Horsehead Labs to Release New Sake Lees IPA on March 24; March Event Appearances Also Announced
Shizuoka’s Horsehead Labs announced in its “March Calendar” post published on February 28 that it plans to release a new sake lees IPA on Tuesday, March 24. The brewery also announced its March event appearance schedule, making its spring plans more concrete.
Hop BroHorsehead Labs in Shizuoka announced that it will release a new sake lees IPA on Tuesday, March 24. That March Calendar post was pretty intense!
MugiWait, sake lees and IPA can go together!? Just the name already has me curious!
Hop BroThis time, they plan to use sake lees from Kanzawagawa Shuzojo’s “Shosetsu Karakuchi Junmai Homare Fuji.” What’s more, they used sake lees from the same brewery for the third and fourth releases too, so I really like that the relationship has continued like this.
MugiThat’s so nice! But I have no idea what sake lees IPA would taste like... Is it sweet? Bitter? Which is it!?
Hop BroWhat it does is keep the hop bitterness and aroma very much in IPA territory while layering in the richness from the sake lees and fermentation-driven nuances. In short, it’s easy to think of it as an IPA with Japanese umami on top.
MugiOhhh! So it’s basically the best of crisp adult vibes and rich depth!? I can’t keep up with the vocabulary, but I want to drink it!
Hop BroThe label also seems to take advantage of the brewery’s colors and logo, so it’s interesting that not just the liquid but the look and feel are integrated as a single “sake lees IPA project.”
MugiA collaboration that extends to the design too is exciting! And March has more event appearances, right?
Hop BroRight. On Sunday, March 15, they’ll be at Mishima Craft Beer Marche (Rakujuen), and on Friday, March 20, at W Seijinshiki. They’re even building a way to “go meet them” before and after the release, which really feels like a true experimental group. They’re also making use of Kambara-juku’s local character.
MugiI’ve decided. I’m going to meet them at the event and drink the new release on March 24 too! Big hop brother, let’s practice the toast!
Horsehead Labs (Shizuoka) shared its March schedule in an Instagram post titled “🐴March Calendar🐴” published at 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2026.
The March highlight is a new sake lees IPA
According to the post, a new sake lees IPA is scheduled for release in March. The release date is listed as Tuesday, March 24. This time, the brewery will use sake lees from Kanzawagawa Shuzojo’s “Shosetsu Karakuchi Junmai Homare Fuji.” It is also noted that sake lees from the same brewery were used in the past for the third and fourth releases, making this a collaboration that has continued over time and is worth watching.
The label design also appears to emphasize the brewery’s colors and logo, suggesting a unified “sake lees IPA project” that extends beyond the liquid itself to the design side as well.
More event appearances in March
The post also announced that event appearances will increase as the weather warms up. The confirmed schedule is as follows.
- Sunday, March 15 Mishima Craft Beer Marche (Rakujuen)
- Friday, March 20 W Seijinshiki
With opportunities to connect in person before and after the new release, March looks like a month to enjoy both “drinking” and “going to meet them.”
Brewery background
Horsehead Labs describes itself on its official website as “an experimental group making a variety of alcoholic beverages in Kambara-juku, a post town in Shizuoka City.” The brewery highlights the local environment at the foot of Mt. Fuji, including water, sun, and sea breeze, and its use of sake lees ingredients in projects like this reflects a stance of reinterpreting the region’s sake culture.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHorsehead Labs in Shizuoka announced that it will release a new sake lees IPA on Tuesday, March 24. That March Calendar post was pretty intense!
MugiWait, sake lees and IPA can go together!? Just the name already has me curious!
Hop BroThis time, they plan to use sake lees from Kanzawagawa Shuzojo’s “Shosetsu Karakuchi Junmai Homare Fuji.” What’s more, they used sake lees from the same brewery for the third and fourth releases too, so I really like that the relationship has continued like this.
MugiThat’s so nice! But I have no idea what sake lees IPA would taste like... Is it sweet? Bitter? Which is it!?
Hop BroWhat it does is keep the hop bitterness and aroma very much in IPA territory while layering in the richness from the sake lees and fermentation-driven nuances. In short, it’s easy to think of it as an IPA with Japanese umami on top.
MugiOhhh! So it’s basically the best of crisp adult vibes and rich depth!? I can’t keep up with the vocabulary, but I want to drink it!
Hop BroThe label also seems to take advantage of the brewery’s colors and logo, so it’s interesting that not just the liquid but the look and feel are integrated as a single “sake lees IPA project.”
MugiA collaboration that extends to the design too is exciting! And March has more event appearances, right?
Hop BroRight. On Sunday, March 15, they’ll be at Mishima Craft Beer Marche (Rakujuen), and on Friday, March 20, at W Seijinshiki. They’re even building a way to “go meet them” before and after the release, which really feels like a true experimental group. They’re also making use of Kambara-juku’s local character.
MugiI’ve decided. I’m going to meet them at the event and drink the new release on March 24 too! Big hop brother, let’s practice the toast!
