Welders Diner / Craft Beer, Cafe & Bar in Shakujii-cho, Nerima, Tokyo, has unveiled its 9th anniversary collaboration beer. The beer was brewed with WU-CHAW TENG BREW in Suwa, Nagano, and is named 'Hoppy Amber Lager'. In the post, the shop says last year's beer set a very high bar, so this year's brief was a hoppy amber lager that would still drink easily in summer.

The recipe is described as an homage to a classic American amber lager. Brewer Tanaka reportedly called back right away and said he had 'a beer he had wanted to make', which led to the final direction. The key points are:

- Hops: Kiyosato Cascade from Kobayashi Hop Farm, plus Mittelfruh pellets and whole hops, and Saphir
- Yeast: W-34/70
- Profile: a clean amber lager with light caramel malt, citrus, and herbal hop notes

The beer keeps the amber malt depth without becoming heavy, so it should work well even in the heat of summer. The post also ends with 'No Sleep Till Brooklyn!!', which gives the anniversary release a playful edge.

Welders Diner is the kind of place where this beer makes sense: a craft beer, cafe, and bar that works for a casual pint, a meal, or a longer stop in the Shakujii Park area. A limited anniversary lager like this helps show the shop's character as much as its beer list does.