Spring Tap Update at 04&Beer: Plank's Heller Weizenbock and 5 Other Beers
At beer pub 04&Beer in Chuo Ward, Niigata City, the tap list was updated on a Wednesday with clear blue skies and perfect weather for cherry blossom viewing. Including a new opening from Niigata's Swan Lake Beer, the lineup spans a wide range from weizenbock and golden ale to pale ale and black IPA.
Hop BroThe spring tap lineup at Niigata City Chuo Ward's beer pub 04&Beer is a pretty interesting update. It feels like they reshuffled everything from white styles to dark ones to match the blue skies of cherry blossom viewing weather.
MugiWait, that's way too broad! From weizenbock to black IPA? Is my stomach having a meeting today too?
Hop BroThat's what makes it good. For example, Plank's Heller Weizenbock has the supple wheat richness typical of Bavaria, and it tends to bring out bready sweetness and gentle yeast character.
MugiOhhh! But what does Heller mean? Like, light-colored? The name alone is so stylish that my vocabulary is being left behind!
Hop BroExactly. Heller usually means lighter in color, and it often refers to a weizenbock that isn't too dark. It looks heavy, but it goes down surprisingly smoothly, which is the kind of detail that makes you grin.
MugiNice! Then I want to try the Golden Swan Lake Ale next. And since it's from Niigata's Swan Lake Beer, it has that local feel and seems perfect for a spring walk, doesn't it?
Hop BroExactly. And because it's labeled as new!, there's that pleasure of drinking what's fresh right now. A light golden ale is a very strong choice for your first beer.
MugiKirameki E7 sounds interesting too! The name already feels kind of robotic, and it sounds sparkly, so now I'm curious!
Hop BroIt's a beer from Johana Beer in Toyama, and it's a good choice when you want to check the balance between aroma and drinkability. When a beer like this is in the mix, the whole tap list suddenly feels more three-dimensional.
MugiI'm also curious about Nagano's MATSUMOTO Awesome! Pale Ale! Am I right in thinking that pale ale basically means easy to drink?
Hop BroThat's pretty much right. What makes pale ale appealing is the way it combines aroma and bitterness, and you can imagine the refreshing character that feels very MATSUMOTO Brewery.
MugiEnding with Session Black IPA is so good! It's dark but light-bodied, which is such a great visual-and-flavor contrast!
Hop BroExactly. With Minoh Beer’s easygoing black IPA, you can enjoy it in daylight or as a nightcap. Today at 04&Beer, I want to drift through the beers one by one in step with the spring air.
MugiYeah, I already want one! Hearing an update for cherry blossom viewing weather makes me feel like I'm about to get pulled straight to the counter!
At the beer pub `...04&Beer`, tucked away in an alley in 8-bancho, Nishibori-maedori, Chuo Ward, Niigata City, the tap list changed in a spring-like atmosphere. The post mentioned it was "a Wednesday with clear blue skies and perfect cherry blossom viewing weather," and the lineup is one you would want to drink in tune with the season.
The confirmed beers are the following five:
- `Heller Weizenbock / Plank Brewery (Bavaria)`
- `Golden Swan Lake Ale / Swan Lake Beer (Niigata)`
- `Kirameki E7 / Johana Beer (Toyama)`
- `MATSUMOTO Awesome! Pale Ale / MATSUMOTO Brewery (Nagano)`
- `Session Black IPA (Real Ale) / Minoh Beer (Osaka)`
From the white wheat-based `Heller Weizenbock` to the golden ale from local Niigata's `Swan Lake Beer`, `Kirameki E7` from Toyama's `Johana Beer`, the pale ale from Nagano's `MATSUMOTO Brewery`, and the session black IPA crafted by Osaka's `Minoh Beer`, the lineup covers a very broad range of flavors. From a light, easygoing pour to one where you can slowly explore aroma and bitterness, it is easy to choose according to your mood.
`Golden Swan Lake Ale` is introduced with a `new!` label, making it a beer worth checking out this spring. Since the list also includes styles like `Session Black IPA (Real Ale)`, which keep the body light even with a deep color, it works well both under bright daylight and as a nightcap. It can be described as a well-balanced tap update that suits the atmosphere of early April.
`04&Beer` is a beer pub operating in Niigata's Furumachi area. With its calm back-alley location, it is a place where local beer fans can stop in to drink craft beer while following the rotation of the taps. As the season moves forward, this is the kind of time when you want to enjoy moving back and forth between spring-like, easygoing labels and more full-bodied beers.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroThe spring tap lineup at Niigata City Chuo Ward's beer pub 04&Beer is a pretty interesting update. It feels like they reshuffled everything from white styles to dark ones to match the blue skies of cherry blossom viewing weather.
MugiWait, that's way too broad! From weizenbock to black IPA? Is my stomach having a meeting today too?
Hop BroThat's what makes it good. For example, Plank's Heller Weizenbock has the supple wheat richness typical of Bavaria, and it tends to bring out bready sweetness and gentle yeast character.
MugiOhhh! But what does Heller mean? Like, light-colored? The name alone is so stylish that my vocabulary is being left behind!
Hop BroExactly. Heller usually means lighter in color, and it often refers to a weizenbock that isn't too dark. It looks heavy, but it goes down surprisingly smoothly, which is the kind of detail that makes you grin.
MugiNice! Then I want to try the Golden Swan Lake Ale next. And since it's from Niigata's Swan Lake Beer, it has that local feel and seems perfect for a spring walk, doesn't it?
Hop BroExactly. And because it's labeled as new!, there's that pleasure of drinking what's fresh right now. A light golden ale is a very strong choice for your first beer.
MugiKirameki E7 sounds interesting too! The name already feels kind of robotic, and it sounds sparkly, so now I'm curious!
Hop BroIt's a beer from Johana Beer in Toyama, and it's a good choice when you want to check the balance between aroma and drinkability. When a beer like this is in the mix, the whole tap list suddenly feels more three-dimensional.
MugiI'm also curious about Nagano's MATSUMOTO Awesome! Pale Ale! Am I right in thinking that pale ale basically means easy to drink?
Hop BroThat's pretty much right. What makes pale ale appealing is the way it combines aroma and bitterness, and you can imagine the refreshing character that feels very MATSUMOTO Brewery.
MugiEnding with Session Black IPA is so good! It's dark but light-bodied, which is such a great visual-and-flavor contrast!
Hop BroExactly. With Minoh Beer’s easygoing black IPA, you can enjoy it in daylight or as a nightcap. Today at 04&Beer, I want to drift through the beers one by one in step with the spring air.
MugiYeah, I already want one! Hearing an update for cherry blossom viewing weather makes me feel like I'm about to get pulled straight to the counter!
