Paddle Brew unveils the second release of its Iya-only "Ibushigin 2026" beer
Paddle Brew, based in Mima, Tokushima, has teamed up with Chiiori Alliance for the second release in the Iya-exclusive craft beer series "Ibushigin." The new version is a sansho-spiced lager sold at the facility reception desk.
Hop BroI’ve got a fun one today: PADDLE BREW and Chiiori Alliance just announced Ibushigin 2026 Vol. 2.
MugiWait, that name already sounds epic! An Iya-exclusive beer means you can only meet it on the trip, right?
Hop BroExactly, and this release is a sansho lager. It feels like they packed the air of Tokushima’s mountains into a glass.
MugiSansho in a lager?! Is this a tingly beer? Am I about to get surprise-punched by pepper?
Hop BroThat’s the clever part: they use sansho and add smoked malt aroma, but keep the bitterness low and the finish crisp.
MugiHold on, what is smoked malt? Why does the grain suddenly sound like it went camping?
Hop BroIt’s malt that carries a smoky character from the drying process, so you get a toasty depth. That’s how the sweet smoky note drifts in.
MugiOh wow! Last year it was a kuromoji smoke saison, and now it’s a sansho lager? That’s a seriously cool special ingredient relay.
Hop BroAnd the name Ibushigin comes from a what-if story about warriors hiding in Iya, brewing beer between farm work, then drinking by the hearth.
MugiOkay, now I’m fully invested. A beer tastes better with a story, and if it’s sold at reception, I’m checking in thirsty.
Hop BroThat’s exactly the idea: a drink to enjoy during your stay. The PADDLE BREW character really shows in how local ingredients and local story meet here.
MugiYep, now I really want one. I’m already imagining that clean smoky sip and pretending I’m in Iya tonight!
According to the Instagram post, Chiiori Alliance has announced the second release of its Iya-exclusive craft beer series, "Ibushigin," brewed in collaboration with PADDLE BREW, the Tokushima brewery based in Mima City. Paddle Brew describes itself as a brewery that brings people and nature closer through beer, and its identity is closely tied to the mountains and rivers of western Tokushima.
This new beer follows last year’s smoked saison made with kuromoji, a fragrant wood foraged in the Iya mountains. For the 2026 release, the recipe switches to Japanese sansho pepper and takes the form of a lager. The brewery says the beer balances the aroma and gentle sweetness of smoked malt with a clean finish and no bitterness.
The "Ibushigin" name is built around an imagined story: warriors who once fled to the hidden valley of Iya and began brewing beer between farm work and evening gatherings around the irori hearth. The beer is available at the facility reception desk and is being positioned as something guests can enjoy during their stay. The original post can be found on Instagram.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroI’ve got a fun one today: PADDLE BREW and Chiiori Alliance just announced Ibushigin 2026 Vol. 2.
MugiWait, that name already sounds epic! An Iya-exclusive beer means you can only meet it on the trip, right?
Hop BroExactly, and this release is a sansho lager. It feels like they packed the air of Tokushima’s mountains into a glass.
MugiSansho in a lager?! Is this a tingly beer? Am I about to get surprise-punched by pepper?
Hop BroThat’s the clever part: they use sansho and add smoked malt aroma, but keep the bitterness low and the finish crisp.
MugiHold on, what is smoked malt? Why does the grain suddenly sound like it went camping?
Hop BroIt’s malt that carries a smoky character from the drying process, so you get a toasty depth. That’s how the sweet smoky note drifts in.
MugiOh wow! Last year it was a kuromoji smoke saison, and now it’s a sansho lager? That’s a seriously cool special ingredient relay.
Hop BroAnd the name Ibushigin comes from a what-if story about warriors hiding in Iya, brewing beer between farm work, then drinking by the hearth.
MugiOkay, now I’m fully invested. A beer tastes better with a story, and if it’s sold at reception, I’m checking in thirsty.
Hop BroThat’s exactly the idea: a drink to enjoy during your stay. The PADDLE BREW character really shows in how local ingredients and local story meet here.
MugiYep, now I really want one. I’m already imagining that clean smoky sip and pretending I’m in Iya tonight!
