Shiga Kogen Beer Releases Tea for Two 2 / red with TAIHU BREWING
Shiga Kogen Beer of Yamanouchi, Nagano, has released Tea for Two 2 / red, its second collaboration with Taiwan’s TAIHU BREWING. Made with the red expression of its barrel-aged Yama-Bushi series and a larger tea component, the 500ml can was first presented at Harvest Festival 2026.
Hop BroShiga Kogen Beer in Yamanouchi, Nagano, has released “Tea for Two 2 / red”, a collaboration with Taiwan’s TAIHU BREWING.
MugiWhat?! Beer and Taiwanese high-mountain oolong tea? That sounds like a cross-border tea party!
Hop BroIt’s the second collaboration, first unveiled at Harvest Festival 2026. This limited 500ml can costs ¥1,430 including tax.
MugiDoes “red” mean red tea? Or does the beer turn into the red team when you open it?
Hop BroNot a team color—it uses the “red” Yamabushi base, the barrel-aged Yamabushi beer. Oak-barrel complexity is at its core.
MugiThere’s the technical term! Does barrel aging mean the beer chats with wood?
Hop BroThat’s actually close! Resting beer in oak adds woody character and depth over time—it's a process that develops flavor.
MugiWow! And with more oolong tea too? That’s an aroma traffic jam—no, an aroma intersection!
Hop BroBoth the blend ratio and tea amount were adjusted, making it different from the earlier Miyama Blonde-based release. It calls for a side-by-side tasting.
MugiNagano brewing meets Taiwanese tea culture in one can—lovely! It’s listed as sold out online, but if we find one, let’s toast immediately!
Shiga Kogen Beer has released Tea for Two 2 / red, a collaborative beer made with Taiwan’s TAIHU BREWING. Listed as product no. 487, the beer comes in a 500ml can and was priced at ¥1,430 including tax. The product page currently marks it as sold out.
The beer is the second collaboration between the two breweries and was first presented at Harvest Festival 2026. Rather than using the blonde blend associated with the earlier Tea for Two, this version is built around “red,” one of the two main expressions in Shiga Kogen Beer’s barrel-aged Yama-Bushi series. The product is described as “Barrel-Aged Yama-Bushi / Tea for Two 2 ‘red.’”
For this blend, the breweries increased both the blending ratio and the amount of tea used. The original Tea for Two was brewed with Taiwanese high-mountain oolong tea and was based on Miyama Blonde, Shiga Kogen Beer’s rice beer. That beer introduced a meeting point between Taiwan’s tea culture and the brewing traditions of Nagano. The new red version shifts the focus toward the deeper, barrel-aged character of Yama-Bushi while giving the tea a more prominent role.
Shiga Kogen Beer is produced by Tamamura-Honten in Yamanouchi, Nagano. The brewery is known for beers made with locally grown hops and sake rice, as well as the Yama-Bushi series, which explores the effects of oak-barrel aging. Its collaboration with TAIHU BREWING extends that approach across borders, combining Shiga Kogen’s barrel-aged beer with Taiwanese tea and TAIHU’s brewing perspective.
Tea for Two 2 / red is designed as a distinct interpretation rather than a simple repeat of the first collaboration. With its revised blend and increased tea usage, it offers a natural comparison for drinkers familiar with the original, while also appealing to fans of barrel-aged beer, tea beers, and international brewery collaborations.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroShiga Kogen Beer in Yamanouchi, Nagano, has released “Tea for Two 2 / red”, a collaboration with Taiwan’s TAIHU BREWING.
MugiWhat?! Beer and Taiwanese high-mountain oolong tea? That sounds like a cross-border tea party!
Hop BroIt’s the second collaboration, first unveiled at Harvest Festival 2026. This limited 500ml can costs ¥1,430 including tax.
MugiDoes “red” mean red tea? Or does the beer turn into the red team when you open it?
Hop BroNot a team color—it uses the “red” Yamabushi base, the barrel-aged Yamabushi beer. Oak-barrel complexity is at its core.
MugiThere’s the technical term! Does barrel aging mean the beer chats with wood?
Hop BroThat’s actually close! Resting beer in oak adds woody character and depth over time—it's a process that develops flavor.
MugiWow! And with more oolong tea too? That’s an aroma traffic jam—no, an aroma intersection!
Hop BroBoth the blend ratio and tea amount were adjusted, making it different from the earlier Miyama Blonde-based release. It calls for a side-by-side tasting.
MugiNagano brewing meets Taiwanese tea culture in one can—lovely! It’s listed as sold out online, but if we find one, let’s toast immediately!
