Nomcraft Brewing releases collaboration IPA "Moonbow Sheep" for lamb dishes
Nomcraft Brewing, based in Aridagawa Town, Wakayama, introduced its collaboration IPA "Moonbow Sheep." Brewed with Osaka’s Juzo-area "Mary-san no Sauvage," the beer layers citrus hops with grape sansho pepper and coriander, highlighting its pairing with lamb dishes.
Hop BroToday’s highlight is Nomcraft Brewing’s new IPA Moonbow Sheep. What’s cool is that they made it with lamb dishes in mind!
MugiWhoa! Designing an IPA for lamb is such a bold idea, and it’s a collaboration beer too!?
Hop BroExactly. It’s an IPA with ABV 6.5% / IBU 55, brewed by Junya, and the hops are Simcoe, Cascade, Chinook, and Centennial.
MugiWhat!? That IBU 55 thing is like a spiciness scale? And what even is dank!?
Hop BroIBU is a bitterness guide, and 55 means it leans pretty firmly bitter. Dank means a resinous hop character, which gives the aroma more depth.
MugiOhhh! And they’re adding coriander and even grape sansho pepper? That’s so aggressive it makes me more curious!
Hop BroThe idea is to layer citrus like grapefruit and orange with spice in a citrus × spice design, and it really clicks with the fat in lamb chops.
MugiAnd the name is cute, but the contents are seriously legit... By the way, who did they brew it with? Was it Mary-san no Sauvage?
Hop BroThat’s right. They brewed it together with that Osaka Juzo-area spot, and the label was handled by BAKIBAKI, also based in Juzo. It’s a three-way blend of beer, food, and art.
MugiNomcraft in Wakayama using local ingredients to connect with the city feels like such a boundary-crossing collab. That’s seriously hot!
Hop BroIf you grill lamb steak and pair it with this IPA, you win. Tonight makes me want to host a pairing experiment.
MugiDeal! My mouth is already in full lamb and IPA mode. Let’s go drink now!
Nomcraft Brewing announces new collaboration IPA
Nomcraft Brewing announced its new "Moonbow Sheep" in an Instagram post on March 17, 2026. The post positioned it as "an IPA for lamb lovers and lamb meat," and its defining feature is a design that clearly targets the drinking occasion.
The beer is "citrus × spice × solid bitterness"
The published specs are as follows.
- Style: IPA
- ABV: 6.5%
- IBU: 55
- Brewer: Junya
- Hop: Simcoe / Cascade / Chinook / Centennial
- Others: coriander, grape sansho pepper
Tasting notes are grapefruit, grape, orange, and spice. The post explains that the beer combines citrus aromas with dank bitterness, layered with Aridagawa’s specialty grape sansho pepper, and suggests pairings with fatty lamb dishes such as lamb chops and lamb steak.
The collaboration partner and artwork also reflect local character
The Brewer’s Note explicitly says it was brewed in collaboration with Osaka’s Juzo-area "Mary-san no Sauvage." The label was also designed by BAKIBAKI, an artist based in Juzo, presenting the beer as a fusion of beer, lamb, and art.
Background on Nomcraft Brewing
Nomcraft Brewing is a brewery based in Aridagawa Town, Wakayama Prefecture. Its official website describes how its founding members have worked under the banner of "town building through craft beer." In "Moonbow Sheep" as well, the brewery incorporates local Aridagawa ingredients (grape sansho pepper) while connecting with urban restaurants and artists, showing Nomcraft’s signature boundary-crossing collaboration.
For anyone looking for an IPA to pair with lamb dishes, this is a new release that makes you want to try the balance of aroma, bitterness, and spice.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday’s highlight is Nomcraft Brewing’s new IPA Moonbow Sheep. What’s cool is that they made it with lamb dishes in mind!
MugiWhoa! Designing an IPA for lamb is such a bold idea, and it’s a collaboration beer too!?
Hop BroExactly. It’s an IPA with ABV 6.5% / IBU 55, brewed by Junya, and the hops are Simcoe, Cascade, Chinook, and Centennial.
MugiWhat!? That IBU 55 thing is like a spiciness scale? And what even is dank!?
Hop BroIBU is a bitterness guide, and 55 means it leans pretty firmly bitter. Dank means a resinous hop character, which gives the aroma more depth.
MugiOhhh! And they’re adding coriander and even grape sansho pepper? That’s so aggressive it makes me more curious!
Hop BroThe idea is to layer citrus like grapefruit and orange with spice in a citrus × spice design, and it really clicks with the fat in lamb chops.
MugiAnd the name is cute, but the contents are seriously legit... By the way, who did they brew it with? Was it Mary-san no Sauvage?
Hop BroThat’s right. They brewed it together with that Osaka Juzo-area spot, and the label was handled by BAKIBAKI, also based in Juzo. It’s a three-way blend of beer, food, and art.
MugiNomcraft in Wakayama using local ingredients to connect with the city feels like such a boundary-crossing collab. That’s seriously hot!
Hop BroIf you grill lamb steak and pair it with this IPA, you win. Tonight makes me want to host a pairing experiment.
MugiDeal! My mouth is already in full lamb and IPA mode. Let’s go drink now!
