NEIGHBOUR Roast&Brew Announces a Spring-Limited Strawberry Fruit Lager and Session IPA
NEIGHBOUR Roast&Brew in Sapporo introduced "SAKURA NEIGHBOUR" and "SPRING NEIGHBOUR" as its original beers for spring 2026. The lineup features a fruit lager made with strawberry juice and a light, easy-drinking session IPA, both brewed by Mr. Hatakeyama.
Hop BroSpring-limited double release from NEIGHBOUR Roast&Brew in Sapporo is here. SAKURA NEIGHBOUR and SPRING NEIGHBOUR both pack the feeling of spring into every sip.
MugiWhoa, a cherry-blossom-colored lager and a session IPA!? Even beer goes into hanami mode in spring!
Hop BroSAKURA NEIGHBOUR is a fruit lager, and the star of the show is the generous amount of strawberry juice. It has 5% ABV and 12 IBU, so the bitterness is kept low. It looks delicate, but when you drink it, the strawberry really comes through.
MugiIBU 12, huh? Does a low number mean less bitterness?
Hop BroExactly. IBU is a measure of bitterness, and the higher the number, the more strongly you tend to perceive hop bitterness. So this should be crisp like a lager, but with the gentle sweetness of a reward drink.
MugiI see! So SPRING NEIGHBOUR is all about that fluffy mouthfeel?
Hop BroThat's right. SPRING NEIGHBOUR is a session IPA, and the wheat malt mouthfeel is the key point. With 4% ABV and 30 IBU, it's light and easy to drink, but still has a solid hop presence. It's a spring-friendly balance beer.
MugiWow, and NEIGHBOUR Roast&Brew is on the first floor of a hotel, right? Sounds like a place both travelers and locals could just drop into!
Hop BroExactly. I like how this spring-limited release reflects that Hokkaido and the world perspective of connecting Hokkaido, the world, citizens, and travelers through beer. The post says Mr. Hatakeyama brewed it, and it's also interesting because it carries a sense of Abashiri Beer's roots.
MugiI can't stop wanting to taste both and compare them! I want to start spring early with the cherry-blossom lager, then keep going to the next drink with the session IPA!
Two Spring-Limited Beers Debut
In an Instagram post titled "Hello neighbour!", NEIGHBOUR Roast&Brew announced two original beers for spring 2026. The lineup consists of SAKURA NEIGHBOUR, notable for its cherry-blossom-like appearance, and SPRING NEIGHBOUR, designed for a light, refreshing drinking experience. Both are built to foreground the feeling of spring.
SAKURA NEIGHBOUR is a fruit lager with 5% ABV and 12 IBU. Its description says it is crafted like a "reward drink," using plenty of strawberry juice and keeping bitterness low. Though it looks delicately cherry-blossom pink, its contents are designed to highlight the presence of strawberry.
Meanwhile, SPRING NEIGHBOUR is a session IPA with 4% ABV and 30 IBU. Its appeal lies in the fluffy mouthfeel from wheat malt and the balance of moderate bitterness. It can be described as an easy-drinking beer created with the spring mood in mind.
The post says these original beers were brewed by Mr. Hatakeyama (@hokkaido_beer_porter). NEIGHBOUR Roast&Brew is a Sapporo base that aims to connect Hokkaido and the world, as well as local residents and travelers, through beer, and its official site also introduces it as having roots in Abashiri Beer. Its position as a place linking Hokkaido's food and beer carries through to this spring-limited beer offering as well.
The post, from a store on the first floor of a hotel in Kita 3-jo Nishi, Sapporo, showed how to enjoy a seasonal beer as a spring drink.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroSpring-limited double release from NEIGHBOUR Roast&Brew in Sapporo is here. SAKURA NEIGHBOUR and SPRING NEIGHBOUR both pack the feeling of spring into every sip.
MugiWhoa, a cherry-blossom-colored lager and a session IPA!? Even beer goes into hanami mode in spring!
Hop BroSAKURA NEIGHBOUR is a fruit lager, and the star of the show is the generous amount of strawberry juice. It has 5% ABV and 12 IBU, so the bitterness is kept low. It looks delicate, but when you drink it, the strawberry really comes through.
MugiIBU 12, huh? Does a low number mean less bitterness?
Hop BroExactly. IBU is a measure of bitterness, and the higher the number, the more strongly you tend to perceive hop bitterness. So this should be crisp like a lager, but with the gentle sweetness of a reward drink.
MugiI see! So SPRING NEIGHBOUR is all about that fluffy mouthfeel?
Hop BroThat's right. SPRING NEIGHBOUR is a session IPA, and the wheat malt mouthfeel is the key point. With 4% ABV and 30 IBU, it's light and easy to drink, but still has a solid hop presence. It's a spring-friendly balance beer.
MugiWow, and NEIGHBOUR Roast&Brew is on the first floor of a hotel, right? Sounds like a place both travelers and locals could just drop into!
Hop BroExactly. I like how this spring-limited release reflects that Hokkaido and the world perspective of connecting Hokkaido, the world, citizens, and travelers through beer. The post says Mr. Hatakeyama brewed it, and it's also interesting because it carries a sense of Abashiri Beer's roots.
MugiI can't stop wanting to taste both and compare them! I want to start spring early with the cherry-blossom lager, then keep going to the next drink with the session IPA!
