Honey, the land, and the people. Continuing to nurture them all.
Our name, ANTELOPE, means "kamoshika" (serow) in Japanese.
We believe that the word "kamosu" (to brew) refers not only to making sake, but also to cultivating a better environment.
As brewers, we strive to improve the environment for our honey, our land, and everyone involved with us.
What is ANTELOPE?
ANTELOPE is Japan's first mead-only brewery, located in Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture.
Mead is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey. Although it is said to be the world's oldest alcoholic drink, it is still barely known in Japan. Believing in the potential of mead, we continue to take on challenges from here in Shiga as both producers and advocates.
The brewery is in a corner of a residential area.
About a 30-minute walk from Yasu Station, our brewery is located in a corner of a residential area.
On weekdays, we operate as a bottle shop; on Fridays, we bake bread; and on weekends, we prepare seasonal baked goods and cakes. It’s the place where you can feel the warmth of ANTELOPE most closely.
We also offer mead tastings at any time, so please feel free to try a variety of meads.
- Business Hours: 11:00–17:00 (until 18:00 on Fri, Sat, and Sun), closed Tuesdays
- Google Map is here
- Parking available.
AWARDS
- Mead Madness Cup 2026: Grand Champion PRO
- ICC Summit KYOTO 2023: SAKE AWARD 2nd Place
COLLABORATIONS
- NEW: Booze ＆ Buzz Meadery (Korea)
- Superstition Meadery (USA)
- HoWong Brewing (Hong Kong)
An unforgettable encounter with mead
2019, Shibuya. At the time, we were undeniably crazy about craft beer. However, the impact of a chance encounter with an American mead changed our lives forever. That was Superstition Meadery, which became our inspiration—and remains one of the best meaderies today.
"It would be a waste not to share such fascinating alcohol with the world."
Driven by that single thought, we decided to start a meadery in Japan.
Land and Materials
Great mead starts with great ingredients.
Great ingredients come from great people.
When we first started, we used honey from Myanmar. However, after meeting producers in Japan who face the challenges of the changing seasons head-on, we took on the challenge of producing mead with domestic honey starting in 2026.
For ingredients other than honey, we listen to the farmers' stories and craft our mead in ways that honor their efforts.
What to convey
ZINE | New Mead
A quarterly magazine that delivers the people, places, and stories surrounding mead. An original zine presented by ANTELOPE as an introductory gateway for those who are new to mead.
Factory Shop | thetaθ
A factory shop operating within the brewery. We bake bread on Fridays and prepare seasonal baked goods and cakes on the weekends. It is the place where you can feel the warmth of ANTELOPE most closely.
OUR FACTORY
Our brewery is located in Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture.
This site was originally home to the "Maruyo Bakery," a local favorite since the post-war era. Taking over the premises, we built the brewery ourselves, doing everything from painting the walls to connecting the pipes.
Since our founding in 2020, we have been brewing mead in this very spot.
Mead, in your town.
We view the shops that carry our mead not merely as business partners, but as allies striving toward the same vision.
We would be delighted to work together to create a world where choosing mead is a natural part of everyday life.
- For new wholesale inquiries (liquor stores), please click here
- For new wholesale inquiries (restaurants/bars), please click here
"Brewing Japanese craftsmanship together with those who engage with the land."
ANTELOPE
OUR MEAD COLLECTION
