52’s Brewing Exploration Announces an OEM Collaboration: Uji Matcha × IPA
Kyoto’s 52’s Brewing Exploration posted "#抹茶ipa" on Instagram on February 25, 2026, revealing a beer designed at ABV 5.5% and IBU 38 that pairs the aroma of Uji matcha with the bitterness of an IPA. The special brew was commissioned by Gion Beer in Karasuma, making for a collaboration that highlights distinctly Kyoto ingredients.
Hop BroMugi-chan, Kyoto’s 52’s Brewing Exploration really delivered! On Instagram at 16:19 on February 25, 2026, they unveiled "#matchaipa" - a limited Uji matcha × IPA collaboration.
MugiWhoa! Can matcha and IPA even get along!? Aren’t they as different as a tea ceremony and a live house?
Hop BroThat’s where craftsmanship comes in. ABV 5.5%, IBU 38 - not too strong, not too bitter. It’s designed to bring out the matcha’s green aroma while keeping the IPA’s fruity bitterness.
MugiWhat does IBU mean, anyway? Is 38 out of some perfect-score report card? That sounds a little worrying!
Hop BroHaha, it’s not a report card. IBU is a bitterness guideline, and 38 means "definitely bitter, but not tiring to drink." ABV 5.5% also keeps it from feeling too heavy, so it’s a balanced build.
MugiOhhh! And what matcha did they use? Kyoto alone already sounds delicious.
Hop BroIt’s matcha from Kitagawa Hanhyobee Shoten in Uji. And this time it’s an OEM request from Gion Beer in Karasuma - in other words, a special brew where "they planned it, 52’s brewed it."
MugiWhat! That’s like a collaboration production company for the beer world - so cool! Where can I drink it!?
Hop BroThe post said it would be served "for a little while" at @buustaproom and @ea_cafe.kyoto, so the distribution looks pretty limited. If you find it, it’s an instant order.
MugiDeal! Just imagining the aroma of matcha and the crispness of IPA already makes my mouth taste like Kyoto! Let’s go toast right now!
Kyoto craft brewery 52’s Brewing Exploration outlined the new release in an Instagram post titled "#抹茶ipa ABV.5.5% IBU38". The post was timestamped February 25, 2026 at 16:19. Classified as a collaboration, it stands out for being a one-off special brew created on request rather than part of the usual lineup.
This beer uses Uji matcha from Kitagawa Hanhyobee Shoten in Kyoto’s Uji. Handling matcha is difficult because of how you build out its aroma and design its bitterness, but the post explains that it is meant to "harmonize with the IPA hop character's fruity, refreshing bitterness," suggesting a recipe that brings the matcha's green aroma to the front while still preserving the outline expected of an IPA. Even in the numbers, ABV 5.5% and IBU 38 keep it in a range that's easy to enjoy without getting tiring.
What is explicitly stated as the production background is an OEM request from @gion_beer in Karasuma. In other words, it is a joint project that combines 52’s Brewing Exploration’s brewing expertise with the planning intent of Kyoto’s food and beer venues. The post also says it will be offered "for a little while" at @buustaproom and @ea_cafe.kyoto, so distribution appears to be limited.
For 52’s Brewing Exploration, which is based in Kyoto, this beer using locally sourced Uji matcha is a release that showcases both local character and experimentation. Matcha beers are often designed to lean sweet, but this one is notable for being built around the IPA context. It is a limited collaboration worth trying for people who want to enjoy matcha aroma as well as IPA fans looking for hop-derived bitterness.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVLAb-1D3MS/
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroMugi-chan, Kyoto’s 52’s Brewing Exploration really delivered! On Instagram at 16:19 on February 25, 2026, they unveiled "#matchaipa" - a limited Uji matcha × IPA collaboration.
MugiWhoa! Can matcha and IPA even get along!? Aren’t they as different as a tea ceremony and a live house?
Hop BroThat’s where craftsmanship comes in. ABV 5.5%, IBU 38 - not too strong, not too bitter. It’s designed to bring out the matcha’s green aroma while keeping the IPA’s fruity bitterness.
MugiWhat does IBU mean, anyway? Is 38 out of some perfect-score report card? That sounds a little worrying!
Hop BroHaha, it’s not a report card. IBU is a bitterness guideline, and 38 means "definitely bitter, but not tiring to drink." ABV 5.5% also keeps it from feeling too heavy, so it’s a balanced build.
MugiOhhh! And what matcha did they use? Kyoto alone already sounds delicious.
Hop BroIt’s matcha from Kitagawa Hanhyobee Shoten in Uji. And this time it’s an OEM request from Gion Beer in Karasuma - in other words, a special brew where "they planned it, 52’s brewed it."
MugiWhat! That’s like a collaboration production company for the beer world - so cool! Where can I drink it!?
Hop BroThe post said it would be served "for a little while" at @buustaproom and @ea_cafe.kyoto, so the distribution looks pretty limited. If you find it, it’s an instant order.
MugiDeal! Just imagining the aroma of matcha and the crispness of IPA already makes my mouth taste like Kyoto! Let’s go toast right now!
