Gigantic Brewing Celebrates Shiga Kogen’s 20th Anniversary with Hair of the Dog Collaboration Beer
A Trans-Pacific beer collaboration debuts on Friday, September 20, 2024 from Shiga Kogen Brewery of Nagano, Japan and Gigantic Brewing and Hair of the Dog from Portland, Oregon. This new Shiga Kogen 20th Anniversary Beer has been brewed to celebrate two decades of brewing excellence from Shiga Kogen and will officially debut at Gigantic Hawthorne in Southeast Portland with a very special food menu.
The Shiga Kogen 20th Anniversary Beer is a unique, gin-inspired botanical brew crafted with an artful blend of herbs, spices, and hops, then aged in traditional Japanese cedar sake barrels. This meticulous aging process lends a subtle complexity and depth to the beer’s flavor, making it a truly one-of-a-kind brew.
“The flavors we’ve developed in this beer really highlight the botanicals with notes of the Japanese cedar sake barrels, which gives it a distinctive and aromatic profile,” said Ben Love, co-founder of Gigantic Brewing. “We wanted to create something special to honor our friends at Shiga Kogen, and this beer is a testament to the creativity and craftsmanship of everyone involved.”
Though a majority of the Shiga Kogen 20th Anniversary Beer has been shipped to Japan for the brewery’s anniversary celebration, a limited number of cans will be available at the event on Friday, September 20th. Portland customers can secure their cans by pre-ordering through Gigantic Brewing’s website, ensuring they don’t miss out on this exclusive release.
In addition to the release of the Shiga Kogen 20th Anniversary Beer, Gigantic will feature a special menu that day with Japanese-inspired dishes and favorites from Hair of the Dog’s iconic kitchen. The menu will be offered on September 20th from 3:00 – 10:00pm. Menu highlights include:
- Panko Crusted Wild Coho Salmon with Apricot Jam, served with a Miso Salad
- Shio Koji Yakitori Chicken Skewers
- Chuck Norris Spicy Duck Wings (Hair of the Dog)
- Braised Brussels Sprouts (Hair of the Dog)
Recalling the collaboration’s origins, Ben Love shared, “The night before we brewed the beer, Alan from Hair of the Dog hosted us and served the Panko Salmon with Apricot Jam. I was skeptical at first, but the combination was mind-blowing. It’s the perfect match for the bold flavors in the beer.”
As an added treat, Gigantic will be tapping a rare keg of 10 Year Barrel-Aged Adam. Adam was the first beer Hair of the Dog ever made and this batch of Adam has been aged to perfection.
Golden Ticket Offer:
A $60 ticket includes:
- 2 cans of Shiga Kogen 20th Anniversary Beer
- All four featured food items
- A 5oz pour of 10 Year Barrel-Aged Adam (perfect for dessert!)
- 20% Gratuity Included
To purchase Golden Tickets in advance click here or to only purchase cans, click here.
Gigantic Hawthorne – 4343 SE Hawthorne Blvd – Portland, OR
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.