to make
Survey reveals Japan’s Generation Z dresses for social media, not for self-expression
Japan’s favorite popsicle is changing the way it tastes and feels for first time in over 20 years
Booth babes, swag, and cosplay: E3 is a sexy, crazy place【RN24@E3】
We followed Tokyo’s mystery walking map and ended up creating our own bar-hopping adventure
15 beautiful Japanese sweets to cool you down this summer
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says