Great Dane Brewery

Great Dane Brewing is the Japanese home of Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co., the Wisconsin craft brewer founded in 1994. Opened in January 2024 in the Akiu Onsen hot spring area of Sendai, it holds the distinction of being the first foreign-owned brewery to operate a bricks-and-mortar brewhouse in Japan. The “Wisconsin Born, Sendai Brewed” tagline captures the idea: American brewing craft, made with the clean water and natural setting of Akiu. It’s a working production brewery with an attached restaurant and tasting room. The taps run up to 16 varieties, from the flagship Great Lager and Everyday IPA to bolder brews like a Hot Chili IPA and a winter Russian Imperial Stout. The kitchen serves American-style pub food built around Miyagi and Tohoku ingredients, including Wisconsin touches like fried cheese curds made with Zao cheese, plus lunchtime hot dogs and heartier plates. Visitors consistently describe the space as spacious, stylish, and spotless, and an easy, welcome find while exploring the popular Akiu Onsen area. The beer lineup gets praise for being approachable and clearly laid out, with tasting sets a popular way to sample the range, and the flavors earn steady compliments. The mix of a relaxed onsen-town setting, quality craft beer, and food made from local ingredients is what keeps coming up as the draw.