Two Aged AND BEER Beers Arrive at Otaru OTARU TAP ROOM
At "Otaru Tap Room - Craft Beer & Hostel" in Otaru, Hokkaido, two barrel-aged beers from AND BEER in Katsunuma, Yamanashi were introduced. In a post dated December 13, 2025, the appeal of these distinct aged creations was explained in detail, along with bottle suggestions for the year-end and New Year holidays.
Hop BroToday's Otaru news: two aged AND BEER beers have arrived at Otaru Tap Room.
MugiWhat! Beer from Yamanashi in Otaru!? Is this a guest bottle project?
Hop BroExactly. The first one is Wonder Wander: a rosemary saison aged for 18 months in a red wine barrel.
MugiWhat is that! When you say barrel-aged, it suddenly sounds like science class!
Hop BroBasically, it's a technique of letting it rest in barrels to develop aroma and flavor, and this one is finished with a wine-like drinking experience.
MugiWow! Seeing that the other one, Faraway WIPA, is aged for about four years made me do a double take!
Hop BroAnd here's the thing: it started as a double IPA, but a Brett-derived acidity ties together the caramel-like bitterness and old-wine-like sweetness.
MugiBrett is like a spell!? The more I hear about it, the more I feel the sense of flavor adventure and get excited!
Hop BroYou can drink it in the shop or take it home through the bottle shop, and I like that they're recommending it as a year-end bottle.
MugiGot it, but we need to check before going! Wednesday, December 17, 2025 is a BAR closing day because of an event trip, right?
Hop BroThat's right. Let's check the opening days and head over, because I'm already in the mood to drink one tonight!
The beer pub "Otaru Tap Room - Craft Beer & Hostel" in Ironai, Otaru City, announced new guest bottles in a post dated December 13, 2025. The selections featured this time are two barrel-aged beers from AND BEER, which began in Koenji, Tokyo and is now brewed in Katsunuma, Yamanashi. Both are beers where the main attraction is a flavor that has changed over time.
The labels introduced in the post are the following two:
- Wonder Wander
A saison brewed with rosemary grown on AND BEER's property was put into a red wine barrel previously used at a Katsunuma winery. Aged for 18 months, this barrel-aged beer aims for a wine-like drinking experience whose character changes with temperature shifts.
- Faraway WIPA
A WIPA was also put into a used red wine barrel from Katsunuma, becoming a beer that changed over about four years since 2021. In the post, it is described as having evolved significantly from its original double IPA character, with caramel-malt bitterness, a mature old-wine-like sweetness, and Brett-derived acidity that brings the whole flavor together.
In addition to functioning as a beer bar, the venue also operates as a hostel and supports bottle shop use. The post also mentions demand for take-home bottles ahead of year-end gatherings and New Year celebrations, suggesting a way to enjoy craft beer not only by drinking it in the shop but also by choosing bottles to bring home. The post also notes that Wednesday, December 17, 2025 will have the BAR closed due to an event appearance, so it is worth checking before visiting.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday's Otaru news: two aged AND BEER beers have arrived at Otaru Tap Room.
MugiWhat! Beer from Yamanashi in Otaru!? Is this a guest bottle project?
Hop BroExactly. The first one is Wonder Wander: a rosemary saison aged for 18 months in a red wine barrel.
MugiWhat is that! When you say barrel-aged, it suddenly sounds like science class!
Hop BroBasically, it's a technique of letting it rest in barrels to develop aroma and flavor, and this one is finished with a wine-like drinking experience.
MugiWow! Seeing that the other one, Faraway WIPA, is aged for about four years made me do a double take!
Hop BroAnd here's the thing: it started as a double IPA, but a Brett-derived acidity ties together the caramel-like bitterness and old-wine-like sweetness.
MugiBrett is like a spell!? The more I hear about it, the more I feel the sense of flavor adventure and get excited!
Hop BroYou can drink it in the shop or take it home through the bottle shop, and I like that they're recommending it as a year-end bottle.
MugiGot it, but we need to check before going! Wednesday, December 17, 2025 is a BAR closing day because of an event trip, right?
Hop BroThat's right. Let's check the opening days and head over, because I'm already in the mood to drink one tonight!