The first sip can bring back more than flavor. It can remind you of a long Sunday lunch where conversations stretched from one course to the next, or an afternoon spent wandering through a historic square before settling into a café with friends. For Belgians living in Japan, whether in Tokyo, Kobe, or elsewhere, those moments can feel far away. Martin’s IPA 55 Beer offers a familiar connection to Belgium’s remarkable brewing tradition, making it easier to enjoy a taste of home while building a life in Japan.
Belgium’s First IPA Pioneer
Martin’s IPA 55 Beer comes from John Martin Brewery, founded in 1909, in Genval, Walloon Brabant. That same year, Belgium welcomed what became the country’s first IPA on the market, giving this beer a special place in Belgian brewing history.
Brewed as a Belgian IPA with 6.5% ABV, Martin’s IPA 55 Beer balances tradition with distinctive character. It pours a deep gold and showcases an English-leaning hop profile thanks to East Kent Goldings hops. Those floral and gently earthy hop notes are supported by a fuller malt body, creating a beer that remains balanced from the first sip to the last.
Belgium’s reputation as one of the world’s great beer nations comes from generations of brewers who value consistency, regional identity, and carefully preserved recipes. Martin’s IPA 55 Beer reflects that heritage by combining historical significance with a flavor profile that has remained memorable for well over a century.
How Martin’s IPA 55 Beer is drunk at home
Santé! / Op uw gezondheid! (sahn-TAY / op-uw geh-ZONT-hayt) means “to your health” in Belgium’s French and Flemish languages. These familiar toasts are heard everywhere from neighborhood cafés to family dining tables, reflecting how naturally beer is woven into everyday Belgian life.
Martin’s IPA 55 Beer fits comfortably into a Sunday family lunch, where different beers are enjoyed alongside multiple courses rather than saved for special occasions alone. It pairs naturally with moules-frites, Belgium’s beloved mussels and fries, bringing out both the seafood and the beer’s balanced malt character.
The beer also works beautifully beside stoofvlees (Carbonnade Flamande), the rich beef stew slowly braised in dark beer. For something simpler, Belgian fries with mayonnaise remain a timeless favorite. During Trappist abbey pilgrimages and Belgium’s many beer festivals, beers like Martin’s IPA 55 continue to carry a sense of history, community, and respect for centuries of brewing tradition.
How to drink it in Japan
Living in Japan doesn’t mean leaving Belgian food traditions behind. While authentic Belgian meals may not always be available, Martin’s IPA 55 Beer pairs surprisingly well with snacks and dishes that are easy to find locally.
A bag of 7-Eleven Karamucho Hot Chili Potato Chips offers enough crunch and seasoning to complement the beer’s fuller malt body and hop character. For a meal, tonkatsu creates an unexpectedly satisfying pairing, with its crisp coating matching the beer’s balanced bitterness.
This Belgian IPA is especially enjoyable during autumn, when cooler evenings invite slower meals and longer conversations. At a Belgian restaurant in Tokyo, a serving can easily cost around ¥1,200, while buying Martin’s IPA 55 Beer by the case from Omori Mart brings the cost per bottle down considerably.
Get Martin’s IPA 55 Beer delivered in Japan
Martin’s IPA 55 Beer is available for delivery throughout Japan from Omori Mart.
- Free shipping on orders over ¥15,000
- Pay by FamilyMart, 7-Eleven, or Lawson, bank transfer, or card
- Nationwide delivery across Japan
Unlike larger marketplaces such as Rakuten or Amazon Japan, which often do not stock home-country specialty brands like this, Omori Mart focuses on helping international communities enjoy familiar drinks from home.
Shop Martin’s IPA 55 Beer →
https://omorimart.com/product/martins-ipa-55-beer-330ml-x-12-bottles/
Santé! / Op uw gezondheid! carries the same warm spirit as Kanpai (乾杯). Different languages, different traditions, yet the same simple wish for good company and good health. Sometimes, the shortest journey back to Belgium begins with sharing one familiar bottle.
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