Aomori's Kinsei Brewery Misawa wins silver for three beers at JGBA 2026
Kinsei Brewery Misawa of Misawa, Aomori (Instagram: @kinsei_brewery_misawa) announced the results of the "Japan Great Beer Awards 2026" in a post made at 6:35 p.m. on February 25, 2026. The brewery reported that three beers - Kinsei IPA, Pistol Bear, and Golden Zebra - each won silver medals.
Hop BroToday's good news from Kinsei Brewery Misawa in Misawa, Aomori! At JGBA 2026, three of their beers won silver medals.
MugiWhat, all three at once!? That's definitely a raise-your-glass-and-applaud moment!
Hop BroThe winners were Kinsei IPA, Pistol Bear, and Golden Zebra. Kinsei IPA took silver for the second year in a row, so its consistency is impressive.
MugiWhoa! And what even is the "DDH Hazy" in Pistol Bear DDH Hazy IPA? That's like a spell!
Hop BroWell, DDH means "double dry-hopped," and Hazy IPA is a cloudy, juicy IPA. In other words, it's an IPA packed with aroma and a soft mouthfeel.
MugiOhhh! I get "packed with aroma"! Don't suddenly turn technical terms into snack food on me!
Hop BroAnd the post itself was great too. They joked about being a "silver collector," but made it clear they're aiming for gold next time. You can feel the accumulation of brewing effort they've built up in the north.
MugiThat's so hot...! And the taproom is still on hiatus, but they wrote "Please wait a little longer," right? If it reopens, people are going to line up!
Hop BroYeah, that's a really important line for local fans. The award post was already getting reactions as of 6:35 p.m. on February 25, so expectations are clearly rising.
MugiThen when it reopens, I want to start with Kinsei IPA, get wrapped in aroma with Pistol Bear, and finish with Golden Zebra!
Hop BroThat's a genius order. Three straight silver awards as a warm-up, then waiting for the next gold-medal report while drinking is the best.
MugiDeal! Today, let's toast to Kinsei Brewery Misawa with IPA feelings right now!
According to what Kinsei Brewery Misawa announced on Instagram, the three award-winning beers were:
- Kinsei IPA: Silver Award (second time, two years in a row)
- Pistol Bear: Silver Award
- Golden Zebra: Silver Award
In the post, the brewery spoke candidly about entering the competition again as a challenge following last year, and, while jokingly calling itself a "silver collector," it also made clear its determination to keep brewing with gold in mind next time. Beyond simply reporting the awards, the post also conveyed the mood of the brewing team.
It also mentioned the taproom, which has been closed for a long time, saying, "Please wait a little longer," making it a line that fans hoping for a local reopening will not want to miss.
Kinsei Brewery Misawa is a brewery based in Misawa, Aomori. Public information also confirms Pistol Bear DDH Hazy IPA as one of its signature beers, which overlaps with the lineup recognized this time. It can be said that the brewery's work refining multiple styles, including IPAs, in the northern brewing environment has now been reflected in these three silver medals.
As of when the Instagram post was accessed, it had 58 likes and 4 comments. Reaction to the award announcement is likely to grow further, and the next news may be either the taproom reopening or a gold medal worthy of the name "Kinsei." Attention will be on the next move from Aomori.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday's good news from Kinsei Brewery Misawa in Misawa, Aomori! At JGBA 2026, three of their beers won silver medals.
MugiWhat, all three at once!? That's definitely a raise-your-glass-and-applaud moment!
Hop BroThe winners were Kinsei IPA, Pistol Bear, and Golden Zebra. Kinsei IPA took silver for the second year in a row, so its consistency is impressive.
MugiWhoa! And what even is the "DDH Hazy" in Pistol Bear DDH Hazy IPA? That's like a spell!
Hop BroWell, DDH means "double dry-hopped," and Hazy IPA is a cloudy, juicy IPA. In other words, it's an IPA packed with aroma and a soft mouthfeel.
MugiOhhh! I get "packed with aroma"! Don't suddenly turn technical terms into snack food on me!
Hop BroAnd the post itself was great too. They joked about being a "silver collector," but made it clear they're aiming for gold next time. You can feel the accumulation of brewing effort they've built up in the north.
MugiThat's so hot...! And the taproom is still on hiatus, but they wrote "Please wait a little longer," right? If it reopens, people are going to line up!
Hop BroYeah, that's a really important line for local fans. The award post was already getting reactions as of 6:35 p.m. on February 25, so expectations are clearly rising.
MugiThen when it reopens, I want to start with Kinsei IPA, get wrapped in aroma with Pistol Bear, and finish with Golden Zebra!
Hop BroThat's a genius order. Three straight silver awards as a warm-up, then waiting for the next gold-medal report while drinking is the best.
MugiDeal! Today, let's toast to Kinsei Brewery Misawa with IPA feelings right now!
