At Hatohoru, Shiga Kogen Beer’s Helles!? goes on tap, along with a Shine Muscat Ale
At Craft Beer Spot Hatohoru, the beer pub in Osaka’s Kyobashi, the tap list was updated on May 22. Alongside Shiga Kogen Beer’s Helles!? and Deschutes’ Mirror Pond Pale Ale, a fruit beer made with Shine Muscat grapes from Nagasaki also appears on the lineup.
Hop BroToday, Craft Beer Spot Hatohoru in Osaka’s Kyobashi is heating up. With the May 22 tap update, Shiga Kogen Beer’s "Helles!?" is on, and the range of styles feels great.
MugiWhoa, just the name "Helles!?" is already intriguing! It has that "Wait, is it really a Helles?" vibe, like it is practically inviting a little pushback.
Hop BroThat is the interesting part: it is Shiga Kogen’s take on a Helles, but it uses no American hops, only traditional German aroma hops and house-grown Shinshu Wase. They also use decoction brewing and age it for over 60 days, so a lot of care goes into it.
MugiDecoction brewing? What is that? Is that the thing where you boil the beer in a pot? It suddenly feels like a science experiment, but I get that it is a lot of careful, time-consuming work!
Hop BroIn short, you boil a portion of the mash and return it, which brings out body and toastiness. So this "Helles!?" has a pale blond color, gentle malt character, and a refined noble-hop finish that comes together beautifully.
MugiAh, so it is more of a beer to go with food than something to gulp down. I heard this place serves house-smoked dishes, and this is definitely the kind of beer that tastes amazing there.
Hop BroExactly. Hatohoru is also the kind of place with 16 taps, so the range runs from lagers to IPAs and stouts. For example, Deschutes’ "Mirror Pond Pale Ale" is a single-hop pale ale made only with Cascade hops, and it has a clean floral-citrus aroma.
MugiSingle-hop means it is made with just one hop variety? And it still has that much aroma? Amazing. Plus it even has that caramel-like malt character, so balanced!
Hop BroExactly. Another highlight is the Shine Muscat Ale, a fruit beer packed with Nagasaki-grown Shine Muscat grapes. This time they used fruit that had been frozen and aged for about a year and a half, which gives it real depth in the grape character.
MugiWow, with a seasonal pour like that, plus lagers and IPAs on the board, choosing is almost too fun! Today at Hatohoru, I absolutely want to start with Helles!? and then move to the Muscat and maybe one more at the end...
Tap Lineup for May 22
At Craft Beer Spot Hatohoru, the Osaka-Kyobashi beer pub, the lineup on this day lived up to the reputation of a 16-tap bar, with a wide selection ranging from lagers to IPAs and stouts. Since it is also a place where you can enjoy house-made smoked dishes, its appeal lies in being able to choose both beers that pair well with food and pours with a strong individual character from the same counter.
Featured Newly Tapped Beers
- Helles!? / Shiga Kogen Beer
A Helles, Shiga Kogen style, but made without American hops and finished using only traditional German aroma hops and house-grown Shinshu Wase. After decoction brewing and more than 60 days of aging, it comes together as a pale blond beer with gentle malt character and a clean noble-hop nuance. The kind you want to drink in big glasses or steins, again and again, alongside a meal.
- Mirror Pond Pale Ale / Deschutes
A single-hop pale ale made with Cascade hops only. Floral and citrus aromas are layered with a smooth caramel-like malt character, creating a calm, easy-to-drink flavor that does not get old, even if you drink it every day.
- Shine Muscat Ale / Island Brewery
A fruit beer made generously with non-standard Shine Muscat grapes grown at Nonaka Orchard in Nagasaki. This time, it uses grapes that were frozen and aged for about a year and a half, resulting in a finish that also lets you enjoy a deeper grape character.
Other Taps
Among the lagers, Jukusen / Asahi Breweries, Spring Lager / Minoh Beer, Yuyaboys IPL - Jamboree SP Ver / Oni-Densetsu Beer, and Papa Zaru Lager / Minoh Beer were on offer, making for plenty of easy-drinking choices. On the ale side, Echoes / Nara Brewing is available; among the IPAs are Neko ni Hiki / Ise Kadoya Beer, Kind of Gold Real Ale ver / Shiga Kogen Beer x Dogfish Head x Oxbow, and Beer no Ousho / Y Market Brewing. In the dark-beer category, Enmusubi Beer Stout Real Ale ver / Beer Hearn is also on tap.
It is a day whose lineup stands out less for flash and more for dependable choices that pair well with food. From food-friendly lagers like Helles!? to seasonal pours like the Shine Muscat Ale, the range makes this a good lineup for people who want to sit and enjoy beer at length.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday, Craft Beer Spot Hatohoru in Osaka’s Kyobashi is heating up. With the May 22 tap update, Shiga Kogen Beer’s "Helles!?" is on, and the range of styles feels great.
MugiWhoa, just the name "Helles!?" is already intriguing! It has that "Wait, is it really a Helles?" vibe, like it is practically inviting a little pushback.
Hop BroThat is the interesting part: it is Shiga Kogen’s take on a Helles, but it uses no American hops, only traditional German aroma hops and house-grown Shinshu Wase. They also use decoction brewing and age it for over 60 days, so a lot of care goes into it.
MugiDecoction brewing? What is that? Is that the thing where you boil the beer in a pot? It suddenly feels like a science experiment, but I get that it is a lot of careful, time-consuming work!
Hop BroIn short, you boil a portion of the mash and return it, which brings out body and toastiness. So this "Helles!?" has a pale blond color, gentle malt character, and a refined noble-hop finish that comes together beautifully.
MugiAh, so it is more of a beer to go with food than something to gulp down. I heard this place serves house-smoked dishes, and this is definitely the kind of beer that tastes amazing there.
Hop BroExactly. Hatohoru is also the kind of place with 16 taps, so the range runs from lagers to IPAs and stouts. For example, Deschutes’ "Mirror Pond Pale Ale" is a single-hop pale ale made only with Cascade hops, and it has a clean floral-citrus aroma.
MugiSingle-hop means it is made with just one hop variety? And it still has that much aroma? Amazing. Plus it even has that caramel-like malt character, so balanced!
Hop BroExactly. Another highlight is the Shine Muscat Ale, a fruit beer packed with Nagasaki-grown Shine Muscat grapes. This time they used fruit that had been frozen and aged for about a year and a half, which gives it real depth in the grape character.
MugiWow, with a seasonal pour like that, plus lagers and IPAs on the board, choosing is almost too fun! Today at Hatohoru, I absolutely want to start with Helles!? and then move to the Muscat and maybe one more at the end...
