Hongo Kikuzaka-machi Camos debuts first collaboration IPA with Shinobazu hops
Hongo Kikuzaka-machi Camos, a brewery and beer stand in Bunkyo, Tokyo, has launched its first collaboration beer with the Shinobazu Hop Project. The Fresh Hop IPA, brewed with hops grown on the rooftop of Matsuzakaya Ueno, reflects a local network turned into a glass of beer.
Hop BroToday’s topic is Shinobazu Okujobiyori from Hongo Kikuzakacho Camos. It’s a collab IPA brewed with hops grown on the rooftop of Matsuzakaya Ueno.
MugiWait, rooftop hops?! What is that? A department store roof growing hops that turn straight into beer sounds way too cinematic.
Hop BroThat’s the fun part of the Shinobazu Hop Project. It’s a Fresh Hop IPA, so the just-harvested hops go straight to a nearby brewery and the aroma stays super vivid.
MugiWhoa, so just-harvested really makes that much difference? Like, can a beginner actually taste the gap compared with dried hops?
Hop BroYep. You get this green, fresh aroma with notes like cut grass and picked herbs. The more delicate aroma compounds come through better, so the freshness really pops.
MugiHold on, aroma compounds? We just swerved into science class! So basically it smells like somebody harvested it five minutes ago?
Hop BroExactly. Hongo Kikuzakacho Camos, near Hongo-sanchome, is a brewery and beer stand that opened in May 2023, so it already has that easy neighborhood vibe that fits these local hops perfectly.
MugiAnd the crane-god label is ridiculously cute! If the harvest memories are part of the beer too, I’m taking photos before I even sip.
Hop BroThat’s really the point. Growing hops on the Matsuzakaya Ueno rooftop and brewing them nearby turns into local connection in liquid form. It feels like drinking the scenery of Bunkyo.
MugiThat’s amazing, like a whole city in a glass! Craft beer isn’t just flavor, it’s a story about a place you can actually drink.
Hop BroExactly, and a fresh-picked hop IPA is the kind of beer you don’t want to miss. If I see it on tap, I’m ordering it immediately.
MugiThen it’s settled. I want to toast with Shinobazu Okujobiyori right now! This is not a story that ends with ‘huh, neat’ when my throat is already asking for a pint.
Hongo Kikuzaka-machi Camos is a brewery and beer stand near Hongo-Sanchome Station. It opened in May 2023 and has grown into a neighborhood-friendly spot set within the calmer streets of Bunkyo, Tokyo.
The new beer drawing attention is Shinobazu Okujo Biyori, a Fresh Hop IPA created through a collaboration with the Shinobazu Hop Project. The hops were brought over from the rooftop of Matsuzakaya Ueno, and the beer was built around the memory of a cheerful harvest day. Its special label also features a crane deity motif from the rooftop shrine at Matsuzakaya.
The project links hop growing, harvesting, and brewing across the city. For Camos, which aims to serve fresh beer rooted in its local area, the collaboration fits naturally. The result is more than a one-off release: it is a beer that connects Bunkyo’s streetscape, local people, and the aroma of freshly harvested hops in a single pour.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday’s topic is Shinobazu Okujobiyori from Hongo Kikuzakacho Camos. It’s a collab IPA brewed with hops grown on the rooftop of Matsuzakaya Ueno.
MugiWait, rooftop hops?! What is that? A department store roof growing hops that turn straight into beer sounds way too cinematic.
Hop BroThat’s the fun part of the Shinobazu Hop Project. It’s a Fresh Hop IPA, so the just-harvested hops go straight to a nearby brewery and the aroma stays super vivid.
MugiWhoa, so just-harvested really makes that much difference? Like, can a beginner actually taste the gap compared with dried hops?
Hop BroYep. You get this green, fresh aroma with notes like cut grass and picked herbs. The more delicate aroma compounds come through better, so the freshness really pops.
MugiHold on, aroma compounds? We just swerved into science class! So basically it smells like somebody harvested it five minutes ago?
Hop BroExactly. Hongo Kikuzakacho Camos, near Hongo-sanchome, is a brewery and beer stand that opened in May 2023, so it already has that easy neighborhood vibe that fits these local hops perfectly.
MugiAnd the crane-god label is ridiculously cute! If the harvest memories are part of the beer too, I’m taking photos before I even sip.
Hop BroThat’s really the point. Growing hops on the Matsuzakaya Ueno rooftop and brewing them nearby turns into local connection in liquid form. It feels like drinking the scenery of Bunkyo.
MugiThat’s amazing, like a whole city in a glass! Craft beer isn’t just flavor, it’s a story about a place you can actually drink.
Hop BroExactly, and a fresh-picked hop IPA is the kind of beer you don’t want to miss. If I see it on tap, I’m ordering it immediately.
MugiThen it’s settled. I want to toast with Shinobazu Okujobiyori right now! This is not a story that ends with ‘huh, neat’ when my throat is already asking for a pint.
