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Sapporo

Japanese lager sold in US restaurants on its real Japanese heritage.

Status: Watchlist
Founded
1876
Website
sapporobeer.com
HQ
Japan
Manufacturing
Canada,USA
Ownership type
Public
Parent
Sapporo Holdings
Status since
2026-10-30

Ownership

Sapporo Holdings owns Sleeman, which brews Sapporo for North America in Guelph, Ontario.

Why Watchlist

Sapporo marketed itself as "the Original Japanese Beer" while the US supply was brewed in Ontario or Wisconsin, and the labels stated where. A federal court dismissed a 2016 class action, finding the heritage claims qualified by the disclosure.

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