Kichijoji's Ben's Slop Shop Taps Flora Fermentation's "Kitsune"
Ben's Slop Shop, a craft beer specialty store in Kichijoji, Tokyo, has announced a weekend event centered on Flora Fermentation's Japanese Light Lager "Kitsune" from Shiga. Framed against the broader rise of rice lagers made with rice, it is being introduced as a beer you can enjoy in the shop.
Hop BroAt Ben's Slop Shop in Kichijoji, there's a weekend event coming up centered on Flora Fermentation's Japanese Light Lager "Kitsune", right?
MugiHuh, what's this rice lager trend? Does using rice make beer lighter?
Hop BroExactly. Using Omi rice gives it a clean aroma and a smooth, light mouthfeel. And being able to enjoy it right in the shop is so very Ben's Slop Shop.
MugiWhoa, even though it's a bottle shop, you can drink there? That has the excitement of getting tapped right on the spot!
Hop BroWhat's more, Flora Fermentation is a farmhouse brewery with its own fields, and they grow rye and hops too. It feels like the air from the fields goes straight into the flavor.
MugiWait, what's a farmhouse brewery? Is it a farm or a brewery? Pick one!
Hop BroIt's both. They grow crops and connect that to brewing, and that's why Kitsune is a beer where you can see the brewer's perspective.
MugiAnd they even mention Nodogoshi as an example in the post, so rice lagers are getting attention overseas too!
Hop BroExactly. Rice-derived lagers are a topic in North America too, and Ben's Slop Shop is bringing that context to Kichijoji as a weekend event. It starts around 11:00 a.m. on May 30 and around 1:00 p.m. on May 31.
MugiAfter hearing that, I can't help it, I want to walk down Nakamichi-dori with a light lager in hand! Let's go drink Kitsune today!
Ben's Slop Shop, the craft beer specialty store along Nakamichi-dori in Kichijoji, published a post titled "Kitsune / KAMEISM" as its weekend event announcement. As a bottle shop that carries a wide range of craft beers, being able to enjoy them on the spot is part of this shop's appeal.
The centerpiece this time is Japanese Light Lager "Kitsune," a beer Flora Fermentation in Shiga has been brewing since it began production in 2024. This rice lager uses Omi rice, and in the post it is positioned as "a beer style that connects events." Flora Fermentation is introduced as a farmhouse brewery that owns its own fields and also grows rye and hops, making this a beer in which the brewer's perspective is likely reflected directly in the flavor.
The post also touches on rice-derived lagers that are drawing attention in North America, citing "Nodogoshi," released in 2025 by Saltfields Brewing in New York. It invites readers to think about how Japanese craft beer responds to styles that are gaining attention overseas, and that perspective feels distinctly like Ben's Slop Shop.
Serving starts around 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, and around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 31. It's a weekend program for anyone in Kichijoji who wants to check out the current state of a light, rice-based lager.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroAt Ben's Slop Shop in Kichijoji, there's a weekend event coming up centered on Flora Fermentation's Japanese Light Lager "Kitsune", right?
MugiHuh, what's this rice lager trend? Does using rice make beer lighter?
Hop BroExactly. Using Omi rice gives it a clean aroma and a smooth, light mouthfeel. And being able to enjoy it right in the shop is so very Ben's Slop Shop.
MugiWhoa, even though it's a bottle shop, you can drink there? That has the excitement of getting tapped right on the spot!
Hop BroWhat's more, Flora Fermentation is a farmhouse brewery with its own fields, and they grow rye and hops too. It feels like the air from the fields goes straight into the flavor.
MugiWait, what's a farmhouse brewery? Is it a farm or a brewery? Pick one!
Hop BroIt's both. They grow crops and connect that to brewing, and that's why Kitsune is a beer where you can see the brewer's perspective.
MugiAnd they even mention Nodogoshi as an example in the post, so rice lagers are getting attention overseas too!
Hop BroExactly. Rice-derived lagers are a topic in North America too, and Ben's Slop Shop is bringing that context to Kichijoji as a weekend event. It starts around 11:00 a.m. on May 30 and around 1:00 p.m. on May 31.
MugiAfter hearing that, I can't help it, I want to walk down Nakamichi-dori with a light lager in hand! Let's go drink Kitsune today!
