Suntory to transition Kinmugi brand to beer production

Suntory has announced that its Kinmugi brand will transition from a ‘new genre’ beverage to a standard beer production method following liquor tax reforms in October 2026. To mark this change, the company will launch new products including the standard Kinmugi, a 75% sugar-reduced version, and a lager-style ‘Hojun’ variety.

To celebrate the brand's evolution, Suntory will host a limited series of “Kinmugi is becoming beer” tasting tours at the Suntory Musashino Brewery in Tokyo throughout October 2026. The 90-minute tours will offer participants a look at the manufacturing process, insights from brewers regarding the development of the new beer, and tastings of the three new product variations.