Tokyo's Let's Beer Works Releases "Southbound IPA" Featuring NZ Hops
Tokyo craft brewery Let's Beer Works has unveiled its new "Southbound IPA." The style is NZ IPA, and the ABV is 6.5%. Built around a combination of Nelson Sauvin and Rakau, it is a beer that balances grape- and stone fruit-like aromas with a dry finish.
Hop BroThe new "Southbound IPA" from Tokyo's Let's Beer Works is an NZ IPA with 6.5% ABV!
MugiWhoa! What's an NZ IPA? How is it different from a regular IPA?
Hop BroIt's basically an IPA that puts New Zealand hops at center stage. This time, Nelson Sauvin and Rakau are the two main stars, layering white-grape notes with fruitiness like apricot and peach.
MugiTwo main stars? That sounds like a baseball team! But Nelson Sauvin sounds hard, like Sauvignon Blanc!
Hop BroGood catch. Nelson Sauvin is a hop that can show a white-grape character, but this release uses a lot that isn't just grape-forward, broadening the layers of fruit.
MugiOhh! So it's not sweet like grape juice, then?
Hop BroThat's the clever part. The bitterness is a mellow ★2/5, and it finishes dry. The malt is kept simple, mainly Pilsner and Vienna, so the hop aroma comes to the front.
MugiAn IPA that finishes dry is the best! So it's juicy without being sticky?!
Hop BroExactly. Released on January 21, 2026, this one can be found at the taproom in Higashijujo, Kita Ward, Tokyo, or through the official online shop. It's a new release that shows the hop-focused craftsmanship Let's Beer Works has been refining.
MugiThat sounds amazing, I want to drink it already! Big bro Hop, let's go on a "grape and peach trip" with Southbound IPA tonight!
Hop BroIt's a deal. Once we toast, the first aroma will teleport us straight to the Southern Hemisphere!
Highlights of Southbound IPA
The new release from Let's Beer Works, unveiled on January 21, 2026 (UTC), is Southbound IPA, a beer that brings the character of New Zealand hops to the forefront. According to the official information, the style is NZ IPA, the alcohol content is 6.5%, and the bitterness rating is ★2/5. On paper it is designed to have some substance, but the finished beer leans dry, with a structure that avoids leaving too much weight behind in the finish.
The core of this beer is the selection of the Nelson Sauvin hop lot used as the main hop. Its standout feature is that it avoids leaning too heavily into a white-grape impression, instead choosing a lot with layered fruit character. Rakau is then added on top, bringing a stone-fruit layer that evokes apricot and peach, creating more depth in the juiciness. The malt bill is kept simple, centered on Pilsner and Vienna, allowing the hop-derived aroma to take the lead.
Context as a Tokyo-based brewery
Let's Beer Works is based in Tokyo, and its official website also provides information about its taproom in Higashijujo, Kita Ward, Tokyo. By combining weekend taproom service with online sales, the brewery has established a system that reaches both local drinkers and fans across a wider area. Southbound IPA can also be seen as a release that demonstrates the brewery's continuing refinement of hop expression.
Specs Summary
- Beer name: Southbound IPA
- Style: NZ IPA
- ABV: 6.5%
- Bitterness: ★★☆☆☆
- Malt: Pilsner, Vienna
- Hops: Nelson Sauvin, Rakau
- Adjunct: Carrageenan
Purchases can be checked through Let's Beer Works' official online store, for both retail and wholesale customers. For anyone looking for an IPA that emphasizes hop-driven fruit character without carrying lingering sweetness, this is a new release well worth checking out.
References: Southbound IPA, Let's Beer Works official site
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroThe new "Southbound IPA" from Tokyo's Let's Beer Works is an NZ IPA with 6.5% ABV!
MugiWhoa! What's an NZ IPA? How is it different from a regular IPA?
Hop BroIt's basically an IPA that puts New Zealand hops at center stage. This time, Nelson Sauvin and Rakau are the two main stars, layering white-grape notes with fruitiness like apricot and peach.
MugiTwo main stars? That sounds like a baseball team! But Nelson Sauvin sounds hard, like Sauvignon Blanc!
Hop BroGood catch. Nelson Sauvin is a hop that can show a white-grape character, but this release uses a lot that isn't just grape-forward, broadening the layers of fruit.
MugiOhh! So it's not sweet like grape juice, then?
Hop BroThat's the clever part. The bitterness is a mellow ★2/5, and it finishes dry. The malt is kept simple, mainly Pilsner and Vienna, so the hop aroma comes to the front.
MugiAn IPA that finishes dry is the best! So it's juicy without being sticky?!
Hop BroExactly. Released on January 21, 2026, this one can be found at the taproom in Higashijujo, Kita Ward, Tokyo, or through the official online shop. It's a new release that shows the hop-focused craftsmanship Let's Beer Works has been refining.
MugiThat sounds amazing, I want to drink it already! Big bro Hop, let's go on a "grape and peach trip" with Southbound IPA tonight!
Hop BroIt's a deal. Once we toast, the first aroma will teleport us straight to the Southern Hemisphere!
