Where is Kirin Ichiban brewed?
By Mark Porter Last checked 5 September 2026 How we check
Kirin Ichiban is sold as a beer from Japan. It is brewed in Britain by Damm 1876 Ltd; the pack names the company, not the brewery.
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In short
Kirin Ichiban is sold in Britain as a beer from Japan. The cues are Japanese brand, kirin mythical beast logo, Japanese script on pack, 'first press' brewing story. Since 2025 it has been brewed in Britain by Damm 1876 Ltd; before that Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company made it. The pack names Damm 1876 Ltd, not the brewery; the site on record is Bedford, Bedfordshire, and the site is inferred. In Japan the same beer is 5.0%. Here it is 4.6%, which is 0.4 percentage points weaker. The brand belongs to Kirin Holdings Company Limited. On the recipe: Brewed to Kirin's 'ichiban shibori' first-press method using rice alongside malted barley.
This page is about the packs sold in supermarkets. Draught in pubs can come from a different brewery, and this page does not cover it unless a format table says so.
Who has brewed it here
| Years | Brewer | Site | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? to 2017 | Charles Wells / Wells & Young's | Bedford (Eagle Brewery) | diffordsguide.com |
| 2017 to 2020 | Marston's plc (bought Charles Wells' brewing business in 2017) | Bedford (Eagle Brewery) | foodmanufacture.co.uk |
| 2020 to 2024 | Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company | Bedford (Eagle Brewery) until the site was sold to Damm | carlsbergbritvic.co.uk |
| 2025 to now | Damm 1876 Ltd | Bedford (Eagle Brewery) | prnewswire.co.uk |
What changed
- 5 September 2026: verification level was partly verified, now verified (source)
Questions people ask
Where is Kirin Ichiban brewed?
The beer sold in the UK is brewed in Britain by Damm 1876 Ltd. The pack names Damm 1876 Ltd, not the brewery; the site on record is Bedford, Bedfordshire, and the site is inferred.
Is Kirin Ichiban brewed in the UK?
Yes. The pack names Damm 1876 Ltd, not the brewery; the site on record is Bedford, Bedfordshire, and the site is inferred.
Is Kirin Ichiban really Japanese?
The branding is Japanese, but the beer sold in Britain is brewed in the UK. The pack names Damm 1876 Ltd, not the brewery; the site on record is Bedford, Bedfordshire, and the site is inferred.
Who owns Kirin Ichiban?
Kirin Ichiban is owned by Kirin Holdings Company Limited, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
What strength is Kirin Ichiban in the UK?
Kirin Ichiban is 4.6% ABV in the UK. In Japan it is 5.0%. A UK pint is 2.6 units.
Is Kirin Ichiban weaker in the UK than in Japan?
Yes. The UK version is 4.6% against 5.0% in Japan, 0.4 percentage points weaker.
See also
Every beer sold as Japan · What else is brewed at Bedford, Bedfordshire
Sources
- Tesco (tesco.com), 5 September 2026: 4.6% ABV, 'Brewed by: DAMM 1876 Ltd., London, UK' plus Kirin Europe GmbH
- PR Newswire (S.A. Damm) (prnewswire.co.uk), December 2024: Damm becomes exclusive UK distributor of Kirin Ichiban
- Food Manufacture (foodmanufacture.co.uk), 8 November 2022: CMBC sold the Eagle Brewery, Bedford, to S.A. Damm; Marston's had bought it with Charles Wells' brewing business in 2017
- Difford's Guide (diffordsguide.com): historic UK production by Wells & Young's, product of United Kingdom
- petebrown.net
- Carlsberg Britvic (carlsbergbritvic.co.uk)
- Morrisons (groceries.morrisons.com)
- Ocado (zoom.ocado.com)
- kirineurope.com
- Kirin (Japan) (kirin.co.jp), 5 September 2026: Kirin's Japanese product page for 一番搾り生ビール gives 'アルコール分 5%'.
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