Two kegs tapped at once at Shinsen's Hirano-ya Sake Shop / Beer Stand Hirano-ya: Belgian and Y Market draft beers
At the beer pub Hirano-ya Sake Shop / Beer Stand Hirano-ya in Shinsen, Tokyo, Belgium's "MALHEUR SPECIAL 8" and Y Market Brewing's "Pomander Squeeze" were tapped at the same time. A rich triple blonde layered with herbs stood alongside a light fruit ale scented with Arita mandarin oranges.
Hop BroThis time, Shinsen's two-keg simultaneous tap lineup at Hirano-ya Sake Shop / Beer Stand Hirano-ya brings together distinct beers from Belgium and Nagoya.
MugiWhoa! That sounds intense right from the start! Belgium and Nagoya together feels like an international conference lineup, doesn't it?
Hop BroOn the left is De Landtsheer Brewery's MALHEUR SPECIAL 8, and on the right is Y Market Brewing's Pomander Squeeze, which is fun because the two beers go in completely opposite directions.
MugiWait, hold on, what's a triple blonde? It sounds powerful, like some three-stage blonde transformation!
Hop BroIn short, it's a golden-style beer with the higher alcohol and complexity typical of Belgian beers, and because the layers of herbs are so pronounced, the aroma seems to unfold in several dimensions.
MugiI see. That sounds like something that would make noise in your head when you drink it. So how does the citrus and pine aroma come through?
Hop BroMALHEUR SPECIAL 8 also layers in elderberry notes and the sweet fruitiness from dry hopping, so there's a lot going on in a single sip.
MugiThat's a lot of information for the brain to handle! So the other one, Pomander Squeeze, is easier to drink?
Hop BroExactly. This one from Y Market Brewing is a fruit ale scented with Arita mandarin oranges, with a light body and a clean balance of honey-like sweetness and spice.
MugiAnd if the aroma opens up as it warms, it sounds perfect for slowly drinking outside! It seems like it would fit the spring air.
Hop BroThe appeal of Shinsen's guest beers is being able to compare a heavy Belgian beer with a light fruit ale.
MugiAll right, I've decided: I want to do a tasting comparison in Shinsen today! Hop, which should I start with?
Hop BroStart with the lighter Pomander Squeeze to get your palate going, then finish with MALHEUR SPECIAL 8 and sink into its rich lingering finish.
At Hirano-ya Sake Shop / Beer Stand Hirano-ya in Shinsen, a post announcing changes to the guest keg lineup was published. This update features two kegs tapped at once. From left to right are two contrasting beers: a Belgian triple blonde-style beer and a fruit ale from Nagoya.
Tap lineup
- MALHEUR SPECIAL 8 / De Landtsheer Brewery (Belgium)
- Pomander Squeeze / Y Market Brewing (Nagoya)
The first beer, MALHEUR SPECIAL 8, is a special edition based on the flagship Malheur series from De Landtsheer Brewery. Built on an 8% triple blonde, it combines several herbs, with layers of citrus aroma, elderberry, pine-like nuances, and sweet fruitiness from dry hopping. It is a beer for those who want to fully enjoy the complexity that is so characteristic of Belgian styles.
The second beer, Pomander Squeeze, is a fruit ale from Y Market Brewing that combines Arita mandarin oranges, cloves, and Belgian yeast. It pours a deep orange color with a light body. It has honey-like aromas and spice, while the refreshing bitterness from mandarin peel rounds out the finish. The post notes that the aroma opens up as the temperature rises, making it a good choice for spring drinking outdoors.
Hirano-ya Sake Shop / Beer Stand Hirano-ya is a beer pub in Shinsen that is fun for tracking the movement of guest beers. When they line up a Belgian beer and a domestic brewery beer like this, the different directions of draft beer become especially clear. It is a place worth checking out on days when you want to compare a hearty Belgian beer with a seasonal fruit ale.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroThis time, Shinsen's two-keg simultaneous tap lineup at Hirano-ya Sake Shop / Beer Stand Hirano-ya brings together distinct beers from Belgium and Nagoya.
MugiWhoa! That sounds intense right from the start! Belgium and Nagoya together feels like an international conference lineup, doesn't it?
Hop BroOn the left is De Landtsheer Brewery's MALHEUR SPECIAL 8, and on the right is Y Market Brewing's Pomander Squeeze, which is fun because the two beers go in completely opposite directions.
MugiWait, hold on, what's a triple blonde? It sounds powerful, like some three-stage blonde transformation!
Hop BroIn short, it's a golden-style beer with the higher alcohol and complexity typical of Belgian beers, and because the layers of herbs are so pronounced, the aroma seems to unfold in several dimensions.
MugiI see. That sounds like something that would make noise in your head when you drink it. So how does the citrus and pine aroma come through?
Hop BroMALHEUR SPECIAL 8 also layers in elderberry notes and the sweet fruitiness from dry hopping, so there's a lot going on in a single sip.
MugiThat's a lot of information for the brain to handle! So the other one, Pomander Squeeze, is easier to drink?
Hop BroExactly. This one from Y Market Brewing is a fruit ale scented with Arita mandarin oranges, with a light body and a clean balance of honey-like sweetness and spice.
MugiAnd if the aroma opens up as it warms, it sounds perfect for slowly drinking outside! It seems like it would fit the spring air.
Hop BroThe appeal of Shinsen's guest beers is being able to compare a heavy Belgian beer with a light fruit ale.
MugiAll right, I've decided: I want to do a tasting comparison in Shinsen today! Hop, which should I start with?
Hop BroStart with the lighter Pomander Squeeze to get your palate going, then finish with MALHEUR SPECIAL 8 and sink into its rich lingering finish.
