MATSURI BREWING's Black Beer "Yanagikuro" Wins Growing Support for Its Roasty Aftertaste
The stout "YANAKURO - YANAKURO" from MATSURI BREWING in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, is steadily gaining support. Made with two kinds of roasted malt and smoked malt, it features coffee- and chocolate-like flavors along with a toasty aftertaste.
Hop BroToday we're talking about the stout YANAKURO - YANAKURO from MATSURI BREWING in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture. It's a great-looking beer that's steadily winning over black beer fans.
MugiWhoa, YANAKURO - YANAKURO already sounds powerful! Black beer seems heavy, but is it really easy to drink?
Hop BroThat's the key point. It has the full body of a stout, but it's tuned for balance so you can keep drinking it. True to MATSURI BREWING's style, it's designed to suit festive occasions too.
MugiWait, what are those two kinds of roasted malt in the description? Does that mean the malt is roasted twice?
Hop BroPut simply, it means they're using different roasted malts in combination. It's an unusual pairing that isn't commonly used, and it brings out flavors like coffee and chocolate.
MugiWow, so even though it's dark, it has a sweet aroma too. And it even uses smoked malt? That's a lot going on!
Hop BroExactly, that's what makes it interesting. The smoked malt adds a toasty aftertaste, while keeping astringency and alcohol heat in check, so it's easy to keep drinking to the end.
MugiSo it's not just heavy, then. Hearing ABV 6.0% makes it sound a little strong, but the aroma might make it go down really smoothly!
Hop BroAnd with an IBU of 58.2, the bitterness has real definition too. It doesn't just sweeten things up; it also keeps the sharp edge you'd want from a black beer.
MugiOh man, I already want to drink it! A 330 ml can for 830 yen including tax sounds like a great entry point into black beer, doesn't it?
Hop BroExactly. It has the feel of a quiet, understated presence from Urayasu, and it's the kind of beer you'd want to slowly enjoy after the festival noise dies down. We really should open one tonight.
MATSURI BREWING in Urayasu, Chiba, is a brewery rooted in the local mikoshi culture along the old Edogawa River, and it promotes "craft beer that evokes a nostalgic feeling and is easy to drink, suited to celebratory occasions." Among its lineup, the stout YANAKURO - YANAKURO is quietly attracting attention from black beer fans.
This beer has an ABV of 6.0% / IBU of 58.2. According to the product description, it uses two kinds of roasted malt, a combination that is not commonly used together, to bring out coffee- and chocolate-like flavors. It also uses smoked malt to intensify the roasted aroma and lingering finish, while keeping astringency and alcohol heat in check, aiming for a stout with full body that remains easy to keep drinking.
Its flavor direction is not simply about richness alone; it is a balanced beer that keeps the character of a black beer while inviting another sip. MATSURI BREWING's brand-wide emphasis on "festive occasions" and "drinkability" is reflected in this beer as well. On the brand page, the company also sets out a theme of making craft beer with a distinctly Japanese feel and beer that suits festival settings, and YANAKURO can be described as a calm, quietly distinctive label within that lineup.
It is sold in 330 ml cans through the online shop, priced at 830 yen including tax. It is designed to be approachable not only for those who want to enjoy the depth of black beer, but also for people who do not usually choose stout. As a fragrant yet easy-to-drink black beer proposed by a brewery from Urayasu, it seems likely to grow even more prominent going forward.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday we're talking about the stout YANAKURO - YANAKURO from MATSURI BREWING in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture. It's a great-looking beer that's steadily winning over black beer fans.
MugiWhoa, YANAKURO - YANAKURO already sounds powerful! Black beer seems heavy, but is it really easy to drink?
Hop BroThat's the key point. It has the full body of a stout, but it's tuned for balance so you can keep drinking it. True to MATSURI BREWING's style, it's designed to suit festive occasions too.
MugiWait, what are those two kinds of roasted malt in the description? Does that mean the malt is roasted twice?
Hop BroPut simply, it means they're using different roasted malts in combination. It's an unusual pairing that isn't commonly used, and it brings out flavors like coffee and chocolate.
MugiWow, so even though it's dark, it has a sweet aroma too. And it even uses smoked malt? That's a lot going on!
Hop BroExactly, that's what makes it interesting. The smoked malt adds a toasty aftertaste, while keeping astringency and alcohol heat in check, so it's easy to keep drinking to the end.
MugiSo it's not just heavy, then. Hearing ABV 6.0% makes it sound a little strong, but the aroma might make it go down really smoothly!
Hop BroAnd with an IBU of 58.2, the bitterness has real definition too. It doesn't just sweeten things up; it also keeps the sharp edge you'd want from a black beer.
MugiOh man, I already want to drink it! A 330 ml can for 830 yen including tax sounds like a great entry point into black beer, doesn't it?
Hop BroExactly. It has the feel of a quiet, understated presence from Urayasu, and it's the kind of beer you'd want to slowly enjoy after the festival noise dies down. We really should open one tonight.
