Echigo Beer Nasu Brewery's First Brew, "A Beer Where Smiles Gather and Shine," Starts Shipping
Echigo Beer's first product from its Nasu, Tochigi base, the limited-edition brew "A Beer Where Smiles Gather and Shine," entered the shipping phase in February. Following its February 6 release, an Instagram post at 1:45 p.m. on February 7 also announced that shipping had begun, underscoring the full-scale launch of the new Nasu base.
Hop BroToday's highlight is Echigo Beer's first brew at the Nasu factory, "A Beer Where Smiles Gather and Shine"! It was released on February 6, 2026, and an Instagram post the next day at 1:45 p.m. on February 7 said shipping had begun, so it really feels like full-scale operations are underway.
MugiWhoa! So that's the Nasu factory's "very first beer"? That's basically a commemorative bottle... or rather a can, right?
Hop BroExactly. It's a 350 ml can at 5% alcohol, and the style is a crisp lager. The name is "THE FIRST BATCH from NASU Brewery," so it's literally the first batch.
MugiWhat? I get lager, but it says the ingredients include 'sake rice from Niigata Prefecture,' and now my brain is tangled! Rice in beer!?
Hop BroRight, the recipe uses sake rice as an adjunct to create a softer mouthfeel. It's a balanced lager built on the umami of barley malt from Tochigi Prefecture, layered with the refined aroma of German hops.
MugiOhhh! 'Soft, yet with an elegant aroma' somehow feels like an adult's self-introduction, and I love it!
Hop BroWhat's more, they held a shipping ceremony at the Nasu factory on February 5, and the employees all saw off the truck with the first shipment. The background of a new base using the former Sapporo Nasu plant is hot too.
MugiThe story is good too! And the 1:45 p.m. Instagram time is oddly specific, which really conveys the feel on the ground!
Hop BroThe package also features illustrations of Nasu-dake, serows, and tokis, showing 'a new step forward in Nasu.' It feels like a new chapter for Echigo Beer, which bills itself as Japan's first craft beer brewery.
MugiA new base in Nasu added to Niigata's history, plus a limited brew... that's moving. If I find it, I want to chill it ice-cold in the fridge and taste it head-on!
Hop BroThat's the plan. Tonight, let's toast with 'A Beer Where Smiles Gather and Shine.' Just as the name says, we're the first ones going out to gather smiles!
From the new base Echigo Beer launched in Nasu, Tochigi, its first beer has begun moving into the market. The limited-edition beer "A Beer Where Smiles Gather and Shine (THE FIRST BATCH from NASU Brewery)" was officially released on February 6, 2026. Then, an Instagram post at 1:45 p.m. on February 7 ("Shipping of the limited-edition beer 'A Beer Where Smiles Gather and Shine' has begun!..." ) also shared the shipping status.
Shimotsuke Shimbun reported that a shipping ceremony was held at the Nasu factory on February 5, and employees saw off the truck carrying the first shipment. The Nasu factory is a base that makes use of the former Sapporo Nasu plant, and for the company it is a new production stage. The product itself also clearly highlights its regional story, using barley malt from Tochigi Prefecture, sake rice from Niigata Prefecture, and German hops.
According to official information, the style is a crisp lager, with 5% alcohol content and packaged in 350 ml cans. The recipe is designed around the soft mouthfeel contributed by sake rice, layered with the umami of barley malt and the elegant aroma of hops. The packaging features illustrations of Nasu-dake Mountain, serows, and toki ibises. It is finished to visually convey a new step forward in Nasu.
Echigo Beer is a brewery that officially bills itself as Japan's first craft beer (local beer) brewery. With a new production base in the Nasu factory added to the history it built in Niigata, this limited brew means more than just a new product. If you find it as a limited release, it's one to chill thoroughly in the refrigerator first and then taste straight through from Nasu's "first batch."
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday's highlight is Echigo Beer's first brew at the Nasu factory, "A Beer Where Smiles Gather and Shine"! It was released on February 6, 2026, and an Instagram post the next day at 1:45 p.m. on February 7 said shipping had begun, so it really feels like full-scale operations are underway.
MugiWhoa! So that's the Nasu factory's "very first beer"? That's basically a commemorative bottle... or rather a can, right?
Hop BroExactly. It's a 350 ml can at 5% alcohol, and the style is a crisp lager. The name is "THE FIRST BATCH from NASU Brewery," so it's literally the first batch.
MugiWhat? I get lager, but it says the ingredients include 'sake rice from Niigata Prefecture,' and now my brain is tangled! Rice in beer!?
Hop BroRight, the recipe uses sake rice as an adjunct to create a softer mouthfeel. It's a balanced lager built on the umami of barley malt from Tochigi Prefecture, layered with the refined aroma of German hops.
MugiOhhh! 'Soft, yet with an elegant aroma' somehow feels like an adult's self-introduction, and I love it!
Hop BroWhat's more, they held a shipping ceremony at the Nasu factory on February 5, and the employees all saw off the truck with the first shipment. The background of a new base using the former Sapporo Nasu plant is hot too.
MugiThe story is good too! And the 1:45 p.m. Instagram time is oddly specific, which really conveys the feel on the ground!
Hop BroThe package also features illustrations of Nasu-dake, serows, and tokis, showing 'a new step forward in Nasu.' It feels like a new chapter for Echigo Beer, which bills itself as Japan's first craft beer brewery.
MugiA new base in Nasu added to Niigata's history, plus a limited brew... that's moving. If I find it, I want to chill it ice-cold in the fridge and taste it head-on!
Hop BroThat's the plan. Tonight, let's toast with 'A Beer Where Smiles Gather and Shine.' Just as the name says, we're the first ones going out to gather smiles!
