orca Ginza Brewery Makes Its First Appearance at Matsuya Ginza's 100th Anniversary "Awa Festival"
orca Ginza Brewery made its first appearance at Matsuya Ginza's opening 100th anniversary special event, the "Ginza Awa Festival." The event ran from April 29 to May 6, 2025. At a special bar in the Food Event Space on the basement first floor, the brewery served craft beer and Champagne, offering a Ginza-style tasting of different kinds of "bubbles."
Hop BroBig Ginza news: orca Ginza Brewery made its first appearance at Matsuya Ginza's 100th anniversary "Ginza Awa Festival"!
MugiWhat! Craft beer at a department store?! And the name "Awa Festival" already makes me want to drink!
Hop BroThe event ran from April 29 to May 6, 2025, and at the special bar on the basement floor they were offering a tasting of craft beer and Champagne.
MugiOh wow! Not just beer, but Champagne too? That feels so Ginza and sparkly!
Hop BroThe lineup was three beers: Kumadori Lager, Kumadori IPA, and Weizen. Each was 990 yen for 220 ml. The Champagne was Piper-Heidsieck at 1,540 yen for 90 ml. Basically, it was a lineup that put the character of each kind of bubble side by side.
MugiWhat is that! Lager, IPA, Weizen - I know the names, but they're all getting tangled up in my head!
Hop BroBroadly speaking, lager is crisp, IPA has bright hop aroma, and Weizen is softer, made from wheat, with a banana-like fragrance. In more technical terms, it comes down to differences in fermentation yeast and hop design.
MugiFermentation yeast and hop design?! Suddenly it's a lab! But if it's "crisp, bright, and soft," even I can pick one!
Hop BroWhat's more, orca's roots go back to Mondbar, founded in 1985. It got its brewing license in 2015 and was relaunched under the current brand in 2024. Its strength is combining bar-trained hospitality with the expression of small-batch brewing.
MugiNow that I know the background, I want to drink it even more! Next let's start with the Kumadori IPA, then finish with the Weizen and complete the whole "Ginza bubbles" set!
First Appearance Marking a Milestone for Matsuya Ginza
From Tuesday, April 29, 2025, a national holiday, through Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the orca Ginza Brewery made its first appearance at the "Ginza Awa Festival" held in the Food Event Space on the basement first floor of Matsuya Ginza. According to public information, a special bar was set up at the venue where visitors could enjoy craft beer from the brewery as well as Champagne from Gourmarche Vin.
Lineup and Prices
The sales lineup featured three craft beers and one Champagne. The beers were "Kumadori Lager," "Kumadori IPA," and "Weizen," each priced at 990 yen for 220 ml. For takeaway, small bottles of Lager and IPA (330 ml) were sold for 990 yen. The Champagne offering was "Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel by Matsuya Ginza," priced at 1,540 yen for 90 ml.
Context as a Ginza-Based Brewery
orca Ginza Brewery, located in Ginza, Chuo Ward, Tokyo, has its roots in Mondbar, an authentic bar founded in 1985. After obtaining a brewing license in 2015, it moved into full-scale craft beer production, and in 2024 it was relaunched as "orca Ginza Brewery." Its background combines service culture inherited from the bar scene with the expressive potential of small-batch brewing.
This appearance can be seen as an example of a local Ginza brewery widely presenting its signature beers on the stage of a major department store anniversary project. The venue also featured Ginza Kimuraya, Bangera's Kitchen, Kitaoji, and Sushi Ginza Onodera, creating a composition that highlighted a layered Ginza food experience with strong dining appeal.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroBig Ginza news: orca Ginza Brewery made its first appearance at Matsuya Ginza's 100th anniversary "Ginza Awa Festival"!
MugiWhat! Craft beer at a department store?! And the name "Awa Festival" already makes me want to drink!
Hop BroThe event ran from April 29 to May 6, 2025, and at the special bar on the basement floor they were offering a tasting of craft beer and Champagne.
MugiOh wow! Not just beer, but Champagne too? That feels so Ginza and sparkly!
Hop BroThe lineup was three beers: Kumadori Lager, Kumadori IPA, and Weizen. Each was 990 yen for 220 ml. The Champagne was Piper-Heidsieck at 1,540 yen for 90 ml. Basically, it was a lineup that put the character of each kind of bubble side by side.
MugiWhat is that! Lager, IPA, Weizen - I know the names, but they're all getting tangled up in my head!
Hop BroBroadly speaking, lager is crisp, IPA has bright hop aroma, and Weizen is softer, made from wheat, with a banana-like fragrance. In more technical terms, it comes down to differences in fermentation yeast and hop design.
MugiFermentation yeast and hop design?! Suddenly it's a lab! But if it's "crisp, bright, and soft," even I can pick one!
Hop BroWhat's more, orca's roots go back to Mondbar, founded in 1985. It got its brewing license in 2015 and was relaunched under the current brand in 2024. Its strength is combining bar-trained hospitality with the expression of small-batch brewing.
MugiNow that I know the background, I want to drink it even more! Next let's start with the Kumadori IPA, then finish with the Weizen and complete the whole "Ginza bubbles" set!
