At karuizawa Q (goodafternoon_taproom), the house-brewed beer “Toasa” was announced. The style is New Zealand IPA, with an alcohol content of 6.5% and an IBU of 35. In the post, it was explained that New Zealand hops such as Nelson Sauvin and Motueka take center stage, while lager yeast gives the beer a clean finish.

The aroma impression is bright, with notes reminiscent of peach and lychee. That is paired with a dry drinkability and fine-grained bitterness, creating a beer that goes down smoothly. Even as it highlights the hops' expressive character, the recipe is carefully shaped, so it should appeal both to people who love aroma-forward IPAs and to those looking for a balance that won't tire the palate.

The post also mentioned that the beer was brewed against the backdrop of warmer weather gradually returning to Karuizawa in March. A comment noting that the aroma was intended to suit the spring air also conveys how much attention was paid to seasonality.

The brewpub karuizawa Q is appealing because you can enjoy the beer of the day alongside the food. Business hours are 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with last orders at 9:00 p.m. At the time of the post, the evening hours were said to be fully booked, so it is wise to check in advance if you are planning a visit. For anyone in Naka-Karuizawa who wants to drink a house-brewed NZ IPA, this is a beer worth noting.