ORION BEER
The property
Orion Beer
Orion Beer is Okinawa locally brewed beer since 1957. Orion prides itself in using mountain spring water to brew their beer. Orion Draft Beer is known for its mild flavour with some underlying sweetness (according to some).
In Okinawa where it was founded and where headquarters are located, Orion is the leading beer brand, controlling 60% of the beer market. A popular refreshing drink for Okinawans in the hot climate, the original Orion Beer is the Orion Draft Beer although they have about 10 different varieties of Orion Beer in production.
To understand Orion Beer history and its manufacturing process, a factory tour to Orion Happy Park is highly recommended. Orion Happy Park was originally the Orion Beer factory in Nago, an educational facility that was a popular sightseeing spot. Renovated in 2011, visitors can now enjoy Orion Beer factory tour as well as freshly brewed beer and meals made using local ingredients at the Yanbaru no Mori restaurant and there is also a shop that sells original merchandise.
One of Okinawa's favourite summer traditions is the Orion Beer Festival that attracts tens of thousands of people every year. Beer-lovers all over the country (including tourists) gather for the big event to enjoy fresh beer while enjoying great music. A fun event for everyone where you can meet and make friends. The annual Orion Beer Festival has also extended to Taiwan and other Okinawa islands.
Beer is best paired with snacks especially nuts. Combining the best of both worlds, Orion Beer came out with a peanut snack covered with a crunchy batter made with beer yeast blended with these 3 flavours; almond cheese, tacos island chili pepper and turmeric curry, all in one delicious snack packet – which shortly became one of the most popular snacks/souvenirs products for visitors to Okinawa.
