At Keika Brewing in Asamushi, a new IPL "Usurai" is tapped, pouring a Tohoku Soul recipe
Keika Brewing, the brewpub in Hotarudani, Asamushi, Aomori City, announced on Instagram that it has started serving its new beer, "Usurai." The style is IPL, with 6.0% ABV and 32 IBU. Brewed to the same recipe as part of the Tohoku Soul Beer Project, it offers hop-driven freshness and lager-like drinkability.
Hop BroThey've tapped the new "Usurai" at Keika Brewing in Asamushi, and it's the kind of beer that even leans into the season, so I can't stop thinking about it.
MugiWhoa! Even the name is poetic! What style of beer is it?
Hop BroThe style is IPL, with 6.0% ABV and 32 IBU, and it has a design where the hop aroma really pops while the drinking experience stays light and crisp.
MugiWhat is that even supposed to mean? It sounds like IPA, but it's lager, and my brain can't keep up!
Hop BroSimply put, it's a hybrid that brings out IPA-level hop character while finishing clean through lager yeast maturation.
MugiAhh, so it's basically the best of both worlds: a hop superstar and a drinkability superstar!
Hop BroExactly, and since it's part of the Tohoku Soul Beer Project, where breweries across Tohoku brew the same recipe, it also works as a standard for comparison tastings.
MugiEven with the same recipe, you still get differences? That's the entrance to comparison obsession!
Hop BroWater chemistry and fermentation management change the expression... I got carried away, but basically the Keika Brewing version stands out for its citrusy aroma and smoothness!
MugiThat's settled then! I want to head to Asamushi and have my first glass with the local atmosphere, and I want to drink it right now!
Keika Brewing's latest post announced the tapping of the new "Usurai".
The specs in the post are Beer style: IPL / ABV: 6.0% / IBU: 32. The description says it is a beer from the "Tohoku Soul Beer Project," in which breweries across Tohoku brew the same recipe.
By using a large amount of hops and maturing it with lager yeast, it achieves both a clean body and a refreshing citrusy aroma. The aroma stands out clearly, yet the finish is smooth and easy-drinking, making it the kind of beer you want to keep sipping. It is a particularly compelling result for anyone who wants to enjoy IPA-like hop character without the heaviness.
As the name "Usurai" (thin ice) suggests, its concept, mindful of the seasonal shift from the end of winter to the beginning of spring, is also memorable. Tasting it at the brewpub in Hotarudani, Asamushi, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, together with the local atmosphere, should make the beer's intention come through even more clearly.
As a guest-beer topic as well, it is a label that serves as an entry point to recipe sharing and tastings across Tohoku. It would be interesting to first experience the benchmark pour at Keika Brewing, then compare it with versions from participating breweries in the project.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroThey've tapped the new "Usurai" at Keika Brewing in Asamushi, and it's the kind of beer that even leans into the season, so I can't stop thinking about it.
MugiWhoa! Even the name is poetic! What style of beer is it?
Hop BroThe style is IPL, with 6.0% ABV and 32 IBU, and it has a design where the hop aroma really pops while the drinking experience stays light and crisp.
MugiWhat is that even supposed to mean? It sounds like IPA, but it's lager, and my brain can't keep up!
Hop BroSimply put, it's a hybrid that brings out IPA-level hop character while finishing clean through lager yeast maturation.
MugiAhh, so it's basically the best of both worlds: a hop superstar and a drinkability superstar!
Hop BroExactly, and since it's part of the Tohoku Soul Beer Project, where breweries across Tohoku brew the same recipe, it also works as a standard for comparison tastings.
MugiEven with the same recipe, you still get differences? That's the entrance to comparison obsession!
Hop BroWater chemistry and fermentation management change the expression... I got carried away, but basically the Keika Brewing version stands out for its citrusy aroma and smoothness!
MugiThat's settled then! I want to head to Asamushi and have my first glass with the local atmosphere, and I want to drink it right now!
