Nito Brewing Releases 'DARK VIENNA LAGER WITH WASABI & SHOYU' as the Fourth Hanafuda Series Release
Nito Brewing has released 'DARK VIENNA LAGER WITH WASABI & SHOYU' as the fourth installment of its 2026 project that uses hanafuda cards on the label and expresses Japanese seasonal ingredients month by month. It uses soy sauce from Shiga's Mizutani Soy Sauce Brewery, layering wasabi and soy sauce flavors onto a dark Vienna lager.
Hop BroHave you heard that Nito Brewing put out the fourth Hanafuda Series release, 'DARK VIENNA LAGER WITH WASABI & SHOYU'? It's the one themed around April's 'Wisteria and the Cuckoo,' and even the name alone is packed with information.
MugiWait, they put wasabi and soy sauce into beer!? That's less a drink and more a Japanese-food incident, isn't it!?
Hop BroThat's the interesting part: the base is a dark Vienna lager. It's dark in color but not too heavy, with a gentle richness, so it's a style that can comfortably hold up Japanese ingredients.
MugiDark Vienna lager? That suddenly sounds like some kind of spell! It's a lager, but dark?
Hop BroSimply put, it's bottom-fermented with lager yeast at low temperatures, so it still has a clean, crisp foundation. Then a little roasted malt is added to bring out deeper color and aroma.
MugiOhhh! And this time the soy sauce is from Mizutani Soy Sauce Brewery in Shiga, right? 170 years old? That's basically a legend in the soy sauce world!
Hop BroExactly, and what's clever is how they layer in a subtle wasabi note. They don't make it punch you in the face; instead, they quietly sharpen the aroma and slowly broaden the umami.
MugiSo it's not a heavy-hitter, but more of a slow-building umami type? Now I'm even more curious...!
Hop BroAnd Nito Brewing is a brewery in Omihachiman that champions Beer for everyone. They draw not only from European tradition, but also from newer movements in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S., so their ideas feel very flexible.
MugiI get it, so even when they take a curveball approach, it still makes sense! And I love that, including the hanafuda label, it really feels Japanese!
Hop BroExactly. What I like is that this isn't just a gimmick; it really connects Shiga ingredients and lager in a thoughtful way. I think it would pair especially well with Japanese food and quietly deliver a lot of flavor.
MugiNow I definitely want to drink this with snacks! It feels like one of those beers that makes the table more fun, and if I had it tonight, I'd probably open it right away!
Nito Brewing's new release, 'DARK VIENNA LAGER WITH WASABI & SHOYU,' is part of the special 2026 'Hanafuda' label project. It is positioned as the fourth entry in the Hanafuda series, themed around the April hanafuda card 'Wisteria and the Cuckoo,' and is being sold in 360 ml cans and six-pack sets.
The defining feature this time is the use of soy sauce from the long-established Mizutani Soy Sauce Brewery in Shiga. By incorporating a local soy sauce with 170 years of history, the beer is designed to pair the gentle richness of a dark Vienna lager with a subtle hint of wasabi and the deep umami of soy sauce. Rather than pushing aroma or bitterness to the forefront, it quietly layers the contours of Japanese ingredients.
Nito Brewing is based in Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture, and continues brewing near Hachiman-bori and Lake Biwa in Omihachiman. The company name comes from the proverb 'If you chase two rabbits, you catch neither,' and it promotes 'Beer for everyone' through a broad range of styles. Influenced by both European tradition and the newer brewing cultures of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, it has also incorporated local ingredients such as wheat, Japanese pepper, yuzu, and kumquat.
With that background in mind, this new beer is more than just an oddball release. It is fair to say it is a locally minded proposal in true Nito Brewing fashion, bringing together Shiga ingredients, the structure of a lager, and the distinctly Japanese motif of hanafuda in a single can. As a beer designed with Japanese cuisine in mind, it is also an intriguing one to imagine on the table.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHave you heard that Nito Brewing put out the fourth Hanafuda Series release, 'DARK VIENNA LAGER WITH WASABI & SHOYU'? It's the one themed around April's 'Wisteria and the Cuckoo,' and even the name alone is packed with information.
MugiWait, they put wasabi and soy sauce into beer!? That's less a drink and more a Japanese-food incident, isn't it!?
Hop BroThat's the interesting part: the base is a dark Vienna lager. It's dark in color but not too heavy, with a gentle richness, so it's a style that can comfortably hold up Japanese ingredients.
MugiDark Vienna lager? That suddenly sounds like some kind of spell! It's a lager, but dark?
Hop BroSimply put, it's bottom-fermented with lager yeast at low temperatures, so it still has a clean, crisp foundation. Then a little roasted malt is added to bring out deeper color and aroma.
MugiOhhh! And this time the soy sauce is from Mizutani Soy Sauce Brewery in Shiga, right? 170 years old? That's basically a legend in the soy sauce world!
Hop BroExactly, and what's clever is how they layer in a subtle wasabi note. They don't make it punch you in the face; instead, they quietly sharpen the aroma and slowly broaden the umami.
MugiSo it's not a heavy-hitter, but more of a slow-building umami type? Now I'm even more curious...!
Hop BroAnd Nito Brewing is a brewery in Omihachiman that champions Beer for everyone. They draw not only from European tradition, but also from newer movements in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S., so their ideas feel very flexible.
MugiI get it, so even when they take a curveball approach, it still makes sense! And I love that, including the hanafuda label, it really feels Japanese!
Hop BroExactly. What I like is that this isn't just a gimmick; it really connects Shiga ingredients and lager in a thoughtful way. I think it would pair especially well with Japanese food and quietly deliver a lot of flavor.
MugiNow I definitely want to drink this with snacks! It feels like one of those beers that makes the table more fun, and if I had it tonight, I'd probably open it right away!
