Tochigi’s Mingel unveils new "Tanememi," a Rice Pilsner
Mingel Farmhouse Beer & Bread (Mingel) in Mashiko, Tochigi, revealed its new beer "Tanememi" on Instagram. The style is Rice Pilsner, and the ABV is 5%. It is designed to balance the gentle sweetness of malt with a crisp finish, using Koshihikari rice grown in the local Ooba district.
Hop BroMugi-chan, Mingel in Tochigi just released a new one! It’s called "Tanememi," and it’s a new Rice Pilsner.
MugiWhoa, cute name! But if it’s rice, is it a rice beer? ABV 5% sounds light and easy to drink!
Hop BroExactly, and they used Koshihikari rice grown in Mashiko’s Ooba district, so the local rice as a supplementary ingredient is the key point.
MugiWhat, really! By supplementary ingredient, you mean a helper for the main malt? Like the beer’s benchwarmer?
Hop BroThat’s a great analogy! The malt creates that malty sweetness, and the rice adds crispness. It finishes with herbal bitterness.
MugiHmm! But what does "malty" taste like? In my head it’s giving me a freshly baked loaf of bread vibe!
Hop BroThat’s pretty close. It means the sweetness and umami of malt. Mingel isn’t going all-in on dryness; they built this with lager richness in mind.
MugiI saw that in the article too! It’s also being used as a return gift for the Tsuna Shrine restoration project, so the fusion of local culture and beer is amazing!
Hop BroThat’s exactly what their "Your Local Brewery × Bakery Cafe BAR Since 2024" philosophy is about. It really feels like brewing the local context into the beer.
MugiI can’t wait anymore! Let’s toast with "Tanememi" tonight, and let’s fully check out that first sip of crispness!
On March 20, 2026, Mingel announced its new beer "<Mingel's Beer # 19> Tanememi" in an Instagram post. According to the information released, the style is Rice Pilsner and the ABV is 5%.
In the post, the beer’s design was described as a "simple pilsner lager." A defining feature is the use of Koshihikari rice grown in the Ooba district with spring water by volunteers who studied agriculture in Mashiko as a supplementary ingredient. The flavor is built to retain the gentle sweetness derived from malt while adding crispness through the addition of rice, finishing with the herbal bitterness of hops.
Mingel also explained that this rice lager was not intended to end as a merely dry beer, but was brewed with an awareness of the malty character it considers essential to lager, meaning the sweetness and umami of malt. It is presented as a drink that is easy to enjoy while aiming for a character distinct from typical major-brand lagers.
In addition, this "Tanememi" was also selected as a return gift for the crowdfunding campaign for the Tsuna Shrine restoration project, which is considered one of Mashiko’s representative shrines. It appears to be a strongly local new release, layering local rice, local culture, and the brewery’s interpretation.
Mingel is a brewery based in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture, operating under the banner of "Your Local Brewery × Bakery Cafe BAR Since 2024". With this new release as well, the brewery clearly emphasizes its approach of weaving local ingredients and context into its beer.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroMugi-chan, Mingel in Tochigi just released a new one! It’s called "Tanememi," and it’s a new Rice Pilsner.
MugiWhoa, cute name! But if it’s rice, is it a rice beer? ABV 5% sounds light and easy to drink!
Hop BroExactly, and they used Koshihikari rice grown in Mashiko’s Ooba district, so the local rice as a supplementary ingredient is the key point.
MugiWhat, really! By supplementary ingredient, you mean a helper for the main malt? Like the beer’s benchwarmer?
Hop BroThat’s a great analogy! The malt creates that malty sweetness, and the rice adds crispness. It finishes with herbal bitterness.
MugiHmm! But what does "malty" taste like? In my head it’s giving me a freshly baked loaf of bread vibe!
Hop BroThat’s pretty close. It means the sweetness and umami of malt. Mingel isn’t going all-in on dryness; they built this with lager richness in mind.
MugiI saw that in the article too! It’s also being used as a return gift for the Tsuna Shrine restoration project, so the fusion of local culture and beer is amazing!
Hop BroThat’s exactly what their "Your Local Brewery × Bakery Cafe BAR Since 2024" philosophy is about. It really feels like brewing the local context into the beer.
MugiI can’t wait anymore! Let’s toast with "Tanememi" tonight, and let’s fully check out that first sip of crispness!
