Craft Beer Market Jimbo-cho taps CRAFTROCK BREWING's Sansho Lager
In an Instagram post dated June 22, Craft Beer Market Jimbo-cho introduced a new tap addition: CRAFTROCK BREWING's Sansho Lager. The beer was described as a World Beer Cup gold winner in the Herb & Spice Beer category, built for food pairing with a clear sansho character.
Hop BroThere’s a fresh tap in Jimbocho right now: Craft Beer Market Jimbo-cho just put on CRAFTROCK BREWING’s Sansho Lager.
MugiWait, a sansho lager!? Is this beer going to tingle like spicy mapo tofu?
Hop BroThat’s the fun part. It’s from CRAFTROCK BREWING, and it even won World Beer Cup gold in the 2026 Herb & Spice Beer category.
MugiWhoa, a gold medal beer? I already feel like I need to sit up straight. What does it taste like?
Hop BroThey use budo sansho from Hachioji, supplied to the famous eel spot Unagi Takase, and it’s carefully stone-ground. The sansho aroma pops, but it still lands as a proper lager.
MugiHold on, the aroma pops? That sounds like the smell just stood up and saluted!
Hop BroBasically, the fragrance spreads gently without taking over. The style is Lager with Sansho, and the whole thing is a balance-first design.
MugiOkay... then what do the numbers say? ABV and IBU still sound like exam magic words to me.
Hop BroABV is 5.0% and IBU is 20. So the alcohol and bitterness stay moderate, and it drinks like a beer for the table.
MugiThat sounds amazing! If it has great pairing power with Japanese food, I could keep going with grilled fish or karaage forever.
Hop BroExactly. Instead of blasting you with hops, it reveals itself as you drink. At that pub in Jimbocho, it feels like the whole place shifts a little with a beer like this on tap.
MugiI’m done for, I want Jimbocho now! Hop bro, can my first glass start before your second one?
Hop BroThat works for me. Let’s go to Craft Beer Market Jimbo-cho and have a glass of Sansho Lager with some food.
Craft Beer Market Jimbo-cho, a beer pub in Kanda Jimbocho, Tokyo, highlighted a new tap addition in its Instagram post: `Sansho Lager` from CRAFTROCK BREWING.
Beer details
- Brewery: CRAFTROCK BREWING
- Beer: `Sansho Lager`
- Style: Lager with Sansho
- ABV: 5.0%
- IBU: 20
- Award: 2026 World Beer Cup, Herb & Spice Beer category, gold
The brewery says the beer uses plenty of budo sansho sourced from Unagi Takase, a well-known eel restaurant in Hachioji, and that the sansho is carefully stone-ground. The idea is to keep the beer firmly in lager territory while letting the spice show through in aroma and flavor.
That balance makes the beer easy to imagine alongside a meal. The post describes it as a lager that works well with Japanese food and as a food-pairing beer that can be enjoyed in many situations. For a beer pub like Craft Beer Market Jimbo-cho, that kind of tap addition fits naturally: a straightforward lager structure, a distinct Japanese spice note, and enough restraint to keep the next sip inviting.
Reference: Instagram post
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroThere’s a fresh tap in Jimbocho right now: Craft Beer Market Jimbo-cho just put on CRAFTROCK BREWING’s Sansho Lager.
MugiWait, a sansho lager!? Is this beer going to tingle like spicy mapo tofu?
Hop BroThat’s the fun part. It’s from CRAFTROCK BREWING, and it even won World Beer Cup gold in the 2026 Herb & Spice Beer category.
MugiWhoa, a gold medal beer? I already feel like I need to sit up straight. What does it taste like?
Hop BroThey use budo sansho from Hachioji, supplied to the famous eel spot Unagi Takase, and it’s carefully stone-ground. The sansho aroma pops, but it still lands as a proper lager.
MugiHold on, the aroma pops? That sounds like the smell just stood up and saluted!
Hop BroBasically, the fragrance spreads gently without taking over. The style is Lager with Sansho, and the whole thing is a balance-first design.
MugiOkay... then what do the numbers say? ABV and IBU still sound like exam magic words to me.
Hop BroABV is 5.0% and IBU is 20. So the alcohol and bitterness stay moderate, and it drinks like a beer for the table.
MugiThat sounds amazing! If it has great pairing power with Japanese food, I could keep going with grilled fish or karaage forever.
Hop BroExactly. Instead of blasting you with hops, it reveals itself as you drink. At that pub in Jimbocho, it feels like the whole place shifts a little with a beer like this on tap.
MugiI’m done for, I want Jimbocho now! Hop bro, can my first glass start before your second one?
Hop BroThat works for me. Let’s go to Craft Beer Market Jimbo-cho and have a glass of Sansho Lager with some food.
