Sakata Traditional Beer to Release "GINGER SMaSH" with Fresh Yamagata Ginger on February 20
Sakata Traditional Beer will release its new "GINGER SMaSH" on February 20, 2026. Made with "tane-shoga," a fresh ginger grown in Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, this beer is designed to keep the aroma vivid while finishing clean and crisp. Reservations open on February 12, with shipments sent out sequentially after the release date.
Hop BroToday's new release news is seriously exciting. Sakata Traditional Beer is dropping "GINGER SMaSH" on February 20!
MugiWhoa! Even the name sounds intense! Ginger as in, you know, the ginger ginger!?
Hop BroExactly. It's a Golden Ale made with "tane-shoga," fresh ginger grown in Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture. The idea is to bring out the aroma while keeping the finish crisp.
MugiHuh? But what is "SMaSH"? It's not about smashing the beer, right!?
Hop BroNo smashing involved. SMaSH stands for Single Malt and Single Hop, a way of designing a beer with just one malt and one hop. This time, the malt is Best Ale and the hop is Columbus.
MugiOh, so it's basically a one-ingredient-showdown kind of thing! If ginger is the star, that actually sounds like a great match!
Hop BroExactly. And with IBU 22, the bitterness is restrained, while the 5.5% ABV keeps it lively. The ginger aroma is pushed to the front, so it should work both with meals and on its own.
MugiIBU and ABV are suddenly like magic spells! But basically, it means "not too bitter, easy to drink, and smells great," right!
Hop BroExactly! Reservations start on STORES from February 12, it's released on February 20, and shipments go out sequentially. The price is 795 yen tax included, and bottle sales are supported too.
MugiPerfect! I want to drink this with fried chicken! And you, hop bro? ...From that look, you've already made space in the fridge!
Sakata Traditional Beer (Yamagata) announced its new product "GINGER SMaSH..." on Instagram. The post was published at 2026-02-10 17:50. According to the post, the product will also be available in bottles and is scheduled for release on 2026-02-20.
For this beer, it is said that the brewer himself created the recipe for the first time. The style design centers on SMaSH, based on the single malt and single hop concept, while emphasizing how to bring out the character of the ginger chosen as the star ingredient. The result appears to be a formulation that keeps bitterness low and aims for a balance of aroma and drinkability.
Product Information (from the post)
- Release date: 2026-02-20
- Price: 795 yen (tax included)
- Style: Golden Ale
- IBU: 22
- ABV: 5.5%
- Malt: Best Ale
- Hop: Columbus
- Special: Uses fresh ginger "tane-shoga" from Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture
On the sales side, STORES announced that reservations will begin on 2026-02-12, with shipments starting sequentially from February 20. This release, which incorporates agricultural products from local Sakata, reflects both the regional identity of craft beer from Yamagata and a recipe development approach driven by ingredients. As a Golden Ale that puts ginger aroma front and center, it looks like a new release that should be easy to try both with food and on its own.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday's new release news is seriously exciting. Sakata Traditional Beer is dropping "GINGER SMaSH" on February 20!
MugiWhoa! Even the name sounds intense! Ginger as in, you know, the ginger ginger!?
Hop BroExactly. It's a Golden Ale made with "tane-shoga," fresh ginger grown in Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture. The idea is to bring out the aroma while keeping the finish crisp.
MugiHuh? But what is "SMaSH"? It's not about smashing the beer, right!?
Hop BroNo smashing involved. SMaSH stands for Single Malt and Single Hop, a way of designing a beer with just one malt and one hop. This time, the malt is Best Ale and the hop is Columbus.
MugiOh, so it's basically a one-ingredient-showdown kind of thing! If ginger is the star, that actually sounds like a great match!
Hop BroExactly. And with IBU 22, the bitterness is restrained, while the 5.5% ABV keeps it lively. The ginger aroma is pushed to the front, so it should work both with meals and on its own.
MugiIBU and ABV are suddenly like magic spells! But basically, it means "not too bitter, easy to drink, and smells great," right!
Hop BroExactly! Reservations start on STORES from February 12, it's released on February 20, and shipments go out sequentially. The price is 795 yen tax included, and bottle sales are supported too.
MugiPerfect! I want to drink this with fried chicken! And you, hop bro? ...From that look, you've already made space in the fridge!
