Sapporo Reissues Limited Sakura Beer Nationwide January 27, 2026 5% ABV

Sapporo Breweries Ltd. has revived Sakura Beer, bringing a Taisho-era recipe back to store shelves in a limited nationwide release on January 27, 2026. The reissue arrives in 350 ml and 500 ml cans, carries 5% ABV, and is being marketed as a heritage-inspired seasonal release that nods to Japan’s early 20th century brewing history.

The company describes the beer as “a well-balanced taste that combines savory richness with a crisp, refreshing finish.” Brewing technicians reportedly studied historical documents from the original brew era and reworked the recipe to suit modern consumer preferences. The cans list pure alcohol at 14 g for the 350 ml size and 20 g for the 500 ml size, and the 2026 launch is being sold at open price with limited quantities available nationwide.

Sakura Beer traces its lineage to Teikoku Beer Co., Ltd., founded in Kyushu in 1912, with production beginning in 1913 at Kyushu’s first beer factory. The original brew was exported across parts of Asia and earned recognition beyond Japan. Sapporo acquired the Kyushu brewery heritage and has periodically issued Sakura Beer as a limited spring offering in recent years; one past release was observed in late February 2023.

Practical tasting notes from a retail review add useful expectations for buyers. The beer pours a bit darker than a typical Japanese lager, shows lively carbonation and a frothy head, and is brewed from barley, hops, and rice. Community reviewer TonetoEdo wrote on City-Cost, “Every year in spring, I keep my eye on spring brews, and this year as usual, Sapporo Breweries released in February 2023 this Sakura Beer,” reflecting how the release fits into Sapporo’s recurring seasonal pattern. A past retail example listed a price of 189 yen at Belx Supermarket for an earlier limited run; the 2026 cans are open price, so expect variation by retailer.

Packaging leans into nostalgia. The front of the can incorporates motifs from the original Sakura Beer label while the back features a retro-style illustration with a circular window reminiscent of Moji Port, linking the design to the beer’s regional origins. Product imagery has been circulated under the caption “Sapporo Sakura Beer can design.”

For homebrewers and craft beer shoppers, the reissue offers both a taste cue and a design cue: a malt-forward profile balanced for modern palates, and a clear historical reference that can inspire recipe experiments or label reworks. Check supermarket shelves and convenience stores early; limited production runs sell through quickly. Expect Sakura Beer to return to the conversation each spring as Sapporo continues to mine its archives for seasonal revivals.