Exclusive benefit for BA Export Development Program members
Not a member? Learn more about the Program benefits and fees.
The Brewers Association Export Development Program is excited to announce the return of its American beer consumer festival in Tokyo, Japan this November. 2024 will mark our seventh year for the festival which will be an outstanding opportunity for American craft breweries to showcase their beers to Japanese consumers and trade. Brewery representatives are invited to apply to participate in person via an organized trade mission.
The 2024 American Craft Beer Experience (ACBE) Japan takes place on November 1-3 2024 at the Waters Takeshiba Outdoor Event Space.
EDP member brewery representatives are also invited to apply to travel to Tokyo to participate in trade mission activity surrounding the event.
Event Timeline
- Trade Mission Travel Application Deadline: Friday, Sept. 6
- Beer Registration Deadline: Monday, Sept 23
- Export Certificates Submission Deadline: Tuesday, Sept 24
- Consolidation Deadline: beer must arrive no later than Friday, Oct. 4
- ACBE Festival & Trade Mission take place: Oct 29 -Nov. 4 Trade Mission, Nov. 1-3 Festival
Festival Registration Instructions
Note: Festival beer registration and trade mission travel require separate registration form completions.
1. Festival Registration – Register your brewery and any beers to be shipped to Japan for the festival via the form at the bottom of this page no later than Monday, Sept. 23. Registration instructions differ by distribution status:
- Participating breweries that are represented by a Japanese importer:
- are asked to work with their importer to ensure products will be represented and supplied at the event
- are invited to send up to two kegs of beer (one-way plastic kegs only) to be poured at the festival by the importer
- Participating breweries without importer representation in Japan:
- are asked to send six total cases of one to three styles of beer in cans or bottles only. Draft beer is only available to brewers with existing distribution in Japan.
2. Export Certificates Submission – All three documents are due no later than Tuesday, Sept 24 for all beer being sent for consolidation.
To ship beer to Japan, breweries must complete and provide three documents for customs clearance. These documents must be emailed (in word doc format) to Steve Parr and Leonard Noto. Signatures are not needed on these forms. For breweries that have previously shipped beer to Japan or participated in an EDP shipment to Japan, it is suggested that previously completed export certificates be used as a template. Specifically, each brewery will need to fill out the following documents on brewery letterhead with your logo:
- Manufacturers Certificate for each beer – download template
This certificate breaks down the ingredients in each product by weight in the recipe, including any specialty (non-regular beer) ingredients and their country of origin. Water, malted barley, hops, and yeast do not need to state their country of origin, only ingredients such as fruit, spices, etc. The contents/requirements of this certificate are:- On company letterhead with the title “Manufacturers Certification”
- Name of the Beer
- Packaging Type and Size in oz and ml (bottles, cans, kegs)
- Alcohol Percentage
- List of ingredients with their percentage by weight in the recipe as well as the country of origin of any specialty ingredients. This is the most critical portion of this certificate. To calculate the numbers, it is sufficient to take the weight of all ingredients going into the recipe (malted barley, hops, water, yeast, and any specialty ingredients) rather than what is in the finished product once filtered. If there are any specialty ingredients, their country of origin must be listed. Hop and grain types do not need to be separated, however, wheat should be listed as a separate item if present in the recipe.
- A standard statement that the ingredients and processing requirements meet US Food requirements for human consumption.
- Name of the person authorized to provide this information as well as the brewery address at the bottom of the page.
- Production Process Statement for each beer– download template
This certificate outlines the production process from brew day all the way through to packaging. You can use a template for clean (non-sour or BA) beers and just change the name and ingredients list at the top. For beers with special ingredients, it should be noted where in the process those ingredients are used. The contents/requirements of this certificate are:
- On company letterhead with the title “Production Process Sheet”
- Name of the beer
- Ingredients list that matches the accompanying Manufacturers Certificate
- Production process steps, including any applicable barrel aging or unique steps. Please list the method of filtering used if and where it applies in the process.
- Any specialty ingredients used must be present at their correct step in the production process.
- Certificate for Non-GR & GMO one per brewery – download template
This certificate is required by the Japan Customs & Quarantine Office from each brewery shipping beer to Japan and serves as a statement regarding the use of non-GMO ingredients. The contents/requirements of this certificate are:
- On company letterhead with the title “Production Process Sheet”
- Brewery name
- List names of all beers shipped
- Signature, name, brewery, and title of relevant brewery representative
Brewers Association Trade Mission Application
The Brewers Association will be hosting a trade mission to Japan centered around the ACBE event. The trade mission will enable participating breweries to meet with importers, visit retail locations and HORECA accounts, attend media functions, and participate in other activities that promote American craft beer in the market. This is an opportunity both for breweries that have beer in the market and breweries that are looking to enter Japan. Brewery representative presence enhances the impact of promoting American craft beer abroad and provides a valuable opportunity for brewery staff to understand market opportunities better.
The EDP has set aside a budget to offer travel assistance in the form of reimbursement for certain expenses for brewery representatives traveling to Tokyo as part of this BA mission. Participants will be expected to represent the BA and American craft beer industry generally, work the festival on behalf of the BA, and participate in other organized EDP activities. Interested brewery staff are asked to complete the online application by Sept 6. The review and selection of applications will take place on an ongoing basis and will be determined using criteria that include the timing of the application, the number of applicants, and application alignment with the activity’s mission and goals.
September 5, 2024 Update: All trade mission positions have been filled. All future applications will be added to a waitlist. EDP members are encouraged to travel and participate in the activity without travel support.
Apply for Trade Mission Travel here.
Shipping Beer to Consolidation
Beers are due at the Wilmington, California warehouse no later than Friday, October 4. Late arrivals cannot be accepted for this shipment.
Please refrain from including non-beer items in your shipment (stickers, merchandise, etc.) as they will not be included in the consolidated shipment to Japan.
All cases must be labeled “BA/Japan” or print/attach this label.
Note: Palletized deliveries must be scheduled with Balmuth & Co before arrival. It is required to have a dock appointment otherwise delivery may be refused or assessed for additional fees.
West coast consolidation address:
**Palletized deliveries to the west coast consolidation point must make an appointment for delivery with Balmuth & Company LLC (formerly Global Craft) or may incur fees or denied delivery**
Balmuth & Company LLC Warehouse
Attn: BrewersAssoc/ACBEJapan
901 East “E” Street
Suite 201
Wilmington, CA 90744
Delivery Contact Person:
Leonard Noto
310-514-7226
Beer Registration Form
If the form does not appear below, please refresh your browser.