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'{{Short description|Japanese beer-brewing company}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox company | name = Sapporo Breweries Ltd. | logo = Sapporo logo.svg | logo_size = 120px | image = Sapporo Holdings Headoffice.JPG | type = | industry = [[Alcoholic beverage]] | traded_as = {{unbulleted list|{{TYO|2501}}|[[Nikkei 225]] component}} | predecessor = | successor = | foundation = {{start date and age|1876}} in [[Sapporo, Hokkaido]], Japan | founder = Government of Hokkaido | defunct = | location_city = [[Ebisu, Tokyo]] | locations = | area_served = | key_people = | products = [[Beer]] | production = 616.374 megaliters | revenue = | num_employees = | owners = Sapporo Holdings | divisions = | subsid = [[Sleeman Breweries]]<br />[[Anchor Brewing Company]]<br />''Sapporo Holdings: also [[Pokka]]'' | footnotes = | location_country = Japan | homepage = {{URL|http://www.sapporoholdings.jp/english/}} }} {{Nihongo|'''Sapporo Breweries Ltd.'''|サッポロビール株式会社|Sapporo Bīru Kabushiki-gaisha}} is a Japanese [[brewery|beer brewing company]] founded in 1876. Sapporo is the oldest brand of beer in Japan. It was first brewed in [[Sapporo, Hokkaido]], Japan, in 1876 by brewer Seibei Nakagawa. The world headquarters of Sapporo Breweries is in [[Ebisu, Shibuya|Ebisu, Shibuya, Tokyo]]. The company purchased the Canadian company [[Sleeman Breweries]] in 2006. The company has five breweries in Japan, the Sleeman brewery in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and Sapporo Brewing Company in [[La Crosse, Wisconsin]], U.S. The main brands are ''Sapporo Draft''; ''Yebisu''; and ''Sleeman Cream Ale''. Sapporo Premium has been the No. 1 selling Asian beer in the United States since Sapporo U.S.A., Inc. was first founded in 1984. Sapporo Breweries is a member of the [[Mitsui]] ''[[keiretsu]]''. ==History== The origins of this company are in [[Sapporo, Hokkaido]] during the [[Meiji period]], where the Hokkaido Development Commission (Kaitakushi) established many businesses. Seibei Nakagawa, a Germany-trained brewer, became the first brewmaster of the Kaitakushi Brewery in June 1876, and the first Sapporo [[Lager]] was produced at that time following the completion of the plant in September of that year. Privatized in 1886, the Sapporo brewery became the centerpiece for the Sapporo Beer Company. In 1887, another company, the Nippon Beer Brewery Company, was established in [[Mita, Meguro, Tokyo]], and began producing Yebisu Beer. The competition between Sapporo and Nippon Beer, as well as competition with the Osaka (now [[Asahi Breweries|Asahi]]) and [[Kirin Brewery Company|Kirin]] breweries led to a 1906 merger of Sapporo, Nippon, and Osaka breweries into the Dai-Nippon Beer Company, Ltd. ({{lang|ja|大日本麦酒株式会社}}), which formed a near monopoly on the Japanese market until after World War II. After 1949, Dai-Nippon was split into Nippon and Asahi breweries, with the Nippon Breweries resuming production of Sapporo beer in 1956 and renaming itself to the present name, Sapporo Breweries, in 1964. Yebisu Beer was relaunched as a separate brand in 1971, marketed as a German-style barley beer. Sapporo Black Label beer was launched in 1977. In 2006, Sapporo announced that it would be acquiring Canadian brewer [[Sleeman Breweries|Sleeman]] in a $400-million all-cash deal.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/sapporo-acquisition-of-sleeman-on-tap-1.578154 | work=CBC News | title=Sapporo acquisition of Sleeman on tap | date=August 11, 2006 | access-date=August 6, 2010 | archive-date=November 7, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107160749/http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2006/08/11/sapporo-sleeman.html | url-status=live }}</ref> On February 15, 2007, Steel Partners Japan Strategic Fund, a [[Cayman Islands]]-registered fund management subsidiary of [[Warren Lichtenstein]]'s [[Steel Partners]] and the biggest shareholder (18.6% as of Feb. 2007) of Sapporo Holdings, submitted a proposal to the company seeking approval to raise its stake to 66.6%.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=[[The Japan Times]] | url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2007/02/16/business/steel-partners-after-66-6-if-sapporo-drops-its-defenses/#.Vhxj0ruFOkk | title=Steel Partners after 66.6% if Sapporo drops its defenses | date=February 16, 2007 | access-date=2015-10-13 | archive-date=January 9, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109214121/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2007/02/16/business/steel-partners-after-66-6-if-sapporo-drops-its-defenses/#.Vhxj0ruFOkk | url-status=live }}</ref> On 3 August 2017, it was announced that Sapporo Brewing Company would be acquiring [[Anchor Brewing]].<ref name="acquired"/> In 2020, Sapporo Breweries won the Lausanne Index Prize - Best of Packaging.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.li-p.org/merit/en/sapporo-wine|title=2020 L.I.P. Best of Packaging - Sapporo Breweries|access-date=January 11, 2021|archive-date=January 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115012751/https://www.li-p.org/merit/en/sapporo-wine|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite its name, ''Sapporo beer'' is not exclusively brewed in Sapporo. Sapporo is also brewed in Sendai, Chiba, Shizuoka, and Kyushu.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/index.html |title=SAPPORO BREWERIES/Brewery&Restaurant Guide<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=October 20, 2007 |archive-date=July 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706105300/http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Most Sapporo beer sold in North America had been brewed at the [[Sleeman Breweries|Sleeman brewery]] in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.<ref>[http://www.sapporousa.com/about/history/ Sapporo]. Sapporousa.com. Retrieved on 2014-04-12. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108064853/http://www.sapporousa.com/about/history/ |date=January 8, 2010 }}</ref> Sapporo completed a $165 million dollar buyout of Stone Brewing Co. in September 2022, acquiring Stone's brewing facilities in Escondido, California and Richmond, Virginia.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2022-09-02/end-of-an-era-stone-brewing-completes-165-million-sale-to-japans-sapporo |title= Stone Brewing Co. completes $165M sale to Japan’s Sapporo | access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref> The Richmond, VA facility is currently undergoing $33 million in capital upgrades, after which it will make about 50% of their total United States output.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://richmond.com/life-entertainment/nation-world/food-drink/sapporo-celebrates-the-year-of-the-dragon-with-dragon-six-pack-brewed-in-richmond/article_a3816fd2-b499-11ee-a370-cbb07148a31c.html#tracking-source=home-top-story |title= Sapporo celebrates the Year of the Dragon with dragon six-pack brewed in Richmond |date=January 17, 2024 }}</ref> ==Breweries== [[File:Sapporo Breweries Chiba Brewery crop.jpg|thumb|Chiba Brewery|182x182px]] ===Japan=== Sapporo has five breweries in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/ |title=SAPPORO BREWERIES/Brewery&Restaurant Guide |publisher=www.sapporobeer.jp |access-date=2010-05-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524234728/http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/ |archive-date=May 24, 2010 }}</ref> The first, Sendai Brewery, was opened in 1971 in [[Natori, Miyagi]], and was among the first to use a computerised brewing system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/sendai/ |title=SAPPORO BREWERIES/Brewery&Restaurant Guide |publisher=www.sapporobeer.jp |access-date=2010-05-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530004209/http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/sendai/ |archive-date=May 30, 2010 }}</ref> Shizuoka Brewery in [[Yaizu, Shizuoka|Yaizu]] was opened in 1980,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/shizuoka/ |title=SAPPORO BREWERIES/Brewery&Restaurant Guide |publisher=www.sapporobeer.jp |access-date=2010-05-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530014140/http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/shizuoka/ |archive-date=May 30, 2010 }}</ref> Chiba Brewery in [[Chiba, Chiba|Chiba]] was opened in 1988,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/chiba/ |title=SAPPORO BREWERIES/Brewery&Restaurant Guide |publisher=www.sapporobeer.jp |access-date=2010-05-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211061706/http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/chiba/ |archive-date=February 11, 2010 }}</ref> Hokkaido Brewery in [[Eniwa, Hokkaido]] was built in 1989,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/hokkaido/ |title=SAPPORO BREWERIES/Brewery&Restaurant Guide |publisher=www.sapporobeer.jp |access-date=2010-05-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514084300/http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/hokkaido/ |archive-date=May 14, 2010 }}</ref> and the Kyushu Hita Brewery was opened in [[Hita, Ōita]] in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/n_kyushu/ |title=SAPPORO BREWERIES/Brewery&Restaurant Guide |publisher=www.sapporobeer.jp |access-date=2010-05-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211061715/http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/n_kyushu/ |archive-date=February 11, 2010 }}</ref> ===Canada=== [[Sleeman Breweries]] was purchased by Sapporo Brewery in 2006 for $400&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/sapporo-acquisition-of-sleeman-on-tap-1.578154 |title=CBC News - Money - Sapporo acquisition of Sleeman on tap |publisher=cbc.ca |access-date=2010-04-04 |date=August 11, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202044759/http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2006/08/11/sapporo-sleeman.html |archive-date=December 2, 2008 }}</ref> Sleeman was restarted in 1988 in [[Guelph, Ontario]], Canada by the great grandson of John H. Sleeman, the owner of the original Sleeman brewery founded in 1834.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.library.guelph.on.ca/localhistory/Gallery/IndustrialSouvenir/Sleeman/Sleeman1.htm |title=Sleeman Brewing History |publisher=www.library.guelph.on.ca |access-date=2010-04-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818163731/http://www.library.guelph.on.ca/localhistory/Gallery/IndustrialSouvenir/Sleeman/Sleeman1.htm |archive-date=August 18, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The first Sleeman brewery ceased operations by 1933, when their liquor license was revoked for [[Rum-running|bootlegging]], specifically, smuggling beer into [[Detroit, Michigan]]. The company's current products are based on the family's original recipes, and recipes from [[Unibroue]] (which brewery Sleeman had previously purchased). Sleeman Breweries / Sapporo Canada currently consists of four Canadian breweries: Sleeman in [[Guelph, Ontario]], Okanagan Spring in [[Vernon, British Columbia]], [[Unibroue]] in [[Chambly, Quebec]], and [[Wild Rose Brewery]] in [[Calgary, Alberta]]. As of 2017, Sleeman Breweries also owned 4.2% of [[The Beer Store]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018|title=The Beer Store Operations Report 2017|url=https://www.thebeerstore.ca/sites/default/files/Operational%20Report/OpsReport2017-Final-secured.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028033746/https://www.thebeerstore.ca/sites/default/files/Operational%20Report/OpsReport2017-Final-secured.pdf|archive-date=2018-10-28|website=The Beer Store|page=57}}</ref> === United States === Sapporo beers are brewed, canned, and bottled for Sapporo Brewing Company by [[City Brewing Company]] in [[La Crosse, Wisconsin]], for Sapporo U.S.A. On 3 August 2017, it was announced that Sapporo Breweries would acquire the [[Anchor Brewing Company]].<ref name="acquired">{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/food/article/San-Francisco-s-Anchor-Brewing-acquired-by-11729608.php |title=San Francisco's Anchor Brewing acquired by Sapporo |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=3 August 2017 |access-date=23 March 2018 |archive-date=August 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803145511/http://www.sfgate.com/food/article/San-Francisco-s-Anchor-Brewing-acquired-by-11729608.php |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2022, Stone and Sapporo announced that they had reached an agreement for Sapporo to purchase Stone Brewing for $168 million, with the purchase expected to close in August 2022.<ref name="BWireSapp">{{cite news |title=Sapporo U.S.A. to Acquire Stone Brewing |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220623006037/en/Sapporo-U.S.A.-to-Acquire-Stone-Brewing |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=www.businesswire.com |date=24 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="JapanTimesSap">{{cite news |last1=Traylor |first1=Daniel |title=Sapporo U.S.A. to acquire Stone Brewing as its moves to speed up global expansion |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/06/24/business/corporate-business/sapporo-beer-stone-brewing/ |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=The Japan Times |date=24 June 2022}}</ref> The acquisition has since closed.<ref name="acquisitionClosed">{{cite news |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2022-09-02/end-of-an-era-stone-brewing-completes-165-million-sale-to-japans-sapporo |title=Stone Brewing Co. completes $165M sale to Japan's Sapporo |work=[[San Diego Union Tribune]] |date=2 September 2022 |access-date=18 April 2023}}</ref> In July 2023, it was announced that Anchor would shut down and liquidate assets.<ref name="APshutdown">{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/anchor-brewing-beer-brewer-liquidate-san-francisco-3be3d9b66ea3e54f339ff1062246676f |access-date=12 July 2023 |work=Associated Press |date= 12 July 2023 |title=Historic Anchor Brewing Co. is closing after 127 years, with beer sales in decline}}</ref> ===Vietnam=== The Sapporo Vietnam brewery is situated in [[Đức Hòa|Đức Hòa, Long An]]. Its products include 650ml cans of premium beer for the Australian and Mexican market.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sapporo Premium Lager Cans 650mL|url=https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_134094/sapporo-premium-lager-cans-650ml|url-status=live|access-date=1 September 2021|website=www.danmurphys.com.au|archive-date=September 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901074441/https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_134094/sapporo-premium-lager-cans-650ml}}</ref> Sapporo Beer sold in 650ml cans in California are brewed in Vietnam. ==Brands== [[File:Sapporo beer canada.jpg|thumb|upright|A can of Sapporo Premium]] The company produces a range of [[pale lager|pale]] and [[dark lager|dark]] lagers, including ''Sapporo Draft'' (''Premium'' in North America) and ''Yebisu''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ratebeer.com/brewer/45/sort/1/ |title=Sapporo Breweries |publisher=www.ratebeer.com |access-date=2010-05-26 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023001920/http://www.ratebeer.com/brewer/45/sort/1/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the Sleeman brewery in Canada they brew Sleeman branded beers such as ''Sleeman Cream Ale'', as well as ''Sapporo Premium''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/sleeman-brewing-malting-co-sapporo/227/ |title=Sleeman Brewing & Malting Co. (Sapporo) |publisher=www.ratebeer.com |access-date=2010-05-26 |archive-date=January 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102183805/http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/sleeman-brewing-malting-co-sapporo/227/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The company also produces a malt based [[soft drink]], ''Super Clear'', which was launched in 2002 as a low-alcohol beer, then changed in September 2009 to an alcohol free malt drink.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/Beer/Beer-Ratings.asp?BeerID=32255 |title=Sapporo Super Clear from Sapporo Breweries - Ratebeer |publisher=www.ratebeer.com |access-date=2010-05-26 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023001927/http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/Beer/Beer-Ratings.asp?BeerID=32255 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sapporobeer.jp/product/others/superclear/index.html |title=サッポロビール サッポロスーパークリア |publisher=www.sapporobeer.jp |access-date=2010-05-26 |archive-date=October 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002042537/http://www.sapporobeer.jp/product/others/superclear/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Yebisu=== {{Nihongo|''Yebisu''|ヱビス|Ebisu}} is one of Japan's oldest brands, first brewed in Tokyo in 1890 by the Japan Beer Brewery Company. Through a complicated set of mergers and divisions, the brand was acquired and eventually retained by the modern-day Sapporo Brewery. The brand lay dormant during the post-World War II era, until it was resurrected in 1971. It has been brewed continuously ever since.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/history/ |title=SAPPORO BREWERIES/Corporate Information<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=October 20, 2007 |archive-date=June 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611134255/http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Yebisu'' comes in two main varieties: ''Yebisu (Premium)'', a [[Dortmunder Export|Dortmunder]]/[[export lager]], and ''Yebisu Black'', a [[dark lager]]. There are also occasional special varieties that are limited in distribution area and time. In April 2007, for example, there was a green-label "The Hop" variety. The modern-day ''Yebisu'' is positioned as Sapporo's "luxury" beer label. Sapporo describes it as a beer brand with "a touch of class".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/company/project/beer/ |title=SAPPORO BREWERIES/Corporate Information<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=October 20, 2007 |archive-date=July 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706031334/http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/company/project/beer/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is a 100% malt beer. [[File:Sapporo Classic Japan-only Vintage edition.jpg|thumb|235x235px|A Japan-only yearly "vintage" release]] ''Yebisu'' is notable in that its Japanese name includes the now-obsolete [[We (kana)|kana character ''we'']] ({{lang|ja|ヱ}} or {{lang|ja|ゑ}}) for the even-older ''ye'' reading, an [[anachronism]] in keeping with [[historical kana orthography]]. This can lead to confusion when romanized, as the "Y" is not pronounced. The Tokyo neighborhood of [[Ebisu, Tokyo|Ebisu]] was named for the beer, which was originally produced there, though its name is spelled with a conventional [[E (kana)|''e'' kana]] instead of ''we''. The pronunciations of "Yebisu" and "Ebisu" are the same. ===Space Barley=== Using barley grown from seeds which spent five months on board the [[International Space Station]] in 2006, Sapporo created a limited Space Barley brew. The project was a joint one between the [[Russian Academy of Sciences]], [[Okayama University]], and Sapporo. Tasters described the flavour as no different from similar beers, which researchers point to as important in showing that producing food in space for long duration flights is possible. Six packs of the space beer were sold in a lottery system for 10,000 yen.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.universetoday.com/2009/12/07/space-beer-available-for-purchase-to-250-people/|title='Space Beer' Available for Purchase to 250 People|date=December 7, 2009|publisher=Universe Today|access-date=2009-12-08|archive-date=December 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213052320/http://www.universetoday.com/2009/12/07/space-beer-available-for-purchase-to-250-people/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8400128.stm|title='Out of this world' Japanese beer|date=December 7, 2009|publisher=BBC|access-date=2009-12-08|archive-date=December 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213050445/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8400128.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> ==See also== * [[Sapporo Beer Museum]] - The museum run by the Sapporo Brewery, located in Sapporo, Japan * [[Sapporo Factory]] - A shopping mall which used to be a brewery owned by the Sapporo Brewery * [[Beer in Japan]] {{clear}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Sapporo Breweries}} *[http://www.sapporobeer.jp/ Company website] {{in lang|ja}} *[http://www.sapporoholdings.jp/english/ Company website] {{in lang|en}} *[http://www.sapporovietnam.com.vn Beer Sapporo Vietnam website] {{in lang|vi}} {{Mitsui|state=autocollapse}} {{Nikkei 225}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord missing|Tokyo}} [[Category:Sapporo Breweries| ]] [[Category:Beer brands of Japan]] [[Category:Beer in Japan]] [[Category:Breweries in Japan]] [[Category:Wineries of Japan]] [[Category:Japanese brands]] [[Category:Fuyo Group]] [[Category:Alcoholic drink companies]] [[Category:Food and drink companies based in Tokyo]] [[Category:Mitsui]] [[Category:Food and drink companies established in 1876]] [[Category:Japanese companies established in 1876]] [[Category:Companies in the Nikkei 225]]'