Baeren releases a limited amber lager suited to Tendo Brewery's hot-spring setting
Baeren Brewery released `Baeren Tsunagu Beer Kohakuiro no Lager` on August 1 as a limited-edition beer made with 100% Iwate-grown ingredients. Here, it is introduced alongside Tendo Brewery (Ichiraku), the hot-spring ryokan brewery in Yamagata, whose setting makes this kind of regional beer story feel especially fitting.
Hop BroToday's topic is a good one: I want to connect Tendo Brewery (Ichiraku) with Baeren's new release. It's called "Baeren Tsunagu Beer Kohaku-iro no Lager."
MugiWait, what! Tendo Brewery is the brewpub inside a hot spring inn, right? Beer after a bath feels completely unfair!
Hop BroExactly. It's inside Yuho Ichiraku, and the signatures are Saint Cherry and Mr.A. They're great at putting local ingredients right out front.
MugiOoh, nice! So this Baeren beer is also big on local character? The name alone makes me want to book a trip!
Hop BroVery much so. The style is amber lager, made with 100% Iwate-grown ingredients, and it came from a project with Iwate University's craft beer club.
MugiWhat even is that? Amber but still lager sounds like my beer brain just slipped on a banana peel!
Hop BroThat's the fun part. It pours reddish-brown, with gentle roast aroma and soft sweetness. But because it's a lager, the finish stays clean instead of getting too heavy.
MugiOhh, I get it! So it looks rich, but the clean finish keeps it easy to drink? That sounds perfect for late summer!
Hop BroAnd the ingredients are serious: barley malt from Shiwa, specialty malt from Rikuzentakata barley, and Iwate hops. It's basically Iwate in a glass.
MugiWow, now I want to try Tendo's Saint Cherry and Mr.A, then line up that amber lager right after. That's a full travel tasting flight already!
Hop BroSeriously, after a bath on the terrace, that would be ideal. Finish a local, ingredient-driven pint with a smooth 5.0% pour, and the whole scene just works.
MugiI'm done for, my throat is ready already! Hot springs and craft beer in one trip is exactly the kind of pairing that makes me want a drink right now!
Tendo Brewery's character
Tendo Brewery (Ichiraku) is a rare brewery inside the hot-spring ryokan Yubou Ichiraku in Tendo Onsen, Yamagata. Guests can enjoy fresh draft beer after bathing on the terrace, and bottled beer is also sold in the shop. Its house beers include `Seioubou (St. Cherry)`, brewed with local cherries, and `Mr.A`, a soba-aroma beer. Both are beers that make the most of local ingredients and a clear sense of place.
Baeren's new release
Against that backdrop, Baeren Brewery's limited release `Baeren Tsunagu Beer Kohakuiro no Lager` feels especially relevant. Developed with the Iwate University craft beer club, the amber lager uses barley malt from Shiwa, colored malt from Rikuzentakata, and hops from Iwate Prefecture. It pours a reddish-brown color and is designed around gentle roasted notes, soft sweetness, and a clean finish. With 5.0% ABV, it is meant to be easy to keep drinking even in late summer.
Why it matters
A brewery like Tendo, where hot springs and beer are part of the same experience, gives extra meaning to beers built around local raw materials and regional identity. In that sense, Baeren's new beer fits naturally into the broader craft beer conversation. If you are visiting Yamagata, `Seioubou (St. Cherry)` and `Mr.A` are the house beers to note, while Baeren's release is another example of how Japanese craft brewers are connecting beer to place.
The original Baeren story is here: My CRAFT BEER, and Tendo Brewery's profile is here: Tendo Brewery.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday's topic is a good one: I want to connect Tendo Brewery (Ichiraku) with Baeren's new release. It's called "Baeren Tsunagu Beer Kohaku-iro no Lager."
MugiWait, what! Tendo Brewery is the brewpub inside a hot spring inn, right? Beer after a bath feels completely unfair!
Hop BroExactly. It's inside Yuho Ichiraku, and the signatures are Saint Cherry and Mr.A. They're great at putting local ingredients right out front.
MugiOoh, nice! So this Baeren beer is also big on local character? The name alone makes me want to book a trip!
Hop BroVery much so. The style is amber lager, made with 100% Iwate-grown ingredients, and it came from a project with Iwate University's craft beer club.
MugiWhat even is that? Amber but still lager sounds like my beer brain just slipped on a banana peel!
Hop BroThat's the fun part. It pours reddish-brown, with gentle roast aroma and soft sweetness. But because it's a lager, the finish stays clean instead of getting too heavy.
MugiOhh, I get it! So it looks rich, but the clean finish keeps it easy to drink? That sounds perfect for late summer!
Hop BroAnd the ingredients are serious: barley malt from Shiwa, specialty malt from Rikuzentakata barley, and Iwate hops. It's basically Iwate in a glass.
MugiWow, now I want to try Tendo's Saint Cherry and Mr.A, then line up that amber lager right after. That's a full travel tasting flight already!
Hop BroSeriously, after a bath on the terrace, that would be ideal. Finish a local, ingredient-driven pint with a smooth 5.0% pour, and the whole scene just works.
MugiI'm done for, my throat is ready already! Hot springs and craft beer in one trip is exactly the kind of pairing that makes me want a drink right now!
