Torii-do Brewing Rebrews Its Kanuma Shumai-Exclusive Beer, Updating the Flavor with Sansho and Anise
Torii-do Brewing in Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture, has once again begun serving "Kanuma Shumai Exclusive! Exotic Beer," a collaboration beer designed with shumai pairing in mind. Its spice-driven design, using sansho and anise seed, gives it a distinctive character as a meal-time beer.
Hop BroToday, I'm talking about how Torii-do Brewing's Kanuma Shumai Exclusive! Exotic Beer is back after being rebrewed.
MugiWait, there's really a beer that's exclusive for shumai!? Just the name makes me hungry!
Hop BroThere is. The base is a spiced wit, and the key point is that it uses sansho and anise seed instead of orange peel and coriander.
MugiSansho and anise!? When they say citrus notes and a kick, I can't even picture it. It sounds like a seasoning meeting is underway!
Hop BroThat's what makes it interesting. The sansho is added by hand-grounding it, aiming for that aroma that rises afterward. When it overlaps with the sweet, refreshing aroma of the anise seed, it gains a lot of character even on its own.
MugiI see, so the sweet, refreshing aroma means it's not just spicy. It sounds a little grown-up, but easy to drink!
Hop BroExactly. And the design philosophy is clear: it's a meal beer that shows its real value when paired with shumai.
MugiSo it's not just a side character to the food, but a partner that makes the contours of the dish stand out? It suddenly feels like a very dependable senior!
Hop BroThat's right. With ABV 5%, IBU 17, and SRM 3, it has a light body, so it doesn't feel heavy, and the soft acidity from the wheat comes through too.
MugiAnd if you can enjoy it together with Kanuma's local specialty, it makes me want to drink it on-site. Only a one-minute walk from Tobu-Shin-Kanuma Station? That's too tempting to be so close!
Hop BroIt's a very Torii-do Brewing kind of translation of local flavors. A glass like this with shumai in hand makes me want to gather at the tap right now.
MugiYeah, I completely want to drink it too! Goes down smoothly but becomes addictive, that's the most dangerous kind!
A glass made for shumai
Torii-do Brewing's "Kanuma Shumai Exclusive! Exotic Beer" is a collaboration beer crafted on the premise that it will be paired with Kanuma's local specialty, shumai. It drew a strong response at the pre-opening and sold out quickly, but this time it has returned to the tap with an updated flavor profile.
The base is a spiced wit style. Its biggest distinguishing feature is that, instead of the orange peel and coriander seed commonly used in standard recipes, it uses sansho and anise seed. The sansho is ground by hand before being added, aiming for a citrus-like lift and a gentle tingle that rises afterward. The sweet, refreshing aroma of the anise seed is layered in as well, giving it a fragrant profile that stands on its own.
Designed to be completed through pairing
The beer's design philosophy is straightforward: it is not meant to stand alone, but to show its true value when paired with shumai. Torii-do Brewing positions it not as something that merely washes away fat, but as a partner that brings the contours of the dish into sharper focus. Its light body and easy-drinking finish, along with the soft acidity derived from wheat, create a balance that does not get in the way of the meal.
The specs are ABV 5%, IBU 17, and SRM 3. Its appearance is creamy yellow, and the flavor notes are described as sansho, anise, licorice, and mandarin orange. Staff tasting notes included praise such as, "It has a quirky edge, but it goes down smoothly, and before you know it, you're hooked." The recipe is also designed to pair well with Chinese cuisine more broadly, making it fun to explore combinations beyond shumai.
A new destination in Kanuma
Torii-do Brewing is a brewery that started as the first craft beer brewery in Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture, and it is located just a one-minute walk from Tobu-Shin-Kanuma Station. Its strength lies in creating a place where people can enjoy Kanuma shumai and craft beer together, with the flavors of the region experienced as one.
This latest beer is interesting because it does not simply accompany the local specialty as-is; instead, the beer itself steps toward the food. As one answer to the question of how to translate Kanuma's food culture into beer, it is a finished product that clearly reflects Torii-do Brewing's character.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday, I'm talking about how Torii-do Brewing's Kanuma Shumai Exclusive! Exotic Beer is back after being rebrewed.
MugiWait, there's really a beer that's exclusive for shumai!? Just the name makes me hungry!
Hop BroThere is. The base is a spiced wit, and the key point is that it uses sansho and anise seed instead of orange peel and coriander.
MugiSansho and anise!? When they say citrus notes and a kick, I can't even picture it. It sounds like a seasoning meeting is underway!
Hop BroThat's what makes it interesting. The sansho is added by hand-grounding it, aiming for that aroma that rises afterward. When it overlaps with the sweet, refreshing aroma of the anise seed, it gains a lot of character even on its own.
MugiI see, so the sweet, refreshing aroma means it's not just spicy. It sounds a little grown-up, but easy to drink!
Hop BroExactly. And the design philosophy is clear: it's a meal beer that shows its real value when paired with shumai.
MugiSo it's not just a side character to the food, but a partner that makes the contours of the dish stand out? It suddenly feels like a very dependable senior!
Hop BroThat's right. With ABV 5%, IBU 17, and SRM 3, it has a light body, so it doesn't feel heavy, and the soft acidity from the wheat comes through too.
MugiAnd if you can enjoy it together with Kanuma's local specialty, it makes me want to drink it on-site. Only a one-minute walk from Tobu-Shin-Kanuma Station? That's too tempting to be so close!
Hop BroIt's a very Torii-do Brewing kind of translation of local flavors. A glass like this with shumai in hand makes me want to gather at the tap right now.
MugiYeah, I completely want to drink it too! Goes down smoothly but becomes addictive, that's the most dangerous kind!
