Japanese-style fragrant ale "KAGUA" Rouge wins Hong Kong International Beer Awards 2017

The Japanese-flavored ale "KAGUA" Rouge was selected as the Grand Prize Winner in the "Belgian Style Strong Beer - Dark" category at the Hong Kong International Beer Awards 2017.

This is the third time that "KAGUA" Rouge has won this award, following its wins in the "Belgian Style Strong Beer - Dark" category in 2013 and 2014. Additionally, in 2016, "KAGUA" Blanc was selected as the judges' recommended beer in the "Belgian Strong" category, making this the fourth time the "KAGUA" series has won this award.

>>Hong Kong International Beer Awards 2017 Winners List

About the Hong Kong International Beer Awards

The Hong Kong International Beer Awards is an international beer competition that has been held since 2009. 24 Grand Prize winners are selected for each style after rigorous blind tasting by a panel of 35 judges made up of beer experts. The number of judges and styles has increased significantly since the competition began, and it has become a larger event every year.

According to the organizers, this year's competition saw over 300 beer entries from over 40 distributors. In addition to the world-renowned US and European beers, there were also entries from Northern Europe and Oceania, making it an extremely high-level competition that brought together beers from all over the world.

>>Hong Kong International Beer Awards Official Website

About the Japanese-flavored ale "KAGUA"

Launched in March 2012, this flagship brand of Far Yeast Brewing Co., Ltd. was inspired by the desire to create a beer that complements Japanese cuisine and can be enjoyed by people all over the world. The original recipe (mixture) was designed based on the concept of creating a fragrant beer that complements Japanese cuisine, and is brewed at a partner brewery in Belgium using yuzu and sansho pepper, two herbs that are symbols of Japan.

There are two varieties in the lineup: "Blanc," a light-colored, top-fermented beer made with wheat, and "Rouge," a dark-colored, top-fermented beer made with roasted malt.A major feature of these beers is that they can be enjoyed with different dishes, just like white and red wines.

Our products are sold in luxury hotels and restaurants both in Japan and overseas, including famous and popular restaurants that have been awarded stars in the Michelin Guide.

*KAGUA is classified as a happoshu (low-malt beer) under Japan's liquor tax law. *Japan's liquor tax law limits the ingredients that can be used in beer, and KAGUA, which uses yuzu and sansho pepper, cannot be labeled as beer. (Although it is a happoshu, the malt ratio and manufacturing method are the same as beer, and the tax rate is the same as beer, so it is different in purpose from so-called "tax-saving happoshu." Also, according to the standards of many countries, including Belgium, where it is produced, "Kagua" is classified as beer, so it is sold as beer in overseas markets.)