Shiga Kogen Beer launches 'Shinshu Heion / Apple IPA' on draft
On July 7, Shiga Kogen Beer, brewed by Tamamura Honten in Yamanouchi, Nagano, announced the draft release of 'Shinshu Heion / Apple IPA', a 330 ml beer made with Bramley sour apples from nearby Obuse.
Hop BroToday’s headline is Shinshu Heion / Apple IPA from Shiga Kogen Beer. It went on draft on July 7, and there’s also a 330ml version listed.
MugiWait! An apple IPA? Is it sweet like apple juice? And draft means I can drink it at a bar, right?
Hop BroThat’s the fun part. They use Bramley apples from Obuse, which bring tart green-apple acidity more than candy-like sweetness.
MugiHuh! But Hazy IPA already sounds like a fog machine in a glass!
Hop BroBasically, hazy means a cloudy look and a softer mouthfeel. So it drinks soft and juicy while the hop aroma still pops.
MugiOkay... and now we’re on hop aroma! Is this some kind of dry-hop festival?
Hop BroFestival, no; technique, yes. Dry hopping adds aroma after fermentation, layering green-apple notes on top of the tart Bramley character.
MugiWhat is that! So not candy-apple sweet, more fresh and zippy. And it used to be known as Shinshu Jihen? That sounds intense!
Hop BroExactly. Now it’s back as Shinshu Heion. It’s been a talking point since SNOW MONKEY BEER LIVE, and it really shows the Shiga Kogen style of using local ingredients.
MugiAnd the online store already shows sold out? People moved fast. My throat is getting thirsty just reading this!
Hop BroTamamura Honten also makes the sake Enki, so they know how to handle fruit. This feels like one I’d want fresh on draft, though I’d grab the 330ml too.
MugiSettled, then. Tart apple and hop aroma together sounds like I need a pint now!
A hazy IPA built around Obuse Bramleys
Tamamura Honten, the brewery behind Shiga Kogen Beer in Yamanouchi, Nagano, announced the draft release of 'Shinshu Heion / Apple IPA' on July 7. The product page lists it as a 330 ml item under product number 482, and the online store currently shows it as sold out.
The beer is a hazy IPA brewed with Bramley sour apples from Obuse, a town close to the brewery. It has also been known previously as 'Shinshu Jihen', and this release reintroduces it under the new name 'Shinshu Heion'. In the brewery's own social posts, it is described as a popular beer that has appeared repeatedly since its debut at SNOW MONKEY BEER LIVE.
Tamamura Honten is also a sake producer, known for 'Engi', and Shiga Kogen Beer is its beer brand. That background helps explain why the brewery's releases often feel closely tied to place: local ingredients, a strong sense of region, and a willingness to let fruit and hops share the stage. This new beer follows that pattern, with apple-derived acidity and IPA aromatics likely forming the core of its appeal.
References:
- Tamamura Honten product page
- Yuruburu: 'Shinshu Heion / Apple IPA' draft release announcement
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday’s headline is Shinshu Heion / Apple IPA from Shiga Kogen Beer. It went on draft on July 7, and there’s also a 330ml version listed.
MugiWait! An apple IPA? Is it sweet like apple juice? And draft means I can drink it at a bar, right?
Hop BroThat’s the fun part. They use Bramley apples from Obuse, which bring tart green-apple acidity more than candy-like sweetness.
MugiHuh! But Hazy IPA already sounds like a fog machine in a glass!
Hop BroBasically, hazy means a cloudy look and a softer mouthfeel. So it drinks soft and juicy while the hop aroma still pops.
MugiOkay... and now we’re on hop aroma! Is this some kind of dry-hop festival?
Hop BroFestival, no; technique, yes. Dry hopping adds aroma after fermentation, layering green-apple notes on top of the tart Bramley character.
MugiWhat is that! So not candy-apple sweet, more fresh and zippy. And it used to be known as Shinshu Jihen? That sounds intense!
Hop BroExactly. Now it’s back as Shinshu Heion. It’s been a talking point since SNOW MONKEY BEER LIVE, and it really shows the Shiga Kogen style of using local ingredients.
MugiAnd the online store already shows sold out? People moved fast. My throat is getting thirsty just reading this!
Hop BroTamamura Honten also makes the sake Enki, so they know how to handle fruit. This feels like one I’d want fresh on draft, though I’d grab the 330ml too.
MugiSettled, then. Tart apple and hop aroma together sounds like I need a pint now!
