Sakura Taps Taps Minoh Beer x Mikkeller's "Ume-chu," Limited to 10L
On May 23, Sakura Taps put the collaborative sour ale "Ume-chu" from Minoh Beer and Mikkeller on tap. Made with fully ripe Nanko plums and limited to just 10L, the venue lined up all 8 taps that day, offering a wide range of beers from sours to IPAs and dark beers.
Hop BroOn May 23, Sakura Taps tapped "Ume-chu" from Minoh Beer × Mikkeller. And it's limited to just 10L, so this is definitely the kind of beer you want to grab the moment you spot it.
MugiWait, only 10L!? That already smells like a fierce scramble. And a collaboration, too? That sounds seriously strong!
Hop BroExactly. The style is a sour ale base. They used fully ripe Nanko plums from Minabe Town, Wakayama Prefecture, and added the fruit from the fermentation stage to finish it slowly and carefully.
MugiAdding fruit from the fermentation stage sounds like the ume is joining the main cast meeting early. How does that change the flavor?
Hop BroThat's a good way to put it. When fruit goes in early, not just the aroma but the acidity and umami tend to come together into a more integrated flavor. That's why "Ume-chu" brings out the sweet-tartness of ume while still keeping a light, brisk feel.
MugiOhhh! Just imagining that soft ume aroma rising from the glass makes it sound delicious. Sour but not heavy? That sounds super easy to drink!
Hop BroExactly. And Sakura Taps is a beer pub on the second floor of Nora Neko Street in Yoshida Town, Yokohama, and its appeal is the 8 rotating taps it offers every day.
MugiEight taps!? If they're lining up everything from sours to IPAs today, that's the kind of place that's fun before you even decide what to order.
Hop BroThe lineup that day was interesting too, with beers like Super Fresh from West Coast Brewing × Inkhorn Brewing and Kesennuma Pride ver. 12.1 from Black Tide Brewing. It's basically a tasting paradise.
MugiWow, but I'm still most curious about "Ume-chu"... I should get one early before it disappears!
Hop BroExactly, since there's only 10L, there's not much time to hesitate. If you catch a glass of fully ripe ume in Yoshida Town, you've already won the night.
MugiThen it's settled! First "Ume-chu," then we'll wander around the 8 taps... let's make it a night of tasting side by side!
On May 23, "Ume-chu / Minoh Beer × Mikkeller" went on tap at Sakura Taps. Built on a pleasantly tart sour beer base, this collaboration makes lavish use of fully ripe Nanko plums from Minabe Town, Wakayama Prefecture. Fruit was added from the fermentation stage, and the beer was carefully finished over time. From the glass comes a rich, sweet-tart ume aroma, and on the palate a gentle acidity and umami spread out. This time only 10L was available, making it a release you will want to taste early.
Sakura Taps is a beer pub on the second floor of Nora Neko Street in Yoshida Town, Yokohama. Its defining feature is the ability to enjoy craft beer and hand-drip coffee in a relaxed setting, and it offers 8 rotating taps every day for craft beer. That day's lineup was a well-balanced mix of seasonal collaborations and standard favorites.
- Super Fresh / West Coast Brewing × Inkhorn Brewing
- Yoshidacho Helles 2026 / Sakura Taps × Numazu Craft
- Ume-chu / Minoh Beer × Mikkeller
- Kurgantaite / Bighand Bros. Beer
- Tsunagi English IPA / Shiokaze Brew Lab × Bighand Bors. Beer
- Kesennuma Pride ver. 12.1 / Black Tide Brewing
- Shibakuzo! 2026 / Shiokaze Brew Lab
- Black Boxxx / Uchoten Brewing
In particular, "Ume-chu" is a type of sour that puts the sweet-tart character of ume at the center while still leaning into the brisk drinkability typical of the style. It is not too heavy, yet the outline of the fruit is clear, making it easy to pair both before and during meals. In a place like Sakura Taps, where you can choose a few beers with different personalities from tap to tap, having a seasonal sour like this adds another layer of fun to the tasting experience.
The venue opened at 13:00 that day. It became a day to slowly enjoy a collaborative sour made with fully ripe ume and a diverse set of 8 taps in Yoshida Town.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroOn May 23, Sakura Taps tapped "Ume-chu" from Minoh Beer × Mikkeller. And it's limited to just 10L, so this is definitely the kind of beer you want to grab the moment you spot it.
MugiWait, only 10L!? That already smells like a fierce scramble. And a collaboration, too? That sounds seriously strong!
Hop BroExactly. The style is a sour ale base. They used fully ripe Nanko plums from Minabe Town, Wakayama Prefecture, and added the fruit from the fermentation stage to finish it slowly and carefully.
MugiAdding fruit from the fermentation stage sounds like the ume is joining the main cast meeting early. How does that change the flavor?
Hop BroThat's a good way to put it. When fruit goes in early, not just the aroma but the acidity and umami tend to come together into a more integrated flavor. That's why "Ume-chu" brings out the sweet-tartness of ume while still keeping a light, brisk feel.
MugiOhhh! Just imagining that soft ume aroma rising from the glass makes it sound delicious. Sour but not heavy? That sounds super easy to drink!
Hop BroExactly. And Sakura Taps is a beer pub on the second floor of Nora Neko Street in Yoshida Town, Yokohama, and its appeal is the 8 rotating taps it offers every day.
MugiEight taps!? If they're lining up everything from sours to IPAs today, that's the kind of place that's fun before you even decide what to order.
Hop BroThe lineup that day was interesting too, with beers like Super Fresh from West Coast Brewing × Inkhorn Brewing and Kesennuma Pride ver. 12.1 from Black Tide Brewing. It's basically a tasting paradise.
MugiWow, but I'm still most curious about "Ume-chu"... I should get one early before it disappears!
Hop BroExactly, since there's only 10L, there's not much time to hesitate. If you catch a glass of fully ripe ume in Yoshida Town, you've already won the night.
MugiThen it's settled! First "Ume-chu," then we'll wander around the 8 taps... let's make it a night of tasting side by side!
