At Shibuya taki, the Hokkaido & Okinawa Fair Begins; Hop Kotan Brewing's 'kunne' Is Tapped
On Wednesday, May 20, the beer pub taki in Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya, was open from 17:00 to 24:00 (L.O. food 23:00 / drinks 23:30) and kicked off its Hokkaido & Okinawa Fair. Centered on draft beer from Hokkaido, the lineup also includes bottled beer, canned beer, and food, with three taps featuring Minami Shinshu Beer, HOP KOTAN BREWING, and Swan Lake Beer.
Hop BroThe Hokkaido & Okinawa Fair has started at taki in Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya. With Minami Shinshu Beer, Hop Kotan Brewing, and Swan Lake Beer on tap, it's the kind of lineup that makes you hesitate over your very first drink.
MugiWait, what! You can drink Hokkaido draft beer and there's an Okinawa fair running at the same time? That's so much information my head is basically full of foam!
Hop BroThe one to watch is Hop Kotan Brewing's kunne - Kunne -. It's the fourth beer added to the regular series "HOP KOTAN ORIGINALS," and it really captures what Hokkaido craft beer is like right now.
MugiIt's read "kunne"? And it means black in Ainu? Even the name is already way too cool!
Hop BroExactly. The style is Schwarz. With an ABV of 5.0% and an IBU of 22, the roasted malt brings out toasty notes layered with hints of cacao and coffee, so even though it's dark in appearance, it drinks smoothly and stays balanced.
MugiWait, a dark beer that's not heavy? So that means it's a drinkable dark beer? Wow, that suddenly lowered the barrier to dark beer!
Hop BroRight. People often avoid it because of the dark look, but here the toastiness takes center stage and the finish stays clean. So you can enjoy the character of the roasted malt while still pairing it easily with food.
MugiI see, since taki is a beer pub, you can have it with food too! It seems perfect as a starting point for a tasting comparison!
Hop BroAnd with Minami Shinshu Beer's Apple Hop Orian ver. and Swan Lake Beer's Golden Swan Lake Ale on tap too, you can have fun moving from fruitiness to classic ale style in one flow.
MugiIf I saw that lineup in Shibuya, I'd be done for! I'd want to make kunne my first drink tonight and toast with a Hokkaido vibe!
The beer pub "taki" in Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya, held its Hokkaido & Okinawa Fair on Wednesday, May 20. In line with its reopening after the four-day holiday, it tapped a Hokkaido draft beer and also prepared bottled beer, canned beer, and food. The store is open from 17:00 to 24:00, with the last orders for food at 23:00 and drinks at 23:30.
The highlight of the day was a tap lineup built around craft beer from Hokkaido. The tap list featured the following three beers:
- Minami Shinshu Beer / Apple Hop (Orian ver.)
- Hop Kotan Brewing / kunne - Kunne -
- Swan Lake Beer / Golden Swan Lake Ale
In particular, the newly tapped beer was kunne - Kunne -, the fourth beer to join Hop Kotan Brewing's signature series, "HOP KOTAN ORIGINALS." The style is Schwarz, with an ABV of 5.0% and an IBU of 22. As its name, which means "black" in Ainu, suggests, it features the toasty aroma of roasted malt along with hints of cacao and coffee, and although it looks black, it has a well-balanced body that is not too heavy on the palate.
taki's appeal lies in its beer-pub usability, making it easy to enjoy beer together with food. During the fair period, guests can pair craft beer and dishes from Hokkaido and Okinawa, making it a good starting point for tasting comparisons. On a day when you're unsure what to choose for your first drink in Shibuya, this is the kind of lineup worth checking out first at these three taps.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroThe Hokkaido & Okinawa Fair has started at taki in Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya. With Minami Shinshu Beer, Hop Kotan Brewing, and Swan Lake Beer on tap, it's the kind of lineup that makes you hesitate over your very first drink.
MugiWait, what! You can drink Hokkaido draft beer and there's an Okinawa fair running at the same time? That's so much information my head is basically full of foam!
Hop BroThe one to watch is Hop Kotan Brewing's kunne - Kunne -. It's the fourth beer added to the regular series "HOP KOTAN ORIGINALS," and it really captures what Hokkaido craft beer is like right now.
MugiIt's read "kunne"? And it means black in Ainu? Even the name is already way too cool!
Hop BroExactly. The style is Schwarz. With an ABV of 5.0% and an IBU of 22, the roasted malt brings out toasty notes layered with hints of cacao and coffee, so even though it's dark in appearance, it drinks smoothly and stays balanced.
MugiWait, a dark beer that's not heavy? So that means it's a drinkable dark beer? Wow, that suddenly lowered the barrier to dark beer!
Hop BroRight. People often avoid it because of the dark look, but here the toastiness takes center stage and the finish stays clean. So you can enjoy the character of the roasted malt while still pairing it easily with food.
MugiI see, since taki is a beer pub, you can have it with food too! It seems perfect as a starting point for a tasting comparison!
Hop BroAnd with Minami Shinshu Beer's Apple Hop Orian ver. and Swan Lake Beer's Golden Swan Lake Ale on tap too, you can have fun moving from fruitiness to classic ale style in one flow.
MugiIf I saw that lineup in Shibuya, I'd be done for! I'd want to make kunne my first drink tonight and toast with a Hokkaido vibe!
