Founded in 1804 along the Kuzuryu River in Fukui Prefecture, Kokuryu takes its name from the ancient reading of that river's name, Kokuryu, meaning black dragon. The brewery draws on snowmelt from the Hakusan mountain range and centers its production on ginjo brewing, maintaining an average polishing ratio across its lineup of approximately 50 percent. Flagship releases including the limited Ishidaya have earned Kokuryu a reputation as one of Japan's most sought-after premium breweries, with many expressions difficult to obtain outside the region.
