Shiokaze Blue Lab to Hold "Shio Fes 2026" Around the Soga JFE Gymnasium
Shiokaze Blue Lab, which continues brewing in Soga, Chiba City, will hold "Shio Fes 2026" on June 6 and 7. The venue is the parking lot and green spaces on the grounds of the Soga JFE Gymnasium, and it is a community-focused craft beer event bringing together seven breweries from around the country and food vendors.
Hop BroShiokaze Blue Lab in Soga, Chiba City, is putting on Shio Fes 2026. It feels like the heat of locally grown craft beer all comes together on a June weekend.
MugiWait, a beer festival in Soga!? And breweries are gathering too? That's basically the venue covered in bubbles of happiness!
Hop BroIt's on June 6 and 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. On the final day, last order is at 6:00 p.m., and the location is the parking lot and green belt area on the grounds of the Soga JFE Gymnasium.
MugiThe parking lot and green belt area sound pretty wild. A toast next to the gymnasium sounds like it might even make you feel like you exercised!
Hop BroThere will be seven breweries including Shiokaze Blue Lab. They’re coming from Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, and Chiba, so even with the same IPA, the aroma and bitterness come out totally differently, which is fun.
MugiWhen I hear IPA, it suddenly sounds like I know what I'm talking about. Huh, can even beginners understand the individuality of bitterness by tasting side by side?
Hop BroOf course. You can talk directly with the brewers here, so you don't need to overthink it. If you ask, 'What style is this?', it's the kind of event where they'll properly guide you to the entry point to the flavor.
MugiOhh! Then I could do it too. And Shiokaze Blue Lab uses ingredients from Chiba, right?
Hop BroExactly. It was born in Soga in 2020 and has been rooted in the local community ever since. It's produced by American brewer Chris Pool, and what's exciting is that it has grown as a brewery rooted in the region.
MugiAnd with fried chicken, waffles, pizza, and jerk chicken too, my stomach is already participating in the event! The food lineup is huge, and now I really want to drink!
Hop BroRight? So this weekend, let's start with one drink in Soga. Enjoy the beer and the food, and at the end, I want to just melt right into Shiokaze Blue Lab's circle.
Shiokaze Blue Lab is a brewery founded in 2020 in Soga, Chiba City. Led by American brewer Chris Pool, it has developed a wide range of styles while making use of local ingredients such as fruits from Chiba Prefecture, with a focus on delivering high-quality, consistent beer in Chiba. In addition to its Soga stand, it also has a base in Nobuto, Chiba City, and has been growing its presence as a brewery rooted in the neighborhood.
The "Shio Fes 2026" announced on Instagram this time is an event set in Soga, the place where it all began. It will be held on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The last order on the final day is 6:00 p.m., and it is said to be canceled in case of rain. The venue is the parking lot, green spaces, and other areas on the grounds of the Soga JFE Gymnasium.
Seven breweries including Shiokaze Blue Lab will set up stalls. Breweries with different personalities from Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, and Chiba will gather, making it a lineup where visitors can enjoy side-by-side tastings. One highlight is being able to talk directly with the brewers at the venue and ask about flavor characteristics and recommendations. Even people who are not familiar with craft beer can easily get into it, making this an event where the act of choosing itself is part of the fun.
Food is also plentiful. A lineup is planned that goes well with beer, including fried chicken, waffles, multinational cuisine, homemade sausages, jerk chicken, pizza, and skewers of game meat. This event is drawing attention as a way to broaden, together with local partners, the circle of craft beer that Shiokaze Blue Lab has cultivated in its home of Soga.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroShiokaze Blue Lab in Soga, Chiba City, is putting on Shio Fes 2026. It feels like the heat of locally grown craft beer all comes together on a June weekend.
MugiWait, a beer festival in Soga!? And breweries are gathering too? That's basically the venue covered in bubbles of happiness!
Hop BroIt's on June 6 and 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. On the final day, last order is at 6:00 p.m., and the location is the parking lot and green belt area on the grounds of the Soga JFE Gymnasium.
MugiThe parking lot and green belt area sound pretty wild. A toast next to the gymnasium sounds like it might even make you feel like you exercised!
Hop BroThere will be seven breweries including Shiokaze Blue Lab. They’re coming from Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, and Chiba, so even with the same IPA, the aroma and bitterness come out totally differently, which is fun.
MugiWhen I hear IPA, it suddenly sounds like I know what I'm talking about. Huh, can even beginners understand the individuality of bitterness by tasting side by side?
Hop BroOf course. You can talk directly with the brewers here, so you don't need to overthink it. If you ask, 'What style is this?', it's the kind of event where they'll properly guide you to the entry point to the flavor.
MugiOhh! Then I could do it too. And Shiokaze Blue Lab uses ingredients from Chiba, right?
Hop BroExactly. It was born in Soga in 2020 and has been rooted in the local community ever since. It's produced by American brewer Chris Pool, and what's exciting is that it has grown as a brewery rooted in the region.
MugiAnd with fried chicken, waffles, pizza, and jerk chicken too, my stomach is already participating in the event! The food lineup is huge, and now I really want to drink!
Hop BroRight? So this weekend, let's start with one drink in Soga. Enjoy the beer and the food, and at the end, I want to just melt right into Shiokaze Blue Lab's circle.
