Gold Medal Houjicha Ale Tapped at Namacha'n Stand Shiinamachi
At Namacha'n Stand Shiinamachi, the NAMACHA'n Brewing tap list has been updated. Centered on the gold-medal-winning "Namachan's Houjicha Ale" from the Japan Great Beer Awards 2023, the lineup spans everything from a Golden Ale and smoothie sour to a Hazy IPA.
Hop BroAt Namacha'n Stand in Shiinamachi, the gold-medal-winning houjicha ale has been tapped. And NAMACHA'n Brewing's taps are looking much more complete now, with a lineup that makes your throat tighten just by looking at it.
MugiWait, a houjicha ale actually exists!? Beer with the aroma of tea sounds impossible to picture!
Hop BroIt does. And this one is a blend of tea from long-established tea shops, mixing leaves from Rakuzan in Kagurazaka and Yamanen-en in Sugamo, with the gentle sweetness of lactose layered on top of a brown ale base.
MugiSo lactose is what gives it that gentle sweetness? Now it suddenly feels latte-like, and my head is getting all floaty!
Hop BroExactly. Lactose leaves a sweetness yeast can't fully consume, so the beer drinks smooth and round. Then the roasted aroma of houjicha comes through, and it finishes with a kind of houjicha latte vibe.
MugiWow! And the range of flavors is huge too, from a Golden Ale to a smoothie sour. The menu is completely jammed!
Hop BroRight. For example, there's the classic Golden Ale "Itsumo no, Nama.", the fruit-packed "Namachan's Tropical Smoothie," and even the smoky "Abe-chan's Nama Bitter," so you can enjoy sweetness, acidity, and roast all at once.
MugiWhat! They even have "Hobo Haji Shandy Gaff"? Sounds like the herbs and spices are running wild!
Hop BroThat's the interesting part: herbs, spices, and hop aroma are all properly represented. If you layer on the aroma with the Hazy IPA "RE:NAMAGrauzy," you won't be able to stop comparing the beers.
MugiAnd if you can do daytime drinking at a brewpub in Nagasaki, then there are no excuses not to stop by! I'd love to pair it with some smoked clams and have a glass myself!
Hop BroExactly. Pair it with smoked clams, and start with the houjicha ale. This is the kind of place that makes you really want to drink.
A cup in Shiinamachi with the aroma of tea leaves
At Namacha'n Stand Shiinamachi, the tap information for NAMACHA'n Brewing has been released. The post's main highlight is "Namachan's Houjicha Ale," said to have won the gold award at the Japan Great Beer Awards 2023. This brown ale blends houjicha from two long-established tea shops, Rakuzan in Kagurazaka and Yamanen-en in Sugamo, and is introduced as featuring the gentle sweetness of lactose and the fragrant aroma of roasted tea leaves. Although it is beer, the appeal of this glass is that you can enjoy nuances reminiscent of a houjicha latte.
The TAP LIST includes the standard "Itsumo no, Nama. (Golden Ale)," the fruity "Namachan's Tropical Smoothie (Smoothie Sour Ale)," the smoky "Abe-chan's Nama Bitter (Smoke Bitter)," the herb- and spice-driven "Hobo Haji Shandy Gaff (Herb & Spice Beer)," and "RE:NAMAGrauzy (Hazy IPA)," which puts hop aroma front and center. From sweetness and sourness to roast, spice, and hop aroma, it's a lineup with a wide range of flavors.
The shop is a brewpub in Nagasaki, Toshima Ward, Tokyo, and the post also mentions daytime drinking. It also features "smoked clams" made with seasonal ingredients, which seem like a good pairing with beer. As a local neighborhood spot where you can stop in for just one drink or enjoy comparing multiple taps, it's worth paying attention to.
#### Beers listed that day
- Itsumo no, Nama. (Golden Ale)
- Namachan's Tropical Smoothie (Smoothie Sour Ale)
- Abe-chan's Nama Bitter (Smoke Bitter)
- Hobo Haji Shandy Gaff (Herb & Spice Beer)
- Namachan's Houjicha Ale (Japanese Tea Beer)
- RE:NAMAGrauzy (Hazy IPA)
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroAt Namacha'n Stand in Shiinamachi, the gold-medal-winning houjicha ale has been tapped. And NAMACHA'n Brewing's taps are looking much more complete now, with a lineup that makes your throat tighten just by looking at it.
MugiWait, a houjicha ale actually exists!? Beer with the aroma of tea sounds impossible to picture!
Hop BroIt does. And this one is a blend of tea from long-established tea shops, mixing leaves from Rakuzan in Kagurazaka and Yamanen-en in Sugamo, with the gentle sweetness of lactose layered on top of a brown ale base.
MugiSo lactose is what gives it that gentle sweetness? Now it suddenly feels latte-like, and my head is getting all floaty!
Hop BroExactly. Lactose leaves a sweetness yeast can't fully consume, so the beer drinks smooth and round. Then the roasted aroma of houjicha comes through, and it finishes with a kind of houjicha latte vibe.
MugiWow! And the range of flavors is huge too, from a Golden Ale to a smoothie sour. The menu is completely jammed!
Hop BroRight. For example, there's the classic Golden Ale "Itsumo no, Nama.", the fruit-packed "Namachan's Tropical Smoothie," and even the smoky "Abe-chan's Nama Bitter," so you can enjoy sweetness, acidity, and roast all at once.
MugiWhat! They even have "Hobo Haji Shandy Gaff"? Sounds like the herbs and spices are running wild!
Hop BroThat's the interesting part: herbs, spices, and hop aroma are all properly represented. If you layer on the aroma with the Hazy IPA "RE:NAMAGrauzy," you won't be able to stop comparing the beers.
MugiAnd if you can do daytime drinking at a brewpub in Nagasaki, then there are no excuses not to stop by! I'd love to pair it with some smoked clams and have a glass myself!
Hop BroExactly. Pair it with smoked clams, and start with the houjicha ale. This is the kind of place that makes you really want to drink.
