You can learn a lot about the history of words by studying their roots. Let’s dive into the word “beer pub.” The word “beer” originally comes from the Latin word “bibere,” which means “to drink” or “a drink.” That makes it sound like the word “beer” can encompass any kind of liquid drink, and that may not be too far from the truth. For example, back when sanitary conditions were poor, it was thought that processed drinks such as beer were safer to drink than crude water itself.
Next up, “pub” is an abbreviation for the word “public”, which encompasses any social place of gathering, not necessarily a place to drink alcohol. In other words, it’s a public place for everyone.
Futako Brewery in Futako Tamagawa aims to create a space true to the origin of “beer pub,” Their flagship beer, Futako Ale, has an elegant aroma and is easy to drink. In the lively pub filled with conversation and laughter, men and women of all ages talk about beer, and even families visit as well.
The Futako Brewery logo is two Kanji characters of "wheat" side by side. The logo could be an homage to its partner, Futako Wheat Corporation, or it may just be a sign for people and beer to enjoy each other's company.
“I visited many breweries and bars in my efforts to make the best beer, and I realized that beer is not just a drink, but a communication tool.”
Mr. Ichihara, the representative for Futako Brewery, talks a lot about "connecting people with beer." For example, they encourage locals to grow hops with their project, “Setagaya Hop Project”, where they distribute hop seedlings to be grown in a garden or a planter and annually harvest the raw hops to make their beer. There is also a harvest festival where you can taste the beer from raw hops and many people can join and learn more about the community. If you don’t drink alcohol, you can join in on the “Barley Tea Project,” and grow six-row barley for tea.
“The word ‘brew’ means brewing beer, but also to mix or plan. We hope Futako Brewery can be a place for local communities to plan lots of interesting things for its people."
