"Riedenburger" at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Oktoberfest – The Story of a German Organic Brewery Known to Those in the Know
This September, "authentic autumn" returns to Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse 🍻🍂
Yokohama Minato Mirai, where the sea breeze feels pleasant. The season is approaching when rows of beer tents will once again line up in front of the Red Brick Warehouse.
The Yokohama Oktoberfest 2026. The event will run for 17 days, from Friday, September 18th to Sunday, October 4th. Live music from German bands, giant steins, the smell of sausages... this event alone makes you feel like you've "come to Munich for a bit."
By the way, the first large-scale Oktoberfest in Japan was actually held at this Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. It started in 2003 when 200,000 people flocked to the event, which lasted only five days. Since then, for over 20 years, it has continued to insist on an "authentic atmosphere," making it, so to speak, the "originator" of Oktoberfest in Japan.
At the Yokohama venue, there's a beer you absolutely must look for this year. That is **Riedenburger**, an organic brewery known to those in the know, even in Germany.
◯ Be sure to look for "Riedenburger" at the venue
Only six large breweries in Munich are allowed to serve beer at the authentic Oktoberfest. However, at a venue like Yokohama, where beers from all over the world gather, it's enjoyable to encounter a wider variety of unique brewers.
Among them, Riedenburger is a somewhat special existence. This is because **all the beers they brew are "organic."**
"Organic beer" is actually a big deal!
Many people know about "organic" vegetables and eggs, but they might not immediately grasp what "organic beer" means.
Simply put, organic beer is beer made only from barley and hops grown without relying on chemical pesticides or fertilizers. To be called organic, it must receive certification from the field stage and consistently adhere to standards throughout the brewing process. This requires a lot of effort and cost, so it's still a minority worldwide.
Riedenburger has seriously walked this "thorny path" for over 30 years. This is an essential story when talking about the depth of German beer.
◯ Established in 1756. An 8-generation family brewery in a small town
Riedenburger is located in a small town called Riedenburg in the Altmühl Valley in Bavaria. It's a peaceful countryside surrounded by rich nature.
It was founded in 1756. Back in the middle of the Edo period in Japan, when people still wore topknots, this family had been brewing beer. The Krieger family has continuously managed it, and it is now in its 8th generation. Over an unimaginably long period, the same family in the same town has single-mindedly pursued delicious beer.
Their annual production is about 30,000 hectoliters. Compared to global beer giants, it's a truly small brewery. Nevertheless, its reputation extends beyond Germany, and it is now exported to 17 countries worldwide. "Small but authentic." This feeling is precisely the charm of German beer that we at SCHMATZ value.
◯ Why it's called a "pioneer of organic beer"
Riedenburger is special not just because it's old. It's because it has a history of leading the industry as a pioneer of German organic beer.
The challenge of "all organic" when no one else was doing it
In the early 1990s, the idea of brewing "organic" beer was hardly discussed by anyone in Germany.
In 1992, Riedenburger released its first organically certified (Bioland) beer, and in 1994, it completely switched all its products to organic production methods. It is said that this brewery was the first in Bavaria to go this far with a comprehensive environmental concept.
Today, "sustainable" and "organic" are common terms, but for a company to have made such a drastic shift over 30 years ago is nothing short of visionary.
◯ In the land of the Beer Purity Law, a difficult path deliberately chosen
Germany is the land of the "Reinheitsgebot" (Beer Purity Law), which has been in effect for over 500 years. It has the world's strictest tradition of brewing beer using only malt, hops, water, and yeast.
Even just adhering to the Purity Law is challenging, but adding the condition that "all ingredients must be organic" makes it even more so. It's like a doubly strict constraint.
However, Riedenburger has embraced this difficulty with pride. They don't compromise on either "deliciousness" or "environmental responsibility." This craftsman's spirit is truly alive in every glass.
◯ Ancient grains and the bounty of the Altmühl Valley
Another aspect of Riedenburger is its beer made with "ancient grains."
Emmer, Einkorn... grains that sound ancient just by their names.
Emmer, Einkorn, Dinkel (spelt). These may sound unfamiliar, but they are all "ancient grains" that humans have cultivated for thousands of years.
Compared to barley and wheat, which are the main ingredients in modern beer making, these ancient grains yield less and are more difficult to handle. That's why they were once largely abandoned. However, Riedenburger is deliberately reviving these forgotten grains and turning them into beer.
The unique, rich, and profound flavor of ancient grains. This is Riedenburger's unique characteristic that you won't find in mass-produced beers.
◯ Connection with the monastery
These ancient grains are cultivated in collaboration with nearby organic certified farms of historical monasteries. From soil preparation to brewing, they work together to protect traditional grains and turn them into beer.
It's not just about making delicious products, but also carrying the grand narrative of **"preserving the local nature and culture for the future."** There's a weight to every glass of Riedenburger beer.
Brewing water, as nature intended 💧
Their commitment to water is also unwavering. Riedenburger uses only water from the **artesian well** on its property. It's pure water that springs forth from deep underground.
Moreover, it's used in brewing with almost no chemical treatment, nearly in its natural state. This thoroughness truly embodies the saying, "Good beer comes from good water." Organic grains and pristine water. Each ingredient is handled with such care.
◯ Unfiltered, a luxury
And one more thing. Riedenburger's beer is fundamentally **"unfiltered."**
They deliberately don't filter out yeast and other elements from the finished beer, bottling it as is. That's why it's slightly cloudy, and the full umami of the malt and yeast is preserved. It's more labor-intensive, but in return, the flavor is richer and fuller. It's a vibrant taste, close to freshly brewed authentic beer. This philosophy of "cherishing nature as it is" deeply resonates with SCHMATZ's four commitments to brewing.
◯ A special drink in Yokohama
Established in 1756, an 8-generation family business. A pioneer in organic beer, even resurrecting ancient grains—I hope this has conveyed how "rich" a brewery Riedenburger is.
In fact, we at SCHMATZ once offered Riedenburger's Weizen as a limited-edition beer, marking its "first landing in Japan," and all of our staff were impressed by its deliciousness.
You can easily encounter such a rare gem at the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Oktoberfest. An organic beer enjoyed by the sea breeze while listening to a German band. This will be quite a luxurious experience. Be sure to look for the name "Riedenburger" at the venue!
If you want to know what it tastes like before you go to the venue, we'll tell you more about how to enjoy Riedenburger's beer in the next column.
And if you want to enjoy the Oktoberfest atmosphere at home, we'll introduce tips for recreating the best of both authentic and Yokohama styles in the final installment of the series (Oktoberfest at Home). If you're wondering what the Munich Oktoberfest, the "original" of Yokohama's festival, is all about, please also refer to this complete guide.
If you want to get even more into the mood of German beer before or after visiting the venue, please check out ▶︎ SCHMATZ's online shop or beer list. If you want to toast in an atmosphere just like the real thing, please visit ▶︎ your nearest SCHMATZ store.
