Craft Ale Chigira to Exhibit at 'CRAFT BEER HOUSE takasaki '26 Spring' in May
Craft Ale Chigira, based in Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, will set up at the craft beer event 'CRAFT BEER HOUSE takasaki '26 Spring' held on May 23 and 24, 2026 at Joshikoen Park in front of Takasaki City Hall. The official site introduces it as a spring beer fest bringing together 20 breweries and 50 vendors.
Hop BroIn springtime Takasaki, Craft Ale Chigira is going to set up at CRAFT BEER HOUSE takasaki '26 Spring. The venue is Joshikoen Park in front of Takasaki City Hall, and free admission makes it even stronger.
MugiWait, it's free admission and it's still that big? And it has not just beer but wine and cocktails too? That's such a festival vibe!
Hop BroExactly. The official guide says it's a spring beer fest bringing together 20 breweries and 50 vendors, so the drinking options are almost too many to choose from. There's food too, so you can alternate between toasts and breaks.
MugiSo Craft Ale Chigira is a name I've heard of, but it only started up in 2024? It's still a young brewery, and yet it's already exhibiting at events. That's impressive momentum!
Hop BroIts origin is a beer they encountered in the U.S., and it was founded by representative Masayuki Chigira. And it's great that they send out beer from Niisato-machi, Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture.
MugiBy the way, what makes using American malt and hops so different? I only know that malt has something to do with barley!
Hop BroSimply put, malt provides the body, while hops handle the aroma and bitterness. Chigira builds around that, and it's especially good at ales like India Pale Ale and Hazy IPA, where the aroma-and-bitterness role is clearly defined.
MugiOhhh! So when a beer has citrus or tropical aromas, it already sounds delicious before you even drink it. And they have dark beers too? That's a wide range!
Hop BroRight. They also have dark styles like India Black Ale and Stout, so you can compare beers with a lot of depth. Since they say they offer seven regular styles, the lineup looks like one you could enjoy from the first stop to the last.
MugiAnd if the label has the mascot dog Hop, it'd be fun to spot it at the venue too! That pint in springtime Takasaki is making me want to go drink there already!
CRAFT ALE CHIGIRA, based in Niisato-machi, Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, will exhibit at 'CRAFT BEER HOUSE takasaki '26 Spring,' which will be held on May 23 and 24, 2026. According to the event's official page, the venue will be Joshikoen Park in front of Takasaki City Hall, and admission is free. The festival will bring together 20 breweries from within and outside the prefecture, offering not only beer but also wine, cocktails, mead, and food.
Craft Ale Chigira says on its official website that it obtained its brewing license in June 2024, began brewing, and started sales in August of the same year. Led by representative and craftsman Masayuki Chigira, the brewery was founded on the memory of a single beer he encountered in the United States, and it delivers beer from Niisato-machi in Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture.
On the brewing side, the brewery focuses on American malt, hops, and yeast, and offers ales built around hop-driven aroma and bitterness. Its regular lineup includes seven styles, such as India Pale Ale, Hazy IPA, India Black Ale, and Stout. The range makes each beer's character easy to compare, with aromas reminiscent of citrus and tropical fruit, as well as the depth of dark styles.
The label features the mascot dog 'Hop,' which should also make it easy to spot at the venue. At springtime Takasaki, it will be worth watching what kind of beer it pours alongside local breweries.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroIn springtime Takasaki, Craft Ale Chigira is going to set up at CRAFT BEER HOUSE takasaki '26 Spring. The venue is Joshikoen Park in front of Takasaki City Hall, and free admission makes it even stronger.
MugiWait, it's free admission and it's still that big? And it has not just beer but wine and cocktails too? That's such a festival vibe!
Hop BroExactly. The official guide says it's a spring beer fest bringing together 20 breweries and 50 vendors, so the drinking options are almost too many to choose from. There's food too, so you can alternate between toasts and breaks.
MugiSo Craft Ale Chigira is a name I've heard of, but it only started up in 2024? It's still a young brewery, and yet it's already exhibiting at events. That's impressive momentum!
Hop BroIts origin is a beer they encountered in the U.S., and it was founded by representative Masayuki Chigira. And it's great that they send out beer from Niisato-machi, Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture.
MugiBy the way, what makes using American malt and hops so different? I only know that malt has something to do with barley!
Hop BroSimply put, malt provides the body, while hops handle the aroma and bitterness. Chigira builds around that, and it's especially good at ales like India Pale Ale and Hazy IPA, where the aroma-and-bitterness role is clearly defined.
MugiOhhh! So when a beer has citrus or tropical aromas, it already sounds delicious before you even drink it. And they have dark beers too? That's a wide range!
Hop BroRight. They also have dark styles like India Black Ale and Stout, so you can compare beers with a lot of depth. Since they say they offer seven regular styles, the lineup looks like one you could enjoy from the first stop to the last.
MugiAnd if the label has the mascot dog Hop, it'd be fun to spot it at the venue too! That pint in springtime Takasaki is making me want to go drink there already!
