Minoh Brewery to Release Limited "MUGICHA BITTER" on March 6
Osaka-based Minoh Brewery announced details for its limited beer "MUGICHA BITTER" on March 5, 2026. Sales will begin at 5:00 p.m. on March 6 in the online shop and at 11:00 a.m. the same day at WAREHOUSE. For the first time, the beer, which had previously been keg-only, will be bottled.
Hop BroHere's something new: Minoh Brewery is releasing a limited "MUGICHA BITTER" on March 6, 2026. And this time it's being bottled for the first time!
MugiWhat! A barley tea beer!? I'm already curious just from the name. What kind of beer is it?
Hop BroIt's an English bitter. It's part of Minoh's "tea series," and they brew the hojicha version and the mugicha version alternately. 2026 is the mugicha's turn.
MugiWhat is that! Does English bitter just mean it's bitter? That name sounds scary!
Hop BroThat's the thing: it's more of a well-balanced beer than a punch-you-in-the-face bitter one. The moderate malt character is layered with the roasted aroma of barley tea, and the color is a little lighter than you'd expect for a bitter. The idea is a gentle ale that brings out its umami little by little.
MugiOhhh! A "gentle ale" sounds like something easy to be friends with right away! It seems like it'd pair well with food, and you could drink it on its own too!
Hop BroExactly. It's the kind of beer that's highly sessionable. One you can keep sipping. Until now it was mainly keg-only for restaurants, so being able to get it in bottles this time is huge!
MugiSessionable!? There goes another technical term! Is it okay if I understand that as "the kind where you suddenly realize you're on your second glass"?
Hop BroThat translation is perfect! Sales start at WAREHOUSE at 11:00 a.m. on March 6, and the online shop opens at 5:00 p.m. the same day. Also, from around the weekend, it should start appearing on tap at shops nationwide.
MugiAlright, I've set two alarms, one for 11:00 and one for 17:00! That barley-tea-scented bitter sounds like a toast-with-Hop-bro kind of release!
According to an announcement posted on Instagram by Minoh Brewery (Osaka), the limited beer arriving as a special release is MUGICHA BITTER. The post was published at 10:05 a.m. on March 5, 2026, and the beer will be released as part of the brewery's regular "tea series" of English bitters.
This time's star ingredient is "mugicha" (barley tea). In this series, "hojicha" and "mugicha" are brewed alternately, and 2026 is the turn of the mugicha version. Until now, it had been available only from kegs and mainly served to restaurants, but this time its first bottling is the biggest talking point.
In the post, the flavor is described as a bitter with a slightly brighter color, moderate malt character, and the roasted aroma of barley tea layered on top. Rather than flashy intensity, the beer is presented as a "gentle ale" designed to reveal its umami little by little. As the weather begins to warm up, it looks like a beer that will be easy to keep drinking, whether with a meal or on its own.
Sales will roll out on the following schedule.
- Online shop: From 5:00 p.m. on March 6, 2026
- WAREHOUSE: From 11:00 a.m. on March 6, 2026
In addition, starting around the weekend, the beer is also expected to appear on tap or be sold in stores at restaurants and liquor shops across Japan. As a craft brewery from Osaka that continues to build a locally rooted presence, Minoh Brewery's limited-release rollout is also something to watch.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHere's something new: Minoh Brewery is releasing a limited "MUGICHA BITTER" on March 6, 2026. And this time it's being bottled for the first time!
MugiWhat! A barley tea beer!? I'm already curious just from the name. What kind of beer is it?
Hop BroIt's an English bitter. It's part of Minoh's "tea series," and they brew the hojicha version and the mugicha version alternately. 2026 is the mugicha's turn.
MugiWhat is that! Does English bitter just mean it's bitter? That name sounds scary!
Hop BroThat's the thing: it's more of a well-balanced beer than a punch-you-in-the-face bitter one. The moderate malt character is layered with the roasted aroma of barley tea, and the color is a little lighter than you'd expect for a bitter. The idea is a gentle ale that brings out its umami little by little.
MugiOhhh! A "gentle ale" sounds like something easy to be friends with right away! It seems like it'd pair well with food, and you could drink it on its own too!
Hop BroExactly. It's the kind of beer that's highly sessionable. One you can keep sipping. Until now it was mainly keg-only for restaurants, so being able to get it in bottles this time is huge!
MugiSessionable!? There goes another technical term! Is it okay if I understand that as "the kind where you suddenly realize you're on your second glass"?
Hop BroThat translation is perfect! Sales start at WAREHOUSE at 11:00 a.m. on March 6, and the online shop opens at 5:00 p.m. the same day. Also, from around the weekend, it should start appearing on tap at shops nationwide.
MugiAlright, I've set two alarms, one for 11:00 and one for 17:00! That barley-tea-scented bitter sounds like a toast-with-Hop-bro kind of release!
