Shiga Kogen Beer Releases HOUSE LAGER / 4.01 Yamada Nishiki
Shiga Kogen Beer has released the sixth installment of its HOUSE LAGER project, HOUSE LAGER / 4.01 Yamada Nishiki. Brewed with estate-grown Yamada Nishiki rice, spelt wheat, and two hop components, it is a bright blonde rice lager with a crisp, dry profile.
Hop BroShiga Kogen Beer has released HOUSE LAGER 4.01, the sixth installment in its lager-exploration project.
MugiWhoa, number six! What kind of lager is it? Those numbers intrigue me!
Hop BroFor the first time, it uses their homegrown Yamada Nishiki sake rice: a bright blond rice lager.
MugiYamada Nishiki is sake rice, right? Will drinking it make me suddenly reach for an ochoko cup?
Hop BroNot quite, but it can bring a gentle rice-derived sweetness. This batch uses the outer portion of polished rice to explore its flavor.
MugiThe outer portion? Rice has supporting actors too? But doesn't that make it taste rough?
Hop BroThat part can contain more protein, but the beer is said to be dry, sharp, and clean, with no distracting off-flavors.
MugiOoh! Crisp but still satisfying—that sounds like a serious contender for my regular fridge lineup!
Hop BroThe hop bill is fun too: herbal European noble hops meet homegrown Cascade for layers of fruity aroma. At 13 IBU, the bitterness stays gentle.
MugiNoble hops? Are they little aristocrats wearing crowns and strolling around the brewery?
Hop BroClose! They're traditional hops known for refined herbal and spicy notes—so there is an aristocratic kind of aroma.
MugiAt 5.5% ABV and 330 ml, I'd pair it with sushi or grilled fish. This very Shiga Kogen glass is limited to 1,890 bottles—I want one now!
The sixth HOUSE LAGER explores Yamada Nishiki
Shiga Kogen Beer’s HOUSE LAGER / 4.01 Yamada Nishiki is the sixth release in a project focused on making a lager that the brewery itself wants to drink and that reflects its home region. For the first time in the series, the brew uses estate-grown Yamada Nishiki, a sake rice variety.
The recipe also includes estate-grown spelt wheat, European aroma hops, and estate-grown Cascade. It pours a bright blonde and has an alcohol content of 5.5% with 13 IBU. Classified as a rice lager, the release is limited to 1,890 bottles.
Dry and sharp, with a gentle rice sweetness
For this batch, Shiga Kogen Beer used a part of the Yamada Nishiki closer to the outside of the grain, rather than the core traditionally used in the previous releases. The brewery was interested in how a rice portion with a different balance of proteins and starch would affect the beer.
The result is described as drier and sharper, helped by its slightly lower alcohol level. Despite the concern that the outer portion might bring unwanted roughness, the beer remains clean and focused. It also retains a distinct gentle sweetness from the rice and a satisfying depth. Herbal notes from noble hops meet a light fruitiness, possibly contributed by the homegrown Cascade, creating a balanced beer suited to multiple pours.
A natural match for Japanese food
The crisp finish and rice-derived character make this a flexible choice for everyday drinking, while the soft sweetness suggests a particularly natural pairing with Japanese cuisine. Sushi, grilled fish, and lightly seasoned dishes should complement its clean profile.
Based in Yamanouchi, Nagano, Shiga Kogen Beer continues to explore local agriculture and estate-grown ingredients. This latest HOUSE LAGER offers a clear example of that approach in a 330ml bottle, priced at 429 yen including tax.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroShiga Kogen Beer has released HOUSE LAGER 4.01, the sixth installment in its lager-exploration project.
MugiWhoa, number six! What kind of lager is it? Those numbers intrigue me!
Hop BroFor the first time, it uses their homegrown Yamada Nishiki sake rice: a bright blond rice lager.
MugiYamada Nishiki is sake rice, right? Will drinking it make me suddenly reach for an ochoko cup?
Hop BroNot quite, but it can bring a gentle rice-derived sweetness. This batch uses the outer portion of polished rice to explore its flavor.
MugiThe outer portion? Rice has supporting actors too? But doesn't that make it taste rough?
Hop BroThat part can contain more protein, but the beer is said to be dry, sharp, and clean, with no distracting off-flavors.
MugiOoh! Crisp but still satisfying—that sounds like a serious contender for my regular fridge lineup!
Hop BroThe hop bill is fun too: herbal European noble hops meet homegrown Cascade for layers of fruity aroma. At 13 IBU, the bitterness stays gentle.
MugiNoble hops? Are they little aristocrats wearing crowns and strolling around the brewery?
Hop BroClose! They're traditional hops known for refined herbal and spicy notes—so there is an aristocratic kind of aroma.
MugiAt 5.5% ABV and 330 ml, I'd pair it with sushi or grilled fish. This very Shiga Kogen glass is limited to 1,890 bottles—I want one now!
