Mother Road Brewing Company Heads to Japan for American Craft Beer Trade Mission

Flagstaff, AZ - Mother Road Brewing Company Co-Founder and CEO Michael Marquess will travel to Japan this November to represent the Flagstaff brewery at the American Craft Beer Experience (ACBE) in Tokyo and visit accounts serving Mother Road beer. Mother Road is one of 20 breweries accepted to participate in the festival and trade mission, with the festival taking place November 6-8, 2026. Organized through the Brewers Association’s Export Development Program, ACBE connects U.S. craft breweries with Japanese consumers, importers, media, and hotel, restaurant, and café accounts. This year’s expanded format pairs American craft beers with U.S. barbecue and food collaborations. Mother Road began shipping beer to Japan through Nagano Trading Company in July 2025, with three shipments to date featuring both packaged beer and kegs. Marquess’ visit builds on that relationship, connecting him directly with the businesses serving Mother Road and the guests enjoying its beers. “When we started Mother Road Brewing Company 15 years ago, there were seven of us trying to get our beer into a few more places in Flagstaff. Japan certainly wasn’t on the delivery route,” said Marquess. “To now have the opportunity to sit down and share a beer with new guests is pretty remarkable. Building community one pint at a time has always been our mission, and I’m looking forward to seeing where that takes us in Japan.” During the festival, Marquess will share Mother Road beer and branded merchandise with attendees. He will also work alongside Nagano Trading Company during the evenings of November 6-8, followed by account visits throughout November 9 and 10. The trip brings Mother Road’s commitment to building community one pint at a time to Japan, sharing the Flagstaff brewery’s beers and story with an international audience.

About Mother Road Brewing Company Mother Road Brewing Company is an Arizona regional brewery located along Route 66 in Flagstaff, Arizona. Mother Road was John Steinbeck’s name for Route 66 in The Grapes of Wrath. The original brewery on Mikes Pike, the 1926 alignment of Route 66, is dedicated to experimental beers and processes and welcomes guests for pints, conversation, games, and merchandise. The brewery on Butler Avenue brews for distribution in kegs and cans. Mother Road distributes state-wide in Arizona with Hensley Beverage Company and their partners, Southern Nevada with Nevada Beverage Company, and Premier Beverage in New Mexico. For further information, visit motherroadbeer.com.