Shiga Kogen Beer, based in Yamanouchi, Nagano, has announced “Tea for Two 2 / blonde,” a 500ml canned collaboration with Taiwan’s TAIHU BREWING. The product is listed under item number 486 and was offered through Tamamura-Honten’s online shop for ¥1,320 including tax.

The beer is scheduled to make its first appearance at Harvest Festival 2026. It marks the second collaboration between the two breweries, following a renewed attempt to build on Shiga Kogen Beer’s acclaimed Tea for Two. This time, the brewers set out to create a beer distinct from the first release.

The recipe uses premium high-mountain oolong tea from Taiwan together with Kinmon Nishiki, a sake rice variety grown by Shiga Kogen Beer. The base beer is blended with barrel-aged Yamabushi before packaging. The product page describes the photographed version as a blend of barrel-aged blonde and “Barrel-Aged Yamabushi / Tea for Two 2 ‘blonde.’”

While oolong tea is often associated with roasted aromas, the tea used here is described as having a clean, green character. That freshness is intended to remain at the center of the beer, while the blonde contributes layers of complex acidity and flavor.

Shiga Kogen Beer is operated by Tamamura-Honten, a Nagano producer also known for the sake brand Enki. The brewery has developed a distinctive approach by combining local agriculture, including its own rice cultivation, with experimental beer-making. Tea from Taiwan, Kinmon Nishiki from Nagano, and the depth of barrel aging give Tea for Two 2 a clear cross-cultural identity. The product was listed as sold out on the online shop at the time of publication.