North Island Beer announces 17th anniversary festival at EBRI
North Island Beer will hold its 17th anniversary festival at EBRI in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, on August 16, 2026. The brewery’s Instagram post highlights Bitters as the first vendor announcement and shares ticket details, including a sold-out drink-all-you-can option.
Hop BroI need to talk about North Island Beer's 17th anniversary festival today. Just hearing it's at EBRI on August 16 makes my throat want to line up early.
MugiSeventeen years is huge! So they've been brewing that long? If it's a festival, that means an officially approved day to eat, drink, and make noise, right?
Hop BroExactly. North Island Beer is an Ebetsu brewery that's been brewing since 2003, started by a brewer who trained in Canada. They have five regular beers, plus limited and seasonal releases, and even a directly run beer bar in Sapporo's Tanukikoji, so the foundation is solid.
MugiWhoa! And the article announced Bitters joining the event, right? That name alone already smells unfairly delicious, like smoke and lemon teaming up.
Hop BroThat's the thing, Ebetsu's 'Smoked and Lemon Bitters' plus Bitters mini stand!! are coming. Truck one handles the popular smoked mackerel sandwich, truck two does sweets like shaved strawberry ice, so they've covered the whole meal from first bite to dessert.
MugiHold on, what was that great match with Brown Ale in the article? Mackerel and beer are getting along so well they're shaking my entire grilled-fish worldview!
Hop BroThat's the fun part. The beer specifically mentioned is Brown Ale, and this is what people call food pairing. The toasty malt character gently lifts the savory flavor of mackerel smoked with Ezoyamazakura cherry wood, which is the simple way to think about it.
MugiOhhh, so food pairing means the drink and the food are playing as a team! Add that cherry-wood smoke and my mouth is already hearing the marching band.
Hop BroExactly. And Ezoyamazakura wood chips give a softer smoke, so the mackerel still stays the star. The beer doesn't bully the dish; it throws an arm around it.
MugiThat sounds amazing! Beer throwing an arm around dinner is basically a championship meal. And if there's shaved strawberry ice too, my stomach has already RSVP'd.
Hop BroThe event runs at EBRI on August 16 from 11:00 to 18:00, and it's just a five-minute walk from JR Nopporo Station. Advance tickets are 500 yen cheaper, and the first 50 all-you-can-drink tickets are already sold out, so the hype is real.
MugiThen I need to grab an advance ticket and charge straight at that smoked mackerel sandwich with a Brown Ale in hand! You and I are both fully ready to toast their 17th anniversary.
North Island Beer has brewed craft beer in Ebetsu, Hokkaido since 2003. Founded by brewers trained in Canada, the brewery offers five regular beers alongside limited and seasonal releases, and it also runs a beer bar in Sapporo’s Tanukikoji area.
The latest Instagram update introduces the first vendor for its 17th anniversary festival. The event will be held on Sunday, August 16, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at EBRI, 3-3 Higashinohoro-cho, Ebetsu, a five-minute walk from JR Nopporo Station.
The featured vendor is Kunsen to Lemon Bitters, a smoked-food-and-lemonade specialty shop based in Ebetsu, along with its food trucks `Bitters mini stand!!`. According to the post, one truck will serve items such as smoked mackerel sandwiches, while the other will offer sweets like shaved strawberries. North Island Beer also notes that smoked mackerel with Ezo cherry wood chips pairs especially well with a brown ale.
Advance tickets are available at a 500-yen discount through the Instagram profile link or the QR code on the post. Paper tickets are being sold at the Ebetsu brewery, Beer Bar North Island, Cocomoca, and EBRI. The first-come, first-served all-you-can-drink ticket has already sold out.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroI need to talk about North Island Beer's 17th anniversary festival today. Just hearing it's at EBRI on August 16 makes my throat want to line up early.
MugiSeventeen years is huge! So they've been brewing that long? If it's a festival, that means an officially approved day to eat, drink, and make noise, right?
Hop BroExactly. North Island Beer is an Ebetsu brewery that's been brewing since 2003, started by a brewer who trained in Canada. They have five regular beers, plus limited and seasonal releases, and even a directly run beer bar in Sapporo's Tanukikoji, so the foundation is solid.
MugiWhoa! And the article announced Bitters joining the event, right? That name alone already smells unfairly delicious, like smoke and lemon teaming up.
Hop BroThat's the thing, Ebetsu's 'Smoked and Lemon Bitters' plus Bitters mini stand!! are coming. Truck one handles the popular smoked mackerel sandwich, truck two does sweets like shaved strawberry ice, so they've covered the whole meal from first bite to dessert.
MugiHold on, what was that great match with Brown Ale in the article? Mackerel and beer are getting along so well they're shaking my entire grilled-fish worldview!
Hop BroThat's the fun part. The beer specifically mentioned is Brown Ale, and this is what people call food pairing. The toasty malt character gently lifts the savory flavor of mackerel smoked with Ezoyamazakura cherry wood, which is the simple way to think about it.
MugiOhhh, so food pairing means the drink and the food are playing as a team! Add that cherry-wood smoke and my mouth is already hearing the marching band.
Hop BroExactly. And Ezoyamazakura wood chips give a softer smoke, so the mackerel still stays the star. The beer doesn't bully the dish; it throws an arm around it.
MugiThat sounds amazing! Beer throwing an arm around dinner is basically a championship meal. And if there's shaved strawberry ice too, my stomach has already RSVP'd.
Hop BroThe event runs at EBRI on August 16 from 11:00 to 18:00, and it's just a five-minute walk from JR Nopporo Station. Advance tickets are 500 yen cheaper, and the first 50 all-you-can-drink tickets are already sold out, so the hype is real.
MugiThen I need to grab an advance ticket and charge straight at that smoked mackerel sandwich with a Brown Ale in hand! You and I are both fully ready to toast their 17th anniversary.
