SHIMA BREWERY's "Isobue Black IPA" starts being served, a pour that reflects the sea of Shima
At 18:12 on February 13, 2026, the restaurant account "Sakiate Jogu" announced on Instagram that SHIMA BREWERY's (Shima Brewery) "Isobue Black IPA" had started being served on tap. The recipe, inspired by ama diving culture, and the context of a brewery launched from Shima, Mie, make this a noteworthy serving announcement.
Hop BroWe’ve got a hot pour from Shima! SHIMA BREWERY's "Isobue Black IPA" was announced as having gone on tap on February 13, 2026 at 18:12 on Instagram by "Sakiate Jogu".
MugiWhoa! Just from the name it sounds intense! Black IPA... is it a dark beer? Is it an IPA? Which is it?!
Hop BroThat's the fun part. It looks like a dark beer, but it's designed to drink like an IPA, with the hop character coming through. The ABV is 6.0%, and bitterness, body, and aroma are all 3 out of 5, so it's built for balance.
MugiHuh... "dark but light" is too much for my brain to process. My mind is getting traffic-jammed by beer!
Hop BroAnd the standout detail is that it uses abalone shells gathered by ama divers in Shima. The shell-derived mineral character is said to bring out the malt sweetness and roasted aroma.
MugiWhat?! Can you drink abalone shells?! Does "mineral character" mean it's salty like seawater?
Hop BroNot salty in a direct way. It gives the flavor a sharper outline. The richness of the roasted malt, with the IPA aroma gliding through. It's a character built from local ingredients - in other words, a kind of "Shima terroir."
MugiTerroir! Now it sounds like the protagonist of a wine manga! But turning local character into flavor is seriously romantic!
Hop BroAnd the brewer, Masakazu Nakanishi, has 17 years at Ise Kadoya Beer plus 10 years at Y.MARKET BREWING, so he's got about 27 years of brewing experience. Craft Beer Stand SHIMA is directly connected to Ugata Station on the Kintetsu Shima Line, so it's perfect for beer on a trip.
MugiJust hearing that makes my throat want to cheer! Tonight it's "Isobue Black IPA" for the toast. I want to drink this one for sure, a glass that lets you feel the sea of Shima!
A beer from SHIMA BREWERY (Shima Brewery) in Mie Prefecture was newly put on tap on February 13, 2026. The post was made by the Instagram account "Sakiate Jogu", which introduced "Isobue Black IPA" as the featured beer in a post at 18:12 that same day.
The specs shown in the post list ABV 6.0%. Bitterness, body, and aroma are each rated at 3 on a 5-point scale, making for a beer that presents as a dark beer visually while aiming for an IPA-like drinking profile. Another distinctive point is that it uses abalone shells harvested by ama divers in Shima. The brewery describes a highly local design that brings out the malt's sweetness and roasted aroma with the mineral character derived from the shells.
What further supports the background of this beer is the career of brewer Masakazu Nakanishi. SHIMA BREWERY's official "ABOUT" page says he spent 17 years at Ise Kadoya Beer and 10 years at Y.MARKET BREWING, with roughly 27 years in craft beer brewing overall. The post also references his experience at Y.MARKET BREWING, making this launch a context-rich topic for craft beer fans in the Tokai region.
On its official website, Shima Brewery presents itself as a "craft brewery loved by the local community," based in Ugata, Ago-cho, Shima City, Mie Prefecture. The access page says the brewery and taproom, "Craft Beer Stand SHIMA," are directly connected to Kintetsu Shima Line's Ugata Station, giving it strong appeal along tourism routes as well. As recipes incorporating local ingredients begin to reach serving venues outside the prefecture, SHIMA BREWERY's outward expansion seems increasingly worth following.
Sources:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/DUsU868kWay/
- https://brewery-kintetsu.com/shima-brewery/
- https://brewery-kintetsu.com/shima-brewery/about/
- https://brewery-kintetsu.com/shima-brewery/access/
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroWe’ve got a hot pour from Shima! SHIMA BREWERY's "Isobue Black IPA" was announced as having gone on tap on February 13, 2026 at 18:12 on Instagram by "Sakiate Jogu".
MugiWhoa! Just from the name it sounds intense! Black IPA... is it a dark beer? Is it an IPA? Which is it?!
Hop BroThat's the fun part. It looks like a dark beer, but it's designed to drink like an IPA, with the hop character coming through. The ABV is 6.0%, and bitterness, body, and aroma are all 3 out of 5, so it's built for balance.
MugiHuh... "dark but light" is too much for my brain to process. My mind is getting traffic-jammed by beer!
Hop BroAnd the standout detail is that it uses abalone shells gathered by ama divers in Shima. The shell-derived mineral character is said to bring out the malt sweetness and roasted aroma.
MugiWhat?! Can you drink abalone shells?! Does "mineral character" mean it's salty like seawater?
Hop BroNot salty in a direct way. It gives the flavor a sharper outline. The richness of the roasted malt, with the IPA aroma gliding through. It's a character built from local ingredients - in other words, a kind of "Shima terroir."
MugiTerroir! Now it sounds like the protagonist of a wine manga! But turning local character into flavor is seriously romantic!
Hop BroAnd the brewer, Masakazu Nakanishi, has 17 years at Ise Kadoya Beer plus 10 years at Y.MARKET BREWING, so he's got about 27 years of brewing experience. Craft Beer Stand SHIMA is directly connected to Ugata Station on the Kintetsu Shima Line, so it's perfect for beer on a trip.
MugiJust hearing that makes my throat want to cheer! Tonight it's "Isobue Black IPA" for the toast. I want to drink this one for sure, a glass that lets you feel the sea of Shima!
