Johana Beer’s "MASARU NE-IPA" is a product that builds New England IPA’s characteristic haze and juiciness from local ingredients. On its official page, the brewery clearly states that, in addition to wheat, it uses a lavish amount of locally grown Koshihikari rice. The beer is designed to have a gentle mouthfeel, a rounded body, and a balance of tropical and citrus aromas.

The beer style is NE-IPA, with an alcohol content of 6% and a bitterness rating of IBU 50. The selling price is 500 yen (tax included). Shipping is available in boxes of 6, 12, or 24 bottles.

There are also a few things to note when handling it. The product page advises refrigerated storage, and since it is unfiltered, room-temperature storage is not allowed. Each order can be shipped to only one destination, so if you need multiple delivery addresses, you must place separate orders for each.

Johana Beer, the maker, is a brewery based in Tatsunohara Higashi, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. In its company information, it describes the Johana area as the "Little Kyoto of Ecchu" and positions the region’s natural environment and water quality as the foundation of its brewing. Its approach of creating a flavor that can only be made here with water containing natural minerals also aligns with the use of locally grown Koshihikari rice showcased in "MASARU NE-IPA."

For those who want to explore the intersection of local character and a modern hazy IPA, this beer could serve as an entry point to understanding where Johana Beer stands today.