CARVAAN to Set Up Shop at Metsä for the 'Forest and Lake Craft Beer Journey'
The "Forest and Lake Craft Beer Journey - Metsä's Summer Solstice Festival 2026 -" will be held on May 23 and 24 at Metsä Village in Saitama. About seven breweries selected by Hanno's CARVAAN Brewery & Restaurant will gather, and visitors can enjoy Arabian Lime Ale and more.
Hop BroOn May 23 and 24, there's a summer solstice beer event at Metsä Village in Saitama. Just the name, 'Forest and Lake Craft Beer Journey - Metsä's Summer Solstice Festival 2026 -,' already makes me want to go out for a drink.
MugiWait, a beer festival at Metsä? And it's free admission? That's the kind of thing where you just drop by and end up in trouble, in the best way possible!
Hop BroThe main organizer is Hanno's CARVAAN Brewery & Restaurant. They're the kind of brewery that expresses the cultures and histories of the world through beer, and this time they've selected breweries from Saitama and nearby areas, with about seven shops lined up.
MugiAbout seven shops means it's basically a paradise for tastings, right? But I'd probably get lost choosing and end up wandering around before my first drink!
Hop BroThe first thing I want to try is CARVAAN's Arabian Lime Ale. It's a golden ale made with lime peel from Alexandria and cardamom, with a bright, aromatic finish.
MugiCardamom in beer!? That's already so exotic I can't even picture the taste!
Hop BroAnd there's also Zakkoku Weizen at the venue. It's from Mugizakkokukobo, a white beer that lets you enjoy the grainy character of homegrown and local ingredients, plus the aroma from the yeast.
MugiWhen I hear white beer, I think light and easy, but if it has grain character and aroma, then it's a real personality beer. So it looks gentle, but it's actually pretty capable?
Hop BroWhat's great is that it's not just beer. On the 23rd, there'll be cross-talk and performances, Finnish dance, and even a bonfire in the evening. On the 24th too, there will be an opening and live music, so you can enjoy the whole lakeside mood.
MugiWow, that's basically a summer solstice bonus. Drink beer, listen to music, watch the fire, and before you know it you're having another round... that's a total win!
Hop BroAnd it makes you want to head back to CARVAAN's Hanno flagship for another drink, which is why it feels like a one-of-a-kind beer. Events like this are delicious all the way home.
MugiIt's settled! First we toast at Metsä with a forest-and-lake cheers, and if we like it, we head to CARVAAN's flagship for round two. Looks like I'll have to keep my schedule open for drinking!
Metsä's Summer Solstice Festival Kicks Off with Craft Beer
At Metsä Village in Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture, the "Forest and Lake Craft Beer Journey - Metsä's Summer Solstice Festival 2026 -" will be held on Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, 2026. The venue is Metsä Aukio, and admission is free. From 11:00 to 19:00, this weekend event offers beer, music, and the lakeside atmosphere all in one place.
The central organizer is CARVAAN Brewery & Restaurant, a local brewery in Hanno. Known for expressing cultures and histories from around the world through beer, it has selected breweries from Saitama Prefecture and nearby areas, with about seven shops taking part.
A Beer to Try at CARVAAN
One featured beer is Arabian Lime Ale. This golden ale uses lime peel from Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt and the aroma of cardamom, giving it a distinctive, exotic character that fits CARVAAN's style. It is also a perfect match for the brewery pub set on a cliff in Hanno's valley.
Also featured at the venue is Zakkoku Weizen from Mugizakkokukobo, a wheat beer that lets you fully enjoy the character of the malt. Made with homegrown and locally sourced ingredients, it offers grainy depth and yeast-derived aroma, making its differences stand out clearly in a tasting lineup.
More Than Just Beer
On the 23rd, there will be an opening ceremony, a cross-talk session with representatives from each brewery including CARVAAN Brewery & Restaurant, Finnish dance, jazz performances, and the evening "Summer Solstice Bonfire." On the 24th as well, the program includes an opening session, cross-talk, and live music, creating an event centered on beer while letting visitors enjoy the atmosphere of a Nordic summer solstice festival.
CARVAAN's Hanno flagship is a brewery pub that champions an Arabic gastronomy of cross-cultural, extraordinary experiences. If you find a beer you love at the venue, it's the kind of place that will make you want to return to the shop for a proper meal and another drink.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroOn May 23 and 24, there's a summer solstice beer event at Metsä Village in Saitama. Just the name, 'Forest and Lake Craft Beer Journey - Metsä's Summer Solstice Festival 2026 -,' already makes me want to go out for a drink.
MugiWait, a beer festival at Metsä? And it's free admission? That's the kind of thing where you just drop by and end up in trouble, in the best way possible!
Hop BroThe main organizer is Hanno's CARVAAN Brewery & Restaurant. They're the kind of brewery that expresses the cultures and histories of the world through beer, and this time they've selected breweries from Saitama and nearby areas, with about seven shops lined up.
MugiAbout seven shops means it's basically a paradise for tastings, right? But I'd probably get lost choosing and end up wandering around before my first drink!
Hop BroThe first thing I want to try is CARVAAN's Arabian Lime Ale. It's a golden ale made with lime peel from Alexandria and cardamom, with a bright, aromatic finish.
MugiCardamom in beer!? That's already so exotic I can't even picture the taste!
Hop BroAnd there's also Zakkoku Weizen at the venue. It's from Mugizakkokukobo, a white beer that lets you enjoy the grainy character of homegrown and local ingredients, plus the aroma from the yeast.
MugiWhen I hear white beer, I think light and easy, but if it has grain character and aroma, then it's a real personality beer. So it looks gentle, but it's actually pretty capable?
Hop BroWhat's great is that it's not just beer. On the 23rd, there'll be cross-talk and performances, Finnish dance, and even a bonfire in the evening. On the 24th too, there will be an opening and live music, so you can enjoy the whole lakeside mood.
MugiWow, that's basically a summer solstice bonus. Drink beer, listen to music, watch the fire, and before you know it you're having another round... that's a total win!
Hop BroAnd it makes you want to head back to CARVAAN's Hanno flagship for another drink, which is why it feels like a one-of-a-kind beer. Events like this are delicious all the way home.
MugiIt's settled! First we toast at Metsä with a forest-and-lake cheers, and if we like it, we head to CARVAAN's flagship for round two. Looks like I'll have to keep my schedule open for drinking!
