Yatsugatake Brewery Releases "Torahachi Beer" with Taihu Brewing
Yatsugatake Brewery introduced its collaboration beer "Torahachi Beer" with Taiwan's Taihu Brewing (台虎精醸). Based on Kiyosato Lager, it is a lager layered with locally polished rice and Taiwanese oolong tea, finished with citrusy hops and tea aromas.
Hop BroHere it is, the Torahachi Beer collaboration. Yatsugatake Brewery teamed up with Taiwan's Taihu Brewing to release a beer based on Kiyosato Lager.
MugiWhoa, Torahachi Beer already sounds strong! Tiger and eight together feels kind of rock-and-roll!
Hop BroAnd the name has a proper origin: it combines Taihu's "tiger" with Yatsugatake's "eight." Plus, because Yatsugatake Brewery uses Kiyosato Lager as the base, it's not just about looks.
MugiKiyosato Lager is a lager, sure, but what is decoction brewing? That suddenly sounds seriously artisanal!
Hop BroGood question. Decoction is a traditional method where part of the wort is boiled and returned to bring out the malt's flavor and definition. That's why Yatsugatake Brewery's beers tend to show the shape of the malt so clearly.
MugiWow! And they even add locally polished rice? So you can enjoy the rice flavor too, even though it's beer?
Hop BroExactly. The polished rice adds lightness, and then Taiwanese oolong tea is layered in during secondary fermentation, so it takes on an interesting character as an oolong lager. It's crisp to drink, with a soft tea-leaf finish.
MugiWait, beer with tea!? And it even has an Earl Grey-like sweetness? My brain can't keep up!
Hop BroOn top of that, Hokuto Hops' Kaikogane and Cascade bring in a citrusy hop aroma. It blends with the tea's floral quality, building up a beautiful layered fragrance.
MugiAnd the label even has eight tigers on it, right? That kind of playful touch is fun just to look at!
Hop BroYeah, it's great how it balances craft-beer individuality with drinkability. This was definitely the kind of intro that makes you want a crisp pint right now.
MugiTotally, I want to drink this for sure! If I toasted with Torahachi Beer, would I look like a craft-beer insider too?
Yatsugatake Brewery is a brewery based in Kiyosato, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Since its establishment in 1997, it has continued making beer using decoction, a traditional German brewing method. In a land nurtured by the nature of Yatsugatake, its hallmark has been carefully drawing out the character of the malt.
What was introduced on Instagram this time was the collaboration beer "Torahachi Beer" with Taiwan's Taihu Brewing (台虎精醸). Based on Yatsugatake Brewery's standard "Kiyosato Lager," it is finished as an "oolong lager" that enhances the rice flavor with locally produced polished rice and adds fragrant Taiwanese oolong tea during the secondary fermentation stage. The design balances a crisp drinking experience with a gentle sweetness reminiscent of Earl Grey tea.
The hops used are "Kaikogane" and "Cascade," grown by Hokuto Hops. Their bright citrus aroma supports the floral, elegant aroma of the oolong tea. The name "Torahachi Beer" comes from Taihu Brewing's "tiger" and Yatsugatake Brewery's "eight." The label adopts a design in which the eight people involved in production are represented as eight tigers, visually conveying the background of the collaboration. It can be described as a beer that retains the individuality of craft beer while also being designed with lager drinkability in mind.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHere it is, the Torahachi Beer collaboration. Yatsugatake Brewery teamed up with Taiwan's Taihu Brewing to release a beer based on Kiyosato Lager.
MugiWhoa, Torahachi Beer already sounds strong! Tiger and eight together feels kind of rock-and-roll!
Hop BroAnd the name has a proper origin: it combines Taihu's "tiger" with Yatsugatake's "eight." Plus, because Yatsugatake Brewery uses Kiyosato Lager as the base, it's not just about looks.
MugiKiyosato Lager is a lager, sure, but what is decoction brewing? That suddenly sounds seriously artisanal!
Hop BroGood question. Decoction is a traditional method where part of the wort is boiled and returned to bring out the malt's flavor and definition. That's why Yatsugatake Brewery's beers tend to show the shape of the malt so clearly.
MugiWow! And they even add locally polished rice? So you can enjoy the rice flavor too, even though it's beer?
Hop BroExactly. The polished rice adds lightness, and then Taiwanese oolong tea is layered in during secondary fermentation, so it takes on an interesting character as an oolong lager. It's crisp to drink, with a soft tea-leaf finish.
MugiWait, beer with tea!? And it even has an Earl Grey-like sweetness? My brain can't keep up!
Hop BroOn top of that, Hokuto Hops' Kaikogane and Cascade bring in a citrusy hop aroma. It blends with the tea's floral quality, building up a beautiful layered fragrance.
MugiAnd the label even has eight tigers on it, right? That kind of playful touch is fun just to look at!
Hop BroYeah, it's great how it balances craft-beer individuality with drinkability. This was definitely the kind of intro that makes you want a crisp pint right now.
MugiTotally, I want to drink this for sure! If I toasted with Torahachi Beer, would I look like a craft-beer insider too?
