Freehouse-THE YEAST in Asahikawa to Host "91 HOPPING GW 2026," Featuring 91BITTER
At the beer pub Freehouse-THE YEAST in Asahikawa City, the limited-time event "91 HOPPING GW 2026 CIRCUIT" will run from April 25 to May 6. Centered on the bitter ale "91BITTER" brewed for the event, the program is designed for enjoying three venues in rotation.
Hop BroAt Freehouse-THE YEAST in Asahikawa, 91 HOPPING GW 2026 CIRCUIT is kicking off. From April 25 to May 6, it is an event where you walk around the city and visit three venues, and it is a pretty hot topic for Golden Week drinking.
MugiWait, three venues!? And just from the name 91BITTER, I am already curious, but it sounds kind of strong and a little scary!
Hop BroNo need to be scared, this is a bitter ale. That means bitterness is the star, but it is not just about being bitter; it is the kind of beer where the malt body and toasty aroma come through, making it ideal for comparison tasting.
MugiHmm, I hear ideal for comparison tasting a lot, but how do you actually tell the difference? I usually get to the point where I just say it tastes good before I notice anything else!
Hop BroThat is enough on some days, but this time the one drink + one drink rule is interesting. At each shop, you drink one BITTER and then one different beer, so the stamp card advances, making it easier to notice the differences even at the same place.
MugiSo it is not just a get-drunk event, it actually has a stamp card! Somehow, when you say stamp rally, it makes me excited like it is a school field trip again!
Hop BroAnd if you visit all three venues, the first 80 people get an acrylic keychain. With @kyo_ku_ba's design of either "91" or "BITTER," it is definitely the kind of souvenir you will want to take home.
MugiThere is an acrylic keychain too!? I want that! But if it was brewed for the first time in two years, is 91BITTER really that rare?
Hop BroExactly, it has that special feel of something brewed for the event. The nice thing is that it is a plan where you connect Freehouse-THE YEAST, TONOTO BEER HOUSE, and HUG, and enjoy not just the beer but also the fun of walking through the city.
MugiThat is great. An event like that in Asahikawa really feels like a Golden Week treat! Now I want to properly taste the richness of the bitter beer too.
Hop BroAll right then, on the next day off, how about a glass of 91BITTER in Asahikawa? I want to check the depth of the bitterness, and you will probably end up saying, "So this is the rabbit hole of bitter beer!?"
MugiThat sounds perfect! I want to go around too, and my first goal is probably to complete all three venues! Before that, I can already see myself shouting, "This is delicious!" after the first drink!
A craft beer project that visits three venues in Asahikawa
The event "91 HOPPING GW 2026 CIRCUIT" will be held across three venues, including the beer pub Freehouse-THE YEAST on 6-jo-dori in Asahikawa City. The period runs from April 25 to May 6. The participating venues are Freehouse-THE YEAST, TONOTO BEER HOUSE, and HUG, and visitors are directed to check each account for individual business hours.
For this event, a bitter ale called "91BITTER" was brewed for bar hopping. The post says it was "brewed for the first time in two years," and it is positioned as the signature beer of the event.
The drinking rules are straightforward, too
At each venue, the system is simple: drink one BITTER + one other beer to complete a stamp card. Anyone who visits all three venues and collects the stamps will receive a "91" or "BITTER" acrylic keychain designed by @kyo_ku_ba, with the gifts limited to the first 80 people.
One drink to enjoy at Freehouse-THE YEAST
Freehouse-THE YEAST is a beer pub in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. As a place where you can enjoy craft beer as the main focus, it seems well suited to a roaming event like this. It is nice to settle in and drink at one venue, but this time the main appeal is walking through the city and connecting the three shops.
"91BITTER" seems to be the kind of beer that is not meant to be enjoyed as just one standalone pint, but rather one whose character becomes clearer when tasted alongside other beers. The event guidance also encourages participants to move at their own pace without overdoing it, making this a casual craft beer circuit to enjoy in Asahikawa during the Golden Week period.
Event Overview
- Period: April 25, 2026 - May 6, 2026
- Venue: Freehouse-THE YEAST / TONOTO BEER HOUSE / HUG
- Event: 91 HOPPING GW 2026 CIRCUIT
- Featured beer: 91BITTER
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroAt Freehouse-THE YEAST in Asahikawa, 91 HOPPING GW 2026 CIRCUIT is kicking off. From April 25 to May 6, it is an event where you walk around the city and visit three venues, and it is a pretty hot topic for Golden Week drinking.
MugiWait, three venues!? And just from the name 91BITTER, I am already curious, but it sounds kind of strong and a little scary!
Hop BroNo need to be scared, this is a bitter ale. That means bitterness is the star, but it is not just about being bitter; it is the kind of beer where the malt body and toasty aroma come through, making it ideal for comparison tasting.
MugiHmm, I hear ideal for comparison tasting a lot, but how do you actually tell the difference? I usually get to the point where I just say it tastes good before I notice anything else!
Hop BroThat is enough on some days, but this time the one drink + one drink rule is interesting. At each shop, you drink one BITTER and then one different beer, so the stamp card advances, making it easier to notice the differences even at the same place.
MugiSo it is not just a get-drunk event, it actually has a stamp card! Somehow, when you say stamp rally, it makes me excited like it is a school field trip again!
Hop BroAnd if you visit all three venues, the first 80 people get an acrylic keychain. With @kyo_ku_ba's design of either "91" or "BITTER," it is definitely the kind of souvenir you will want to take home.
MugiThere is an acrylic keychain too!? I want that! But if it was brewed for the first time in two years, is 91BITTER really that rare?
Hop BroExactly, it has that special feel of something brewed for the event. The nice thing is that it is a plan where you connect Freehouse-THE YEAST, TONOTO BEER HOUSE, and HUG, and enjoy not just the beer but also the fun of walking through the city.
MugiThat is great. An event like that in Asahikawa really feels like a Golden Week treat! Now I want to properly taste the richness of the bitter beer too.
Hop BroAll right then, on the next day off, how about a glass of 91BITTER in Asahikawa? I want to check the depth of the bitterness, and you will probably end up saying, "So this is the rabbit hole of bitter beer!?"
MugiThat sounds perfect! I want to go around too, and my first goal is probably to complete all three venues! Before that, I can already see myself shouting, "This is delicious!" after the first drink!
