Izuya Shoten receives two long-aged Shiga Kogen Beer releases
Izuya Shoten in Nakanobu, Shinagawa, Tokyo has received two long-aged beers from Shiga Kogen Beer. The new arrivals are “VSOW WHITE WINE,” aged 19 months in cognac barrels, and “Takassy IMPERIAL STOUT,” aged for about 35 months. The shop also notes in-store paid tastings.
Hop BroToday I need to tell you about two aged Shiga Kogen beers that just landed at Izuya Shoten in Nakanobu.
MugiWait, cognac barrel-aged beer? That sounds like a secret grown-up treasure chest!
Hop BroIt means the beer rested in a spirit barrel and picked up aroma from the wood, and both are 12.5% ABV, built for slow sipping and mature fruit notes.
MugiWhoa. But VSOW WHITE WINE sounds like it can't decide what beverage it is!
Hop BroThat is the fun part. It's a beer with over 50% wheat malt, then aged 19 months in a cognac barrel, so you get grape and prune aromas with a surprisingly delicate, dry finish.
MugiOver 50% wheat and still dry? My brain ordered fluffy bread energy, not elegant grown-up mode!
Hop BroAnd it pours a clear, deep amber. Plus this is only the second release in 17 years, so spotting it is basically an event.
MugiThen Takassy IMPERIAL STOUT has to be the final boss beer, right? Dark, huge, dramatic!
Hop BroFinal boss, yes, but sneaky. After about 35 months in cognac barrels, it layers grape, raisin, prune, and roast, yet the finish stays light.
MugiThat is unfairly cool. And at Izuya Shoten there's paid tasting in-store, so you can check the condition before choosing?
Hop BroExactly. The stock is small, so if you want to compare the dry wheat-driven one with the barrel-led stout, it's basically a tasting showdown worth moving fast for.
MugiThen let's stop talking and go do some aged beer fieldwork. I want both, immediately!
Izuya Shoten in Nakanobu, Shinagawa, Tokyo has brought in two cognac-barrel-aged beers from Nagano’s Shiga Kogen Beer. Both releases clock in at 12.5% ABV and are built around barrel-derived fruit character and mature, layered aroma. As a small beer pub that offers paid tastings in the shop, it gives drinkers a chance to check the beer before deciding.
New arrivals
- VSOW WHITE WINE 330ml
This is the beer’s second release, following the original in 2009. It spent 19 months in cognac barrels, and the result is a clear, deep amber beer with aromas of grapes and prune. Sweetness and acidity are rounded and balanced, while the recipe’s high wheat-malt content keeps the finish surprisingly delicate and dry.
- Takassy IMPERIAL STOUT 330ml
This one was aged for about 35 months in cognac barrels. It brings together grape, raisin, and prune-like fruit notes with a roasty acidity. Despite its strength and inherent sweetness, it finishes more dry than expected. The barrel character is more prominent than chocolate or coffee, and the overall impression is polished and well integrated.
Only a small quantity has arrived, so beer fans interested in long aging and barrel nuance may want to check in early. Izuya Shoten’s appeal lies in its close, no-rush format, where paid tastings make it easy to compare and choose.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday I need to tell you about two aged Shiga Kogen beers that just landed at Izuya Shoten in Nakanobu.
MugiWait, cognac barrel-aged beer? That sounds like a secret grown-up treasure chest!
Hop BroIt means the beer rested in a spirit barrel and picked up aroma from the wood, and both are 12.5% ABV, built for slow sipping and mature fruit notes.
MugiWhoa. But VSOW WHITE WINE sounds like it can't decide what beverage it is!
Hop BroThat is the fun part. It's a beer with over 50% wheat malt, then aged 19 months in a cognac barrel, so you get grape and prune aromas with a surprisingly delicate, dry finish.
MugiOver 50% wheat and still dry? My brain ordered fluffy bread energy, not elegant grown-up mode!
Hop BroAnd it pours a clear, deep amber. Plus this is only the second release in 17 years, so spotting it is basically an event.
MugiThen Takassy IMPERIAL STOUT has to be the final boss beer, right? Dark, huge, dramatic!
Hop BroFinal boss, yes, but sneaky. After about 35 months in cognac barrels, it layers grape, raisin, prune, and roast, yet the finish stays light.
MugiThat is unfairly cool. And at Izuya Shoten there's paid tasting in-store, so you can check the condition before choosing?
Hop BroExactly. The stock is small, so if you want to compare the dry wheat-driven one with the barrel-led stout, it's basically a tasting showdown worth moving fast for.
MugiThen let's stop talking and go do some aged beer fieldwork. I want both, immediately!
