Jokun’s two beers line up with the grand reopening of Harashin Muikamachi Store

From jokun-brewing / Craft Beer Jokun, the brewpub based in Tokamachi, Niigata, comes welcome news for local shoppers. An Instagram post announced that Harashin Muikamachi Store has reopened after renovation, and that Jokun’s beers have started being carried there to match the occasion.

The lineup introduced in the post consists of two beers: JOKUN IPA and SAKE HAZY IPA. For those who want to enjoy the distinctive hop character of an IPA, JOKUN IPA is the one to watch, while SAKE HAZY IPA is likely to interest drinkers looking for a softer mouthfeel and a hazy style. With two beers from the same brewery offering different directions, there is also the enjoyment of comparing them side by side.

As a brewpub rooted in Tokamachi, Jokun’s appeal lies in its close connection to the maker. When the experience of drinking beer fresh at the taproom connects with the convenience of picking it up casually at a local store, craft beer becomes much closer to everyday life. A local supermarket renovation leading to beers from a regional brewery being stocked like this is a development beer fans will not want to miss.

This rollout brings Jokun’s character from Tokamachi to the Minamiuonuma area. To start, the two labels JOKUN IPA and SAKE HAZY IPA are the beers to try in order to check out the flavors coming from this brewpub.

dialogue: [{"text":"The Tokamachi, Niigata brewpub has started placing Jokun’s two beers on the shelves to coincide with the grand reopening of Harashin Muikamachi Store.","emotion":"excited","speaker":"hop"},{"text":"What! You can buy Jokun at a supermarket? Being able to pick it up locally is seriously great!","emotion":"surprised","speaker":"mugi"},{"text":"Exactly. This time the lineup is JOKUN IPA and SAKE HAZY IPA. Even from the same brewery, it’s interesting how different their personalities are.","emotion":"proud","speaker":"hop"},{"text":"I get IPA, but what exactly is a Hazy IPA? Is it like, kind of cloudy and soft?","emotion":"thinking","speaker":"mugi"},{"text":"That’s right. It’s not just the appearance, either - the mouthfeel is softer too. In other words, it’s a style that lets you enjoy a smooth drinking texture along with the hop aroma in full.","emotion":"normal","speaker":"hop"},{"text":"Ohhh! So JOKUN IPA is more like sharp, punchy hop character?","emotion":"excited","speaker":"mugi"},{"text":"Yeah, it’s for people who want to enjoy the contours of the hops the way an IPA should. That’s where the brewery’s character really comes through, in the bitterness and the way the aroma stands out.","emotion":"normal","speaker":"hop"},{"text":"But wait, a brewpub beer being sold in a supermarket feels kind of unreal! Doesn’t it have both a fresh-made feel and an everyday feel at the same time?","emotion":"confused","speaker":"mugi"},{"text":"That’s the good part. When the experience of drinking in the shop connects with the pleasure of taking it home, the everyday presence of craft beer takes a big step forward.","emotion":"happy","speaker":"hop"},{"text":"Then I want to try a side-by-side tasting first! The crispness of the IPA and the mellow character of the Hazy both sound tempting!","emotion":"excited","speaker":"mugi"},{"text":"Exactly. This expansion from Tokamachi into the Minamiuonuma area is sincerely heartwarming as a local brewery’s beer.","emotion":"moved","speaker":"hop"},{"text":"I have to buy it! If JOKUN IPA and SAKE HAZY IPA are both there, I’m the kind of person who’ll end up hesitating and taking home both!","emotion":"happy","speaker":"mugi"}]