At Sakura Taps, Nara Brewing’s "LIGHTHOUSE" Wins Gold at the World Beer Cup; 8 Taps on Offer
At Sakura Taps, the beer pub in Yokohama’s Yoshida Town, the talk of Nara Brewing’s "LIGHTHOUSE" winning Gold at the World Beer Cup 2026 is accompanied by an eight-tap draft lineup. "FUNCTION" also won Gold, and the bar has a lineup well suited for raising a toast.
Hop BroToday, Sakura Taps in Yokohama’s Yoshida Town is the place to be. With LIGHTHOUSE winning Gold, being able to drink a Nara Brewing beer right after its award is seriously lucky, isn’t it?
MugiWait, you can drink it right after it wins? That’s a thing? I always thought porters were dark and heavy, but is it actually easy to drink?
Hop BroIt is. LIGHTHOUSE brings out the toasty aroma of roasted malt while keeping the ABV low, so it’s a light, easy-drinking porter. It’s the kind of beer that can open the door for people who usually shy away from dark beers.
MugiRoasted malt means it has a toasted aroma? Like coffee, maybe?
Hop BroExactly. When malt is roasted, you get aromas like crusty bread and cocoa. And Sakura Taps has an 8-tap lineup, so from IPA to helles, there’s enough variety that it never gets boring.
MugiWow, the luxury of 8 taps! But with names like "Yoshidacho Helles 2026" and "ONMEN BRÄU," I feel like I’d be full just from reading them!
Hop BroThat’s what makes it fun. "Yoshidacho Helles 2026" is a collaboration helles and crisp and clean, "THE American IPA" puts hop bitterness front and center, and "UTSUROI" is one with sake yeast, so the range is really wide.
MugiSake yeast? So it’s beer with a hint of sake character? My brain is getting confused, but I want to try it!
Hop BroExactly. Yeast can completely change the aroma and flavor impression, so even on the same day it feels like visiting different worlds. And if "FUNCTION" is coming soon too, the Gold-medal combo will make the celebration mood even stronger.
MugiI’m totally ready to go drink now! It’s such a toast-worthy lineup, and with everything from dark styles to IPA, I’d want to compare a bunch depending on my mood!
Highlights
At Sakura Taps, a beer pub on the second floor in Yokohama’s Yoshida Town, they are marking April 23 as "Craft Beer Day" in response to Nara Brewing’s "LIGHTHOUSE" winning Gold in the session beer category at the World Beer Cup 2026. The bar says they had only just put "LIGHTHOUSE" on draft yesterday, so it is in excellent drinking condition.
"LIGHTHOUSE" is a micro porter that centers on the toasty aroma of roasted malt while keeping the ABV restrained for easy drinking. It is being introduced as a beer even people who do not usually like dark beers should try, and the timing right after the award makes it a rare chance to drink it. In addition, "FUNCTION," another Gold-winning beer from Nara Brewing, is also scheduled to be tapped soon.
Drafts of the Day
The following eight beers are on tap today:
- The Spider Thread / Barbaric Works
- Yoshidacho Helles 2026 / Sakura Taps x Numazu Craft
- Mystic Tiger / Nomcraft Brewing
- THE American IPA / Shiokaze Blue Lab Brewery
- LIGHTHOUSE / Nara Brewing
- ONMEN BRÄU / Baeren x Highbury
- UTSUROI / Yellow Monkey Brewing
- Unexpected / Sakura Smoked Workshop x 254 Beer
Sakura Taps is presented as a place where you can enjoy craft beer and hand-drip coffee in a relaxed interior, with eight taps available each day. From an award-winning porter to a juicy IPA, a collaboration helles, and a beer made with sake yeast, the lineup covers a broad range of tastes.
What to Drink
The main highlight of the day is, above all, the award-commemorative taste of "LIGHTHOUSE." It should appeal not only to fans of roasted beers, but also to anyone looking for a dark-style beer that is not too heavy, and it seems easy to enjoy with food as well. For anyone in Yokohama who wants to choose a beer based on their mood that day, this is one to check out.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday, Sakura Taps in Yokohama’s Yoshida Town is the place to be. With LIGHTHOUSE winning Gold, being able to drink a Nara Brewing beer right after its award is seriously lucky, isn’t it?
MugiWait, you can drink it right after it wins? That’s a thing? I always thought porters were dark and heavy, but is it actually easy to drink?
Hop BroIt is. LIGHTHOUSE brings out the toasty aroma of roasted malt while keeping the ABV low, so it’s a light, easy-drinking porter. It’s the kind of beer that can open the door for people who usually shy away from dark beers.
MugiRoasted malt means it has a toasted aroma? Like coffee, maybe?
Hop BroExactly. When malt is roasted, you get aromas like crusty bread and cocoa. And Sakura Taps has an 8-tap lineup, so from IPA to helles, there’s enough variety that it never gets boring.
MugiWow, the luxury of 8 taps! But with names like "Yoshidacho Helles 2026" and "ONMEN BRÄU," I feel like I’d be full just from reading them!
Hop BroThat’s what makes it fun. "Yoshidacho Helles 2026" is a collaboration helles and crisp and clean, "THE American IPA" puts hop bitterness front and center, and "UTSUROI" is one with sake yeast, so the range is really wide.
MugiSake yeast? So it’s beer with a hint of sake character? My brain is getting confused, but I want to try it!
Hop BroExactly. Yeast can completely change the aroma and flavor impression, so even on the same day it feels like visiting different worlds. And if "FUNCTION" is coming soon too, the Gold-medal combo will make the celebration mood even stronger.
MugiI’m totally ready to go drink now! It’s such a toast-worthy lineup, and with everything from dark styles to IPA, I’d want to compare a bunch depending on my mood!
