Mitsui Norin, the company behind the Nittoh Tea brand, is releasing a new collaboration craft beer with Yellow Monkey Brewing (YMB) as the first project under Nittoh Tea's 100th anniversary campaign, "NITTOH 100 PICNIC." Named CHA-GASUMI, the beer is brewed with Assam and Uva tea leaves under Nittoh Tea's supervision, and only a limited quantity has been made.
CHA-GASUMI goes on sale on September 19, 2026 (Sat) at YMB's online store and physical shop. Nittoh Tea will also bring the beer to a pop-up booth at "Moon Art Night Shimokitazawa," held at BONUS TRACK in Shimokitazawa from September 21 (Mon) to 23 (Wed).
Product Overview
- Product name: CHA-GASUMI
- Ingredients: Malt (foreign-made), oats, tea leaves, lactose, hops
- Style: Hazy Tea Ale
- Alcohol content: 4.5%
- Category: Happoshu (low-malt beer)
- Release date: September 19, 2026 (Sat)
- Where to buy: Yellow Monkey Brewing
- Price (tax included): 350ml can, ¥700
- Manufacturer: Yellow Monkey Brewing
Pricing may differ at event venues.
About the Product
YMB head brewer Kengo Saito describes CHA-GASUMI as having a pronounced tea aroma and flavor, with a look reminiscent of royal milk tea. Made with a combined total of about 22 kg of Assam and Uva tea leaves, the beer offers a fragrant tea aroma from the first sip and a smooth, gentle mouthfeel from the oats and lactose, finishing surprisingly crisp — combining the satisfaction of royal milk tea with the light drinkability of a beer.
Tea leaves added to the wort
Tea brewed in the wort, taking on a color reminiscent of milk tea
YMB representative Hiroki Komada says CHA-GASUMI was created to mark Nittoh Tea's 100th anniversary, with the goal of expressing the rich, comforting experience of royal milk tea — which Nittoh Tea has spent its long history popularizing in Japan — in the form of a single beer. The team began by comparing various tea leaves brewed both straight and with milk, repeatedly testing aroma, astringency, and how well each paired with milk, before arriving at a bold recipe using a combined total of about 22 kg of Assam and Uva. The name CHA-GASUMI (from 茶霞, meaning "tea haze") points to two things: the soft, hazy color reminiscent of royal milk tea, and a nod to the tea-growing wisdom that high-quality tea leaves often come from misty, fog-covered regions.
Event Appearance
To mark Nittoh Tea's 100th anniversary, the pop-up booth will offer CHA-GASUMI along with an evaporated milk tea and a milk tea ice cream. Buyers will receive a free sample of a caffeine-free Earl Grey that can be enjoyed even at night, and visitors who post about the event on social media can enter a drawing for items from the "Milk Tokedasu" series.
- Event name: Moon Art Night Shimokitazawa
- Dates: September 21 (Mon) to 23 (Wed), 2026
- Hours: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Venue: BONUS TRACK HOUSE, inside BONUS TRACK (https://bonus-track.net/)
- Event details: https://moonartnightfes.com/
Where to Buy
CHA-GASUMI will be available at Yellow Monkey Brewing's online store and physical shop starting September 19, 2026 (Sat), with sales expanding to beer bars and liquor retailers nationwide thereafter.
