Matsumoto Brewery to Release 2026 Collaborative Beer for Yari-Hotaka Mountain Huts
Matsumoto Brewery, based in Matsumoto, Nagano, has announced the 2026 edition of its collaborative “Yariho Craft Beer,” sold only at mountain huts in the Yari-Hotaka area of the Northern Alps. The Vienna Lager will roll out sequentially at participating huts from July 2026.
Hop BroI wanted to bring up Yariho Craft Beer today. It's a 2026 collaboration release from Matsumoto Brewery, sold only at mountain huts in the Yari-Hotaka area of the Northern Alps.
MugiWait, hut-only release means I can't just grab it in town? The difficulty level suddenly went full mountain climb!
Hop BroThat's exactly the charm. The style is Vienna Lager, designed to evoke the sunset-colored ridgelines up there.
MugiWhoa, but Vienna Lager sounds fancy! Is that a beer or a title for alpine royalty?
Hop BroPut simply, it's a lager with amber malt richness, a lightly roasted aroma, and a very clean finish. It sounds technical, but it drinks in a really approachable way.
MugiWhat is that, sunset in a glass? That's way too poetic. The scenery is basically becoming the snack!
Hop BroAnd it gets better: the release comes in three versions. Yari-Hotaka, Yari, and Hotaka, each assigned to different mountain huts.
MugiNo way, different routes different versions? That's dangerously close to turning beer into a hiking side quest!
Hop BroSales start from July 2026 onward at each facility in sequence, and it's priced at 1,200 yen tax included. The whole point is that you drink it where only climbers can reach.
MugiFor 1,200 yen, that's a story in a glass. If I spotted it after a climb, I'd probably bow to it before I drank it!
Hop BroMatsumoto Brewery is really good at connecting beer to place. This one builds the mountain setting right into the drinking experience, and honestly, now I want one too.
MugiSame here! Just imagining a toast in a mountain hut already makes me want to drink it. This is absolutely the kind of story that leaves you thirsty!
A limited beer for the Northern Alps
Matsumoto Brewery has unveiled its 2026 collaborative beer project for the Yari-Hotaka area of the Northern Alps. The beer, sold as “Yariho Craft Beer,” is available only at mountain huts in this alpine region, making it a limited offering tied closely to the climbing experience.
The beer is a Vienna Lager inspired by the sunset that turns the ridgelines red. According to the brewery, it combines a roasted, amber malt character with a clean finish, reflecting the color of the evening sky and the clear air seen from the summits.
Three versions will be sold:
- Ver. Yari-Hotaka: Daione Hut, Hutte Nishidake, Daitenso, Jonen Hut, Yokoo Sanso, Yaridaira Hut, Chogatake Hutte
- Ver. Yari: Yarigatake Sanso, Yarisawa Lodge, Minamidake Hut, Sessei Hutte, Hutte Otake
- Ver. Hotaka: Nishihotaka Sanso, Hotakadake Sanso, Kitahotaka Hut, Karasawa Hut, Karasawa Hutte, Yake-dake Hut
Sales begin sequentially from July 2026, depending on each facility, and the price is 1,200 yen including tax. Based in Matsumoto City, Nagano, Matsumoto Brewery has developed projects that connect local identity with beer. This release is notable for making the mountain huts themselves part of the drinking experience, not just the setting.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroI wanted to bring up Yariho Craft Beer today. It's a 2026 collaboration release from Matsumoto Brewery, sold only at mountain huts in the Yari-Hotaka area of the Northern Alps.
MugiWait, hut-only release means I can't just grab it in town? The difficulty level suddenly went full mountain climb!
Hop BroThat's exactly the charm. The style is Vienna Lager, designed to evoke the sunset-colored ridgelines up there.
MugiWhoa, but Vienna Lager sounds fancy! Is that a beer or a title for alpine royalty?
Hop BroPut simply, it's a lager with amber malt richness, a lightly roasted aroma, and a very clean finish. It sounds technical, but it drinks in a really approachable way.
MugiWhat is that, sunset in a glass? That's way too poetic. The scenery is basically becoming the snack!
Hop BroAnd it gets better: the release comes in three versions. Yari-Hotaka, Yari, and Hotaka, each assigned to different mountain huts.
MugiNo way, different routes different versions? That's dangerously close to turning beer into a hiking side quest!
Hop BroSales start from July 2026 onward at each facility in sequence, and it's priced at 1,200 yen tax included. The whole point is that you drink it where only climbers can reach.
MugiFor 1,200 yen, that's a story in a glass. If I spotted it after a climb, I'd probably bow to it before I drank it!
Hop BroMatsumoto Brewery is really good at connecting beer to place. This one builds the mountain setting right into the drinking experience, and honestly, now I want one too.
MugiSame here! Just imagining a toast in a mountain hut already makes me want to drink it. This is absolutely the kind of story that leaves you thirsty!
