Kagiya Brewery Releases Latest Batch of Award-Winning MELLOW YELLOW
Kagiya Brewery in Nakahara, Kawasaki, has released the latest batch of its signature beer, MELLOW YELLOW. Instead of changing the recipe, the brewery adjusted when hops are added during fermentation to draw out a more expressive aroma through yeast-driven biotransformation.
Hop BroKagiya Brewery in Nakahara Ward, Kawasaki, has released a new MELLOW YELLOW batch—its gold-medal Hazy IPA!
MugiWhat? A new version of an award-winning beer? Does that mean the recipe stayed the same?
Hop BroThat’s the fun part. They largely kept the ingredients, but reconsidered when hops meet fermentation.
MugiNo way! Aren’t hops just tossed into the kettle and done? Does timing really change it?
Hop BroAbsolutely. Adding hops while fermentation is most active aims for biotransformation by yeast, which reshapes aroma compounds.
MugiBio-trans-for-mation?! That sounds like the beer is becoming a robot! So yeast helps build aroma?
Hop BroExactly. The goal is a lush fruity hop aroma, recalling pineapple, passion fruit, and citrus.
MugiOoh! I worry a little about bitterness, but a low-bitterness Hazy IPA sounds very approachable.
Hop BroIt’s 6.0% ABV in a 330ml can, with German malt, oats, honey, lemongrass, and sage—a beer built around aroma.
MugiI love that they kept chasing aroma even after winning gold! Now I want to visit the Musashi-Kosugi taproom!
Hop BroYou can also find it at their Musashi-Nakahara and Jiyugaoka shops, or online. Let’s toast to the latest aromatic batch!
MugiCheers! I want to hunt for those pineapple notes while drinking MELLOW YELLOW!
A new focus on hop timing
Kagiya Brewery has begun selling the latest batch of MELLOW YELLOW, its signature hazy IPA. The main revision concerns the timing of hop additions rather than the recipe itself.
The brewery adds hops during the most active stage of fermentation, aiming to use the yeast’s activity to transform aroma compounds. This process, known as biotransformation, allows the brewers to shape the beer’s aromatic profile by carefully controlling when the hops enter the tank.
MELLOW YELLOW is designed with restrained bitterness and a fruity sweetness derived from the hops. Its aroma suggests pineapple, passion fruit, and citrus. The beer has an alcohol content of 6.0% and is sold in 330 ml bottles. Its ingredients include German malt, hops, oats, honey, sugars, lemongrass, licorice, and sage.
The beer won a Gold Award at the Japan Great Beer Awards 2026, organized by the Craft Beer Association, in the Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale category for keg beer. The new batch reflects Kagiya Brewery’s continued effort to refine the beer’s aroma even after receiving the award.
Based in Nakahara Ward, Kawasaki, Kagiya Brewery is a local brewery that produces around 10 craft beers by hand. Its beers are mainly ales with approachable, expressive flavors. MELLOW YELLOW is available through the brewery’s online store and at its direct-operated locations in Musashi-Kosugi, Musashi-Nakahara, and Jiyugaoka.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroKagiya Brewery in Nakahara Ward, Kawasaki, has released a new MELLOW YELLOW batch—its gold-medal Hazy IPA!
MugiWhat? A new version of an award-winning beer? Does that mean the recipe stayed the same?
Hop BroThat’s the fun part. They largely kept the ingredients, but reconsidered when hops meet fermentation.
MugiNo way! Aren’t hops just tossed into the kettle and done? Does timing really change it?
Hop BroAbsolutely. Adding hops while fermentation is most active aims for biotransformation by yeast, which reshapes aroma compounds.
MugiBio-trans-for-mation?! That sounds like the beer is becoming a robot! So yeast helps build aroma?
Hop BroExactly. The goal is a lush fruity hop aroma, recalling pineapple, passion fruit, and citrus.
MugiOoh! I worry a little about bitterness, but a low-bitterness Hazy IPA sounds very approachable.
Hop BroIt’s 6.0% ABV in a 330ml can, with German malt, oats, honey, lemongrass, and sage—a beer built around aroma.
MugiI love that they kept chasing aroma even after winning gold! Now I want to visit the Musashi-Kosugi taproom!
Hop BroYou can also find it at their Musashi-Nakahara and Jiyugaoka shops, or online. Let’s toast to the latest aromatic batch!
MugiCheers! I want to hunt for those pineapple notes while drinking MELLOW YELLOW!
