Kaneku Brewing to Release "Shimokita Hop Pilsner" Made with Fresh Hops from Sai Village as a Keg-First Offering
Kaneku Brewing (Hachinohe, Aomori) announced "Shimokita Hop Pilsner," made with 100% 2025 fresh hops grown in Sai Village, Shimokita District, Aomori Prefecture, as a keg-first release. Sales on the business-use EC site begin at 10:00 on June 4.
Hop BroIt’s here: Kaneku Brewing’s new beer, Shimokita Hop Pilsner, is getting a keg-first release. Just the fact that this brewery in Nangou, Hachinohe City, Aomori, is using 100% fresh hops from the 2025 harvest in Sai Village already makes the aroma expectations pretty high.
MugiWhoa! 100% fresh hops? Is it really that different? It sounds like the hops are so lively they’d be practically sparkling!
Hop BroThat’s exactly the point. Fresh hops are more likely than dried hops to show year-to-year character. The weather and conditions of the harvest year change the expression, so this 2025 crop is basically a flavor that exists only this year.
MugiOhhh! But pilsner usually feels more like a clean, straight-ahead style, right? If fresh-hop aroma gets added, doesn’t it suddenly become wild?
Hop BroGood question. It keeps the drinkability typical of a pilsner while building a backbone with Cascade, Chinook, and Nugget. So it stays brisk, but the ingredients still come through clearly.
MugiI get it! So it’s something you can drink smoothly, but it still has something to say. Light on the palate, but then the hops come in afterward and say hello!
Hop BroExactly. And the announcement says sales on the business-use EC site start at 10:00 on Thursday, June 4, 2026. Since it’s first being released on keg, once it shows up at a place that pours it, it’s worth following quickly.
MugiWait, what? The bottles are later? And it’s limited for the first time in about three years? That sounds kind of rare!
Hop BroRight. There are also plans for a limited run of 600 bottles, with the timing expected from late July to early August. Details will be announced later, so this is definitely one to keep an eye on while waiting.
MugiWhoa, I definitely want to drink this! I’m curious about both the feel of Nangou as a place and the personality of Sai Village hops, and if I find it on keg, I’m going straight for it!
Kaneku Brewing is a craft beer brewery based in Nangou, Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture. What it announced on Instagram this time was "Shimokita Hop Pilsner." This seasonal beer uses 100% fresh hops from the 2025 harvest grown in Sai Village, Shimokita District, Aomori Prefecture.
Product Features
- Style: Pilsner
- ABV: 5.0%
- Hops: Cascade / Chinook / Nugget
- Hops used: 2025-harvest fresh hops from Sai Village
According to the post, the beer offers the distinctive flavor that only fresh hops can provide, while keeping a light, easy-drinking mouthfeel. It is designed to preserve the drinkability of a pilsner while letting the character of the ingredients come through clearly. Because the blend and hop varieties used in fresh-hop beers can change depending on the harvest and year-to-year conditions, one of the appealing aspects is that even the same label develops a character unique to that year.
Sales Information
In this announcement, sales on the business-use EC site are scheduled to begin at 10:00 on Thursday, June 4, 2026. The initial release will be keg-first, and this year the brewery also plans to sell a limited run of 600 bottles for the first time in about three years. Bottle sales are expected to begin from late July to early August, with further details to follow.
Kaneku Brewing is a brewery that has continued making beer that makes the most of local ingredients and the character of the land. This pilsner, brewed in Nangou, is also worth watching for how it brings out the expression of locally grown hops. For beer fans who want both drinkability and a sense of place, it looks like a new staple worth keeping an eye on.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroIt’s here: Kaneku Brewing’s new beer, Shimokita Hop Pilsner, is getting a keg-first release. Just the fact that this brewery in Nangou, Hachinohe City, Aomori, is using 100% fresh hops from the 2025 harvest in Sai Village already makes the aroma expectations pretty high.
MugiWhoa! 100% fresh hops? Is it really that different? It sounds like the hops are so lively they’d be practically sparkling!
Hop BroThat’s exactly the point. Fresh hops are more likely than dried hops to show year-to-year character. The weather and conditions of the harvest year change the expression, so this 2025 crop is basically a flavor that exists only this year.
MugiOhhh! But pilsner usually feels more like a clean, straight-ahead style, right? If fresh-hop aroma gets added, doesn’t it suddenly become wild?
Hop BroGood question. It keeps the drinkability typical of a pilsner while building a backbone with Cascade, Chinook, and Nugget. So it stays brisk, but the ingredients still come through clearly.
MugiI get it! So it’s something you can drink smoothly, but it still has something to say. Light on the palate, but then the hops come in afterward and say hello!
Hop BroExactly. And the announcement says sales on the business-use EC site start at 10:00 on Thursday, June 4, 2026. Since it’s first being released on keg, once it shows up at a place that pours it, it’s worth following quickly.
MugiWait, what? The bottles are later? And it’s limited for the first time in about three years? That sounds kind of rare!
Hop BroRight. There are also plans for a limited run of 600 bottles, with the timing expected from late July to early August. Details will be announced later, so this is definitely one to keep an eye on while waiting.
MugiWhoa, I definitely want to drink this! I’m curious about both the feel of Nangou as a place and the personality of Sai Village hops, and if I find it on keg, I’m going straight for it!
