Miyakoji Hop Garden Brewery releases Takashimaya collaboration set Abukuma RICH
Hop Japan has released Abukuma RICH, a limited beer set developed with Takashimaya. Built around fresh hops grown in Tamura City, the package pairs the collaboration beer with two related bottlings for a side-by-side tasting experience, and sales run through August 4 at 10:00 a.m.
Hop BroHere's a good one today: Abukuma RICH. Miyakoji Hop Garden Brewery teamed up with Takashimaya on a tasting set built around fresh hops from Tamura, Fukushima.
MugiWait, a Takashimaya exclusive craft beer set? That sounds way fancier than my usual "grab whatever is cold" strategy!
Hop BroYep, and the star is a fresh-hop Kolsch brewed just for this set. Abukuma RICH blends Cascade and Crystal for citrusy aroma and that bright green freshness.
MugiHold on, what is Kolsch? It sounds like a stylish lamp I definitely can't afford.
Hop BroSimple version: it's a light, crisp ale. Easy to drink, clean on the palate, but still aromatic enough to keep things interesting.
MugiOkay, but then I saw air-removed freezing and my brain left the building. Are the hops going into cryosleep?
Hop BroBasically, yeah. It's a lock-in-the-aroma move. They pick the hops by hand, remove the air, freeze them, and keep that just-harvested character alive in the beer.
MugiThat is unfairly tempting. Fresh-picked vibes in a glass? I would absolutely sniff the pint before I even sip it.
Hop BroAnd the set is a three-beer lineup. Abukuma GREEN leans floral and aromatic, while Abukuma CRYSTAL brings pleasant bitterness and smooth drinkability.
MugiSo each one has a different hop personality? I love that. At 5,500 yen, limited quantity, and only until 10 a.m. on August 4, that's a dangerous amount of urgency.
Hop BroWhat really gets me is the farm-to-brew approach. Miyakoji Hop Garden Brewery grows the hops and turns that land into beer, which is exactly the point of great local brewing.
MugiNow I'm completely done for. Let's open the Abukuma trio and start with RICH, then go GREEN, then CRYSTAL before I start licking the condensation off the cans.
Hop Japan, which operates the Hop Garden Brewery in Miyakoji, Tamura City, Fukushima, has released Abukuma RICH, a limited beer set developed with Takashimaya. The project grew out of repeated visits by a Takashimaya buyer since last summer, who spent time with local hop farmers and came to appreciate Hop Japan's approach of handling hop cultivation and brewing as one continuous process.
The centerpiece, Abukuma RICH, was brewed exclusively for this collaboration as a fresh-hop kölsch. Using hops harvested by hand in Tamura City and then deoxygenated and frozen, the beer is built around 100% fresh hops. Two varieties, Cascade and Crystal, are paired to create a layered profile with bright citrus notes and a vivid, green freshness.
The set also includes two beers with distinct characters:
- `Abukuma GREEN`: known for its floral aroma
- `Abukuma CRYSTAL`: focused on bitterness and a crisp finish
All three beers use fresh hops from Tamura City, making the package a useful side-by-side tasting set for hop fans. Takashimaya Online Store is offering it at 5,500 yen including tax, and sales run until 10:00 a.m. on August 4.
Hop Japan opened its Hop Garden Brewery inside Green Park Miyakoji in 2020, turning a local public facility into a craft-beer base tied to hop farming and regional revitalization. This collaboration highlights that model clearly: a beer set that showcases not only flavor, but also the place and people behind it.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHere's a good one today: Abukuma RICH. Miyakoji Hop Garden Brewery teamed up with Takashimaya on a tasting set built around fresh hops from Tamura, Fukushima.
MugiWait, a Takashimaya exclusive craft beer set? That sounds way fancier than my usual "grab whatever is cold" strategy!
Hop BroYep, and the star is a fresh-hop Kolsch brewed just for this set. Abukuma RICH blends Cascade and Crystal for citrusy aroma and that bright green freshness.
MugiHold on, what is Kolsch? It sounds like a stylish lamp I definitely can't afford.
Hop BroSimple version: it's a light, crisp ale. Easy to drink, clean on the palate, but still aromatic enough to keep things interesting.
MugiOkay, but then I saw air-removed freezing and my brain left the building. Are the hops going into cryosleep?
Hop BroBasically, yeah. It's a lock-in-the-aroma move. They pick the hops by hand, remove the air, freeze them, and keep that just-harvested character alive in the beer.
MugiThat is unfairly tempting. Fresh-picked vibes in a glass? I would absolutely sniff the pint before I even sip it.
Hop BroAnd the set is a three-beer lineup. Abukuma GREEN leans floral and aromatic, while Abukuma CRYSTAL brings pleasant bitterness and smooth drinkability.
MugiSo each one has a different hop personality? I love that. At 5,500 yen, limited quantity, and only until 10 a.m. on August 4, that's a dangerous amount of urgency.
Hop BroWhat really gets me is the farm-to-brew approach. Miyakoji Hop Garden Brewery grows the hops and turns that land into beer, which is exactly the point of great local brewing.
MugiNow I'm completely done for. Let's open the Abukuma trio and start with RICH, then go GREEN, then CRYSTAL before I start licking the condensation off the cans.
