William Copeland (brewer)
William Copeland | |
|---|---|
| Born | Johan Martinius Thoresen Template:Birth date Tromøy, Norway |
| Died | February 11, 1902 (aged 68) |
| Occupation(s) | Brewer, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of Spring Valley Brewery, precursor to Kirin Brewery Company |
William Copeland (originally named Johan Martinius Thoresen; born 10 January 1834, died 11 February 1902) was a Norwegian-American entrepreneur in brewing and the initiator of one of Japan's pioneering beer production facilities, the Spring Valley Brewery, established in 1869 in Yamate, Yokohama. This enterprise eventually developed into the prominent Kirin Brewery Company, a major player in Japan’s beer industry.
Early life
Copeland was born on Tromøy, Norway, and completed a five-year apprenticeship at Arendals Bryggeri. Subsequently, he emigrated to the United States, where he adopted the name William Copeland.
Work in Japan
Copeland arrived in Yokohama in 1864 and initially engaged in the dairy sector. In 1869, he founded Spring Valley Brewery near a natural spring by Amanuma Pond, situated below the Yamate foreign settlement. He utilized a cave located 210 meters up a hill that provided consistent cool temperatures ideal for beer aging. Embracing innovations promptly, Copeland incorporated pasteurization shortly after its development by Louis Pasteur. His brewery offered three types of beer: lager, Bavarian, and Bavarian Bock. Distribution primarily involved casks supplied to Yokohama taverns, with bottled beer available in limited quantities for foreign residents and exports to Tokyo and Nagasaki.
In 1872, Copeland traveled back to Norway to marry Anne Kristine Olsen; they resided together in Japan until her passing seven years later. Although skilled in brewing techniques, Copeland’s managerial shortcomings led to the auctioning of Spring Valley Brewery in 1884.
With assistance from Scottish trader Thomas Blake Glover, ownership transferred to Japanese investors in 1885 under the new name The Japan Brewery. The company recruited German brewmaster Hermann Heckert to enhance production quality. Glover secured a distribution agreement with Meidi-ya, culminating in the introduction of Kirin Beer in May 1888.
Copeland’s final resting place is located within the Foreigner's Cemetery in Yamate, Yokohama, and is maintained by the Kirin Brewery Company. The original location of Spring Valley Brewery is now occupied by Kitagata Elementary School, where commemorative markers and preserved wells highlight its historical importance.
Revival of the Spring Valley Brewery Brand
In July 2014, Kirin Company, Limited declared intentions to relaunch the Spring Valley Brewery brand as a fully owned subsidiary dedicated to crafting and selling microbrewery-style beers made with traditional ingredients and brewing techniques.
Following internal strategic planning, Kirin inaugurated a combined brewery and restaurant venue in Daikanyama (Tokyo) in 2015 on land freed up after the Tokyo rail line was redirected underground in 2013. By 2022, Spring Valley Brewery has expanded its brewery/restaurant operations to include locations in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Yokohama.