Horsehead Labs posts a "thank you" after winning three awards at IBC2025
On February 26, Shizuoka's Horsehead Labs published an Instagram post titled "...". In context, the post expressed gratitude for its awards at the International Beer Cup 2025. According to the officially published awards list, three of the brewery's beers won medals.
Hop BroShizuoka's HORSEHEAD LABS won awards for three beers at the International Beer Cup 2025! The February 26 Instagram post was a "thank you" message, and it was seriously heartwarming.
MugiWhat! Three at once!? Isn't that way too strong!?
Hop BroAnd the breakdown is great too: Sake Lees IPA got GOLD, Kambara Hazy (KAMBARA HAZY) got SILVER, and SURUGA NO SHIZUKU / Shizura's Ale also got SILVER.
MugiHuh, they all sound delicious just from the names! But is Sake Lees IPA kind of like amazake?
Hop BroClose, but not quite. It uses the richness of sake lees while designing it to bring out the hop aroma you'd expect from an IPA. It's the kind of beer that gives the mouthfeel more body.
MugiMouth... feel? Like, the feeling of mice?
Hop BroNo mice! I mean the sensation in your mouth. Nuances like light, smooth, or velvety drinking texture.
MugiI get it! Then Kambara Hazy is "hazy and juicy," and Shizura's Ale is like "clean with a local vibe"?
Hop BroYou've got it exactly! Horsehead Labs calls itself an experimental group in Kambara-juku, and what's amazing is that they earned recognition across all these differently styled beers by using Fuji foothills water and local ingredients.
MugiI'm starting to understand the weight of that "thank you" post... Okay, today I'm finding a place where I can drink while talking about those three beers right now!
Shizuoka craft brewery Horsehead Labs posted on Instagram at 9:02 a.m. on February 26 with a post titled "...". Despite the brief title, it was a message full of clues for beer fans about their next pour.
Looking at the primary source for the awards, the official International Beer Cup 2025 winners list includes multiple entries from the brewery. The confirmed winners were,
- Sake Lees IPA: GOLD
- Kambara Hazy (KAMBARA HAZY): SILVER
- SURUGA NO SHIZUKU / Shizura's Ale: SILVER
All are listed with Shizuoka as their location, and Yusuke Takami as the brewing director. This was not a one-off hit; the brewery was recognized for beers in different directions. The awards reflect, from different angles, the appeal of craft beer: vivid hop expression, designs that make use of local ingredients, and the completeness of the drinking experience.
Horsehead Labs describes itself on its official website as "a group of experimenters making all kinds of alcoholic beverages in Kambara-juku, a post town in Shizuoka City." Against the backdrop of water and land characteristics from the foothills of Mount Fuji, they have been shaping adventurous recipes, and that attitude likely led to this result as well. The award report's "thank you" is both an honest message to the drinkers and business partners who have supported them and a quiet preview of the next batch.
Official information:
- Instagram post
- IBC2025 awards list (PDF)
- HORSEHEAD LABS official site
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroShizuoka's HORSEHEAD LABS won awards for three beers at the International Beer Cup 2025! The February 26 Instagram post was a "thank you" message, and it was seriously heartwarming.
MugiWhat! Three at once!? Isn't that way too strong!?
Hop BroAnd the breakdown is great too: Sake Lees IPA got GOLD, Kambara Hazy (KAMBARA HAZY) got SILVER, and SURUGA NO SHIZUKU / Shizura's Ale also got SILVER.
MugiHuh, they all sound delicious just from the names! But is Sake Lees IPA kind of like amazake?
Hop BroClose, but not quite. It uses the richness of sake lees while designing it to bring out the hop aroma you'd expect from an IPA. It's the kind of beer that gives the mouthfeel more body.
MugiMouth... feel? Like, the feeling of mice?
Hop BroNo mice! I mean the sensation in your mouth. Nuances like light, smooth, or velvety drinking texture.
MugiI get it! Then Kambara Hazy is "hazy and juicy," and Shizura's Ale is like "clean with a local vibe"?
Hop BroYou've got it exactly! Horsehead Labs calls itself an experimental group in Kambara-juku, and what's amazing is that they earned recognition across all these differently styled beers by using Fuji foothills water and local ingredients.
MugiI'm starting to understand the weight of that "thank you" post... Okay, today I'm finding a place where I can drink while talking about those three beers right now!
