CRAFTROCK TAPROOM spotlights YAMATO CLUB, blending West Coast Pils and Cold IPA
CRAFTROCK TAPROOM, near Mt. Takao, introduced its seasonal beer YAMATO CLUB. The beer is presented as a West Coast Rice Lager inspired by West Coast Pils and Cold IPA, with a dry, clean profile and a softer mouthfeel from rice.
Hop BroToday's story had me instantly hooked: YAMATO CLUB on tap. CRAFTROCK TAPROOM near Takaosanguchi Station just dropped a seriously interesting seasonal beer.
MugiWhat! At the foot of Mount Takao? I can already see myself grabbing a glass before I even start hiking!
Hop BroIt's a West Coast Rice Lager. It blends the snap of a West Coast Pils with the hop lift of a Cold IPA, then uses rice to soften the mouthfeel.
MugiWait, what? That's a lot! Is it rice? Pils? IPA? Is this beer doing three jobs at once?
Hop BroPretty much. A West Coast Pils is crisp, dry, and sharply defined, while a Cold IPA drinks light like a lager but lets the hops pop.
MugiOhhh, so it's basically the best parts all in one. If the rice makes it softer too, that sounds dangerously easy to drink!
Hop BroExactly. The post even called it a miracle mash-up, and that fits: dry and clean, but not stiff or severe.
MugiYou said 'designed' like a full-on brewer again. But NZ hops sounds weirdly powerful. What kind of aroma are we talking about?
Hop BroThis is where it gets good: citrus and greenness, with a faint tropical edge. Great with food, but also fun to drink on its own and just chase the aroma.
MugiWow, after a hike, sitting in that warm wood interior with this beer sounds like instant reward. Even my sweat feels like a starter course now!
Hop BroAnd it's only about three minutes from the station. As a post-hike pint, that's almost unfair. The DJ Dan's Do It Better inspiration also makes it feel rhythmically cool.
MugiThen it's settled. I'll go in with a huge first sniff, and you can narrate beside me. We're both in must-drink mode now, right?
YAMATO CLUB at a glance
CRAFTROCK TAPROOM has introduced its seasonal beer, YAMATO CLUB. In the post, the beer is described as being inspired by DJ Dan’s "Do It Better" and built from a blend of West Coast Pils and Cold IPA ideas. Its style is listed as a West Coast Rice Lager, which keeps the brewery’s signature dry, clean direction while using rice to soften the palate a little.
What to expect in the glass
For beer fans, YAMATO CLUB looks like a beer that aims for both crispness and definition. It takes the bright, snappy feel associated with West Coast Pils and layers in the hop-driven drinkability of Cold IPA. The post also points to a NZ-hop-led profile, which suggests citrus, green herbal notes, and a light tropical edge. That should make it an easy beer to enjoy on its own, but also one that can work well with food.
A taproom at the foot of Mt. Takao
CRAFTROCK TAPROOM is located in Takao-machi, Hachioji, about a three-minute walk from Takaosanguchi Station. The brewery’s official site describes the taproom as a place where visitors can enjoy fresh house beer and guest beer in a warm, wood-toned interior at the foot of Mt. Takao.
That setting gives the beer a different context from an urban taproom. After a hike or a walk in the area, a beer like YAMATO CLUB makes sense: technically built, clean in structure, and easy to drink without losing character. It is the kind of release that rewards people who like to read the style, the ingredients, and the brewing intent before taking the first sip.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday's story had me instantly hooked: YAMATO CLUB on tap. CRAFTROCK TAPROOM near Takaosanguchi Station just dropped a seriously interesting seasonal beer.
MugiWhat! At the foot of Mount Takao? I can already see myself grabbing a glass before I even start hiking!
Hop BroIt's a West Coast Rice Lager. It blends the snap of a West Coast Pils with the hop lift of a Cold IPA, then uses rice to soften the mouthfeel.
MugiWait, what? That's a lot! Is it rice? Pils? IPA? Is this beer doing three jobs at once?
Hop BroPretty much. A West Coast Pils is crisp, dry, and sharply defined, while a Cold IPA drinks light like a lager but lets the hops pop.
MugiOhhh, so it's basically the best parts all in one. If the rice makes it softer too, that sounds dangerously easy to drink!
Hop BroExactly. The post even called it a miracle mash-up, and that fits: dry and clean, but not stiff or severe.
MugiYou said 'designed' like a full-on brewer again. But NZ hops sounds weirdly powerful. What kind of aroma are we talking about?
Hop BroThis is where it gets good: citrus and greenness, with a faint tropical edge. Great with food, but also fun to drink on its own and just chase the aroma.
MugiWow, after a hike, sitting in that warm wood interior with this beer sounds like instant reward. Even my sweat feels like a starter course now!
Hop BroAnd it's only about three minutes from the station. As a post-hike pint, that's almost unfair. The DJ Dan's Do It Better inspiration also makes it feel rhythmically cool.
MugiThen it's settled. I'll go in with a huge first sniff, and you can narrate beside me. We're both in must-drink mode now, right?
