HOP MAN in Chigasaki taps Shonan Beer's Helles
HOP MAN, a beer pub in Chigasaki, Kanagawa, has tapped Shonan Beer’s Helles. The beer is presented as a revival of the style first brewed in 1996, using decoction brewing and Czech Saaz hops for a gentle, easy-drinking lager.
Hop BroHOP MAN in Chigasaki just tapped Shonan Beer Helles. It is a revival lager based on the brewery's first 1996 batch, and that kind of backstory pulls you in right away.
MugiWhat! A revival lager already sounds like something I want to drink! But is Helles different from those huge, loud IPA aroma bombs?
Hop BroThat is the charm. A traditional South German lager is all about bright golden color and calm, balanced drinkability. At HOP MAN, with around 30 rotating drafts, it makes perfect sense as a first glass.
MugiWait, the article mentioned decoction brewing. What is that? It sounds less like beer and more like a wizard exam!
Hop BroIt sounds intense, but it is really an old-school brewing method. You boil part of the mash and add it back, which helps create that fresh-baked bread aroma and a deeper malt character.
MugiOkay, so the little bit of Carahell malt is part of that toasty team too?
Hop BroExactly. It is a small but important supporting player. Then they use Czech Saaz hops for a refined aroma and keep the bitterness gentle instead of flashy.
MugiSaaz sounds like it should hit hard, so soft bitterness is not what I expected! I thought craft beer was all about maximum impact!
Hop BroThen the lager yeast works at low temperature, which gives it a really crisp malt profile. There is sweetness, but the finish still comes off clean and tidy.
MugiThat sounds amazing with fried chicken or sausages. Easy with food is a real superpower for a beer!
Hop BroAnd since they have brewed it about once a year after the 2021 anniversary revival, the pint on tap now feels a little special.
MugiThat does it, I am sold. I want a golden Helles as my first glass at HOP MAN in Chigasaki.
New tap
HOP MAN, a beer pub in Tenmanzaka, Chigasaki City, Kanagawa, has added Shonan Beer’s Helles to its lineup. The bar is known for pouring around 30 rotating draft beers a day, and it also operates a bottle shop.
The Helles on tap is a revival based on the style first brewed by Shonan Beer in 1996. Since a 25th-anniversary recreation in 2021, it has reportedly been brewed about once a year. True to the classic southern German lager style, it pours a clear golden color and focuses on a calm, approachable drinking profile rather than loud aromatics.
The brew uses Pilsner malt with a small amount of Karamel malt, and it recreates the old-school decoction method. For the 2026 batch, Czech Saaz hops and lager yeast were used, with a long, cold fermentation. The result is said to bring a baked-bread aroma, crisp malt sweetness, and a soft bitterness that finishes cleanly.
In a craft beer scene often dominated by hop-forward IPAs, a Helles like this stands out as a food-friendly option. At HOP MAN, with its broad tap selection in Chigasaki, it works well both as a first pint and as a companion to a meal.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHOP MAN in Chigasaki just tapped Shonan Beer Helles. It is a revival lager based on the brewery's first 1996 batch, and that kind of backstory pulls you in right away.
MugiWhat! A revival lager already sounds like something I want to drink! But is Helles different from those huge, loud IPA aroma bombs?
Hop BroThat is the charm. A traditional South German lager is all about bright golden color and calm, balanced drinkability. At HOP MAN, with around 30 rotating drafts, it makes perfect sense as a first glass.
MugiWait, the article mentioned decoction brewing. What is that? It sounds less like beer and more like a wizard exam!
Hop BroIt sounds intense, but it is really an old-school brewing method. You boil part of the mash and add it back, which helps create that fresh-baked bread aroma and a deeper malt character.
MugiOkay, so the little bit of Carahell malt is part of that toasty team too?
Hop BroExactly. It is a small but important supporting player. Then they use Czech Saaz hops for a refined aroma and keep the bitterness gentle instead of flashy.
MugiSaaz sounds like it should hit hard, so soft bitterness is not what I expected! I thought craft beer was all about maximum impact!
Hop BroThen the lager yeast works at low temperature, which gives it a really crisp malt profile. There is sweetness, but the finish still comes off clean and tidy.
MugiThat sounds amazing with fried chicken or sausages. Easy with food is a real superpower for a beer!
Hop BroAnd since they have brewed it about once a year after the 2021 anniversary revival, the pint on tap now feels a little special.
MugiThat does it, I am sold. I want a golden Helles as my first glass at HOP MAN in Chigasaki.
