Brasserie SOMA taps Kokura Brewing’s Higashitani Pongashi Brown Lager
Brasserie SOMA (Kokura Brewing) in Kokura, Kitakyushu has put a guest beer, Higashitani Pongashi Brown Lager, on tap. Brewed with popped rice made from Yume Tsukushi grown in the Higashitani area of Kokuraminami Ward, it is being served alongside lunch service during the Obon period.
Hop BroHere is the beer story of the day: Brasserie SOMA just tapped Kokura Brewing's 'Higashitani Puffed Rice Brown Lager.'
MugiWait, beer made with puffed rice? Did a snack just jump straight into a pint glass!?
Hop BroThat is exactly why it is fun. It is a brown lager made with puffed rice from Higashitani-grown Yume Tsukushi, so it really feels like a local-ingredient pour.
MugiWhoa, but brown lager means what exactly? Dark and light? Rich and crisp? My brain is getting traffic-jammed!
Hop BroA lager ferments cool and slowly, which keeps the flavor shape neat and clean. This one stays crisp but still has malt depth, with soft hop aroma floating on top.
MugiOkay, that makes sense! So it is the honor student of beer, and if it still has malt richness, the puffed rice is doing real work!
Hop BroExactly. The toasty puffed-rice note lines up with the grainy side of the beer, and the best part is that it is in the guest beer slot.
MugiAnd this is the brewpub in Uomachi, right? The second I heard you can drink at lunch, my calendar started cheering.
Hop BroRight. They are open through Obon from August 7 to August 15, with lunch closed only on August 12. The open from lunch setup, plus dinner hours, makes it easy to drop in.
MugiA local North Kitakyushu beer like this sounds too good. I want to start with the puffed rice brown lager and get food with it too!
Hop BroThat is the move. It packs in the Kokura story, and now I want a pint right now too.
MugiThen it is settled! Lunch or dinner, we are going after that first sip as soon as possible.
Guest beer
Brasserie SOMA (Kokura Brewing) has introduced a guest beer on tap: Higashitani Pongashi Brown Lager. According to the post, the beer uses pongashi, or popped rice, made from Yume Tsukushi sourced in the Higashitani area of Kokuraminami Ward. It is described as a brown lager with a clean finish, malt depth, and a soft hop aroma. The beer is credited to @kokurabrewing, making this a local, ingredient-driven release.
About the venue
Brasserie SOMA is a brewpub in Uomachi, Kokurakita Ward, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka. As a brewpub, it offers an easy place to pair beer with a meal in the city center. The shop’s post also encourages daytime drinking, which fits the relaxed, drop-in feel of the venue.
Service notes
The August service notice says the pub will remain open throughout the Obon period from August 7 to August 15, with lunch closed only on August 12. Hours are 11:30-13:30 for lunch and 17:00-22:00 for dinner, with regular closing days on Sundays and Mondays. Because the schedule changes during this period, it is worth checking before heading out.
A guest beer built around a local ingredient, served in a casual brewpub setting, is the key takeaway here. For beer fans in Kokura, this is one to keep on the radar.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHere is the beer story of the day: Brasserie SOMA just tapped Kokura Brewing's 'Higashitani Puffed Rice Brown Lager.'
MugiWait, beer made with puffed rice? Did a snack just jump straight into a pint glass!?
Hop BroThat is exactly why it is fun. It is a brown lager made with puffed rice from Higashitani-grown Yume Tsukushi, so it really feels like a local-ingredient pour.
MugiWhoa, but brown lager means what exactly? Dark and light? Rich and crisp? My brain is getting traffic-jammed!
Hop BroA lager ferments cool and slowly, which keeps the flavor shape neat and clean. This one stays crisp but still has malt depth, with soft hop aroma floating on top.
MugiOkay, that makes sense! So it is the honor student of beer, and if it still has malt richness, the puffed rice is doing real work!
Hop BroExactly. The toasty puffed-rice note lines up with the grainy side of the beer, and the best part is that it is in the guest beer slot.
MugiAnd this is the brewpub in Uomachi, right? The second I heard you can drink at lunch, my calendar started cheering.
Hop BroRight. They are open through Obon from August 7 to August 15, with lunch closed only on August 12. The open from lunch setup, plus dinner hours, makes it easy to drop in.
MugiA local North Kitakyushu beer like this sounds too good. I want to start with the puffed rice brown lager and get food with it too!
Hop BroThat is the move. It packs in the Kokura story, and now I want a pint right now too.
MugiThen it is settled! Lunch or dinner, we are going after that first sip as soon as possible.
