Sakura Taps taps three new beers after 11th anniversary week, including Shiga Kogen IPA
Yokohama beer pub Sakura Taps tapped three new beers on April 6, the Monday after its 11th anniversary week ended. The lineup featured Shiga Kogen Beer’s hazy IPA and two collaboration beers from Nara Brewing and Kaze no Mori, while the daily rotating eight taps continue to offer plenty of variety.
Hop BroThe Yokohama beer pub's three new taps at Sakura Taps are the hot topic. Right after 11th anniversary week, Shiga Kogen Beer and Nara Brewing x Kaze no Mori showed up in a big way.
MugiWhoa, they’re already releasing new stuff right after the anniversary ends!? With eight rotating taps every day, my stomach can’t keep up!
Hop BroFirst up is Shiga Kogen Beer’s Snow Monkey IPA. It’s built around American and Australian hops, with a grapefruit-like aroma and a firm bitterness and dryness that feel very Shiga Kogen.
MugiHuh, so even though it’s hazy, it has solid bitterness!? So it’s not just fluffy and sweet. I let the name fool me!
Hop BroExactly. It also has hints of passion fruit and white peach, so bright citrus and fruitiness keep taking turns. It’s the kind of beer that keeps your face busy every sip.
MugiThat sounds fun! So what kind of beer is Nara Brewing x Kaze no Mori’s UNDERWATER :LUMINOUS?
Hop BroThis one feels like a lower-ginjo-aroma version. It brings forward aromas like red-fleshed watermelon, honeyed apple, and ramune, and the sweet-tart character plus lively carbonation make it go down easily.
MugiWatermelon, apple, and ramune!? That’s a roller coaster of aromas! It sounds like the lineup at a summer festival stall!
Hop BroThe original UNDERWATER is interesting too. It’s a collaboration brewed with sake yeast, brewing water, and even soyashi water, and the 2026 version was fermented cold for a long time, so it’s gentle but has a beautifully lingering finish.
MugiI’d never even heard of soyashi water... Once sake-inspired ideas get involved, beer somehow feels a bit more elegant!
Hop BroAnd the day’s lineup also had Numazu Craft’s EX Oat Brown Ale, Sakura Taps x Numazu Craft’s Yoshidacho Helles 2026, and Noroshi Cold IPA, so it was a perfect setup to get happily lost.
MugiI want to get lost! Today I’d want to take my time sampling in that calm interior, and finish with a toast to Snow Monkey or UNDERWATER!
On April 6, Sakura Taps announced three new beers on tap on the first business day after wrapping up its 11th anniversary week. Looking back on the five-day anniversary run, the pub said it will keep working hard in its 12th year to make guests even happier.
The stars of the day were Shiga Kogen Beer’s "Snow Monkey IPA," Nara Brewing x Kaze no Mori’s "UNDERWATER :LUMINOUS," and Nara Brewing x Kaze no Mori’s "UNDERWATER."
"Snow Monkey IPA" is centered on American and Australian hops, and is characterized by aromas reminiscent of grapefruit and bright citrus notes like pink grapefruit. While it also carries nuances evoking passion fruit and white peach, it is presented as a hazy IPA that retains Shiga Kogen’s trademark firm bitterness and dry finish.
Meanwhile, "UNDERWATER :LUMINOUS" is a derivative version that tones down the ginjo aroma found in "UNDERWATER" while bringing forward aromas reminiscent of red-fleshed watermelon, honey-filled apples, and ramune. Its mouthfeel is sweet and tart, and moderate carbonation supports its light, easygoing character.
"UNDERWATER" is a collaboration beer by Nara Brewing and Kaze no Mori, brewed using sake yeast, brewing water, and soyashi water used in Japanese sake. The 2026 version was fermented at low temperature for an extended period, resulting in a gentle ginjo aroma with a long, lingering finish.
The tap list that day also included Numazu Craft’s "EX Oat Brown Ale," Sakura Taps x Numazu Craft’s "Yoshidacho Helles 2026," Noroshi Brewing’s "Noroshi Cold IPA," Shonan Beer’s "Sakura Gose," and Faló Brewing’s "HBD." In the calm atmosphere of the shop, Sakura Taps offers the appeal of lingering over food and drinks while sampling the daily rotating eight taps.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroThe Yokohama beer pub's three new taps at Sakura Taps are the hot topic. Right after 11th anniversary week, Shiga Kogen Beer and Nara Brewing x Kaze no Mori showed up in a big way.
MugiWhoa, they’re already releasing new stuff right after the anniversary ends!? With eight rotating taps every day, my stomach can’t keep up!
Hop BroFirst up is Shiga Kogen Beer’s Snow Monkey IPA. It’s built around American and Australian hops, with a grapefruit-like aroma and a firm bitterness and dryness that feel very Shiga Kogen.
MugiHuh, so even though it’s hazy, it has solid bitterness!? So it’s not just fluffy and sweet. I let the name fool me!
Hop BroExactly. It also has hints of passion fruit and white peach, so bright citrus and fruitiness keep taking turns. It’s the kind of beer that keeps your face busy every sip.
MugiThat sounds fun! So what kind of beer is Nara Brewing x Kaze no Mori’s UNDERWATER :LUMINOUS?
Hop BroThis one feels like a lower-ginjo-aroma version. It brings forward aromas like red-fleshed watermelon, honeyed apple, and ramune, and the sweet-tart character plus lively carbonation make it go down easily.
MugiWatermelon, apple, and ramune!? That’s a roller coaster of aromas! It sounds like the lineup at a summer festival stall!
Hop BroThe original UNDERWATER is interesting too. It’s a collaboration brewed with sake yeast, brewing water, and even soyashi water, and the 2026 version was fermented cold for a long time, so it’s gentle but has a beautifully lingering finish.
MugiI’d never even heard of soyashi water... Once sake-inspired ideas get involved, beer somehow feels a bit more elegant!
Hop BroAnd the day’s lineup also had Numazu Craft’s EX Oat Brown Ale, Sakura Taps x Numazu Craft’s Yoshidacho Helles 2026, and Noroshi Cold IPA, so it was a perfect setup to get happily lost.
MugiI want to get lost! Today I’d want to take my time sampling in that calm interior, and finish with a toast to Snow Monkey or UNDERWATER!
