Yellow Monkey Brewing Releases “TSUZUKI,” a Sour IPA Inspired by Tsuzuki Ward
Yokohama-based Yellow Monkey Brewing released “TSUZUKI” on July 4, a new beer created as a tribute to its home base, Tsuzuki Ward. The White Koji Sour IPA combines bright acidity with New Zealand hop character for a beer that evokes local greenways and early-summer air.
Hop BroYellow Monkey Brewing in Yokohama just released TSUZUKI, a Sour IPA inspired by Tsuzuki Ward.
MugiWait, the neighborhood name is the beer name? That sounds like a love letter to Tsuzuki !
Hop BroExactly. YMB has had its brewery and taproom there for two years, and this one feels like the town brewed into beer .
MugiHuh! But White Koji Sour IPA sounds like three different things crashing into each other!
Hop BroWhite koji creates citric acid, so it gives a lemony tartness. In plain language, it's the source of that bright tang .
MugiOhhh, so it's not just sour, you still get that lovely hop aroma too!
Hop BroRight. New Zealand hops bring green, herbal notes, plus citrus and fruity yeast character, so it turns into an aroma trio in the glass.
MugiWhoa, now there's a whole concert in the pint! And at 4.0% ABV, it totally sounds like a post-run beer !
Hop BroThat was the idea. On July 4, they even held TSUZUKI 7 PEAKS , with more than 20 local runners doing about 9 km before toasting at the taproom.
MugiThat is way too good... it's not just a new release, it's a memory beer for Tsuzuki with the scenery and the people built in.
Hop BroWith its light body and early-summer vibe, this is basically the first glass of the day kind of beer.
MugiPerfect. I'll pretend I already walked the greenway, and tonight we're toasting with TSUZUKI for sure !
A beer shaped by its neighborhood
Yellow Monkey Brewing (YMB) is a Yokohama brewery built around a simple mission: connect people and spread smiles through beer and sports. “TSUZUKI” is the latest expression of that idea. The beer was brewed as a tribute to Tsuzuki Ward, where YMB has established its brewery and taproom and spent the past two years becoming part of the local community.
Tsuzuki Ward is known for parks and greenways woven through the cityscape, where people run, walk, play, and gather in everyday scenes. YMB set out to capture that atmosphere in a glass. The name “TSUZUKI” also carries a broader wish: for greenery to continue, for human connections to continue, and for new stories to keep unfolding in this neighborhood.
Style and flavor
TSUZUKI is a White Koji Sour IPA with 4.0% ABV, 19.6 IBU, and 6.7 EBC. It is built around the crisp acidity of citric acid derived from white koji, layered with green, herbal aromas from New Zealand hops, citrus-like notes, and fruity yeast character. The result is a beer that feels light on the palate while still offering a complex aromatic profile.
It is the kind of beer that makes sense after a walk or run along the greenways on a clear early-summer day.
A release day with local runners
To mark the July 4 release, YMB also held a community run event called “TSUZUKI 7 PEAKS.” More than 20 runners gathered to tackle a roughly 9-kilometer route through Tsuzuki’s greenways and hills before returning to the taproom for a toast with the new beer.
For YMB, TSUZUKI is more than a neighborhood-branded release. It is a beer that reflects the local landscape, the movement of people through the ward, and the post-run moment of sharing a pint together. In that sense, it also shows how the brewery continues to build its identity in Yokohama through beers tied closely to place and community.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroYellow Monkey Brewing in Yokohama just released TSUZUKI, a Sour IPA inspired by Tsuzuki Ward.
MugiWait, the neighborhood name is the beer name? That sounds like a love letter to Tsuzuki !
Hop BroExactly. YMB has had its brewery and taproom there for two years, and this one feels like the town brewed into beer .
MugiHuh! But White Koji Sour IPA sounds like three different things crashing into each other!
Hop BroWhite koji creates citric acid, so it gives a lemony tartness. In plain language, it's the source of that bright tang .
MugiOhhh, so it's not just sour, you still get that lovely hop aroma too!
Hop BroRight. New Zealand hops bring green, herbal notes, plus citrus and fruity yeast character, so it turns into an aroma trio in the glass.
MugiWhoa, now there's a whole concert in the pint! And at 4.0% ABV, it totally sounds like a post-run beer !
Hop BroThat was the idea. On July 4, they even held TSUZUKI 7 PEAKS , with more than 20 local runners doing about 9 km before toasting at the taproom.
MugiThat is way too good... it's not just a new release, it's a memory beer for Tsuzuki with the scenery and the people built in.
Hop BroWith its light body and early-summer vibe, this is basically the first glass of the day kind of beer.
MugiPerfect. I'll pretend I already walked the greenway, and tonight we're toasting with TSUZUKI for sure !
