Upcycling culled wine grapes: Chateau Mercian teams up with Katsunuma Winery to create "Far Yeast Grapevine 2022," available exclusively on Sunday, October 16th

Far Yeast Brewing will begin general release of "Far Yeast Grapevine 2022, " made with wine grapes harvested at Mercian Corporation's Chateau Mercian Katsunuma Winery (Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture), on Sunday, October 16th, with pre-orders starting at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, October 11th .

■ Utilizing 600kg of grapes that were destined to return to the soil

As part of the Yamanashi Support Project, which aims to enliven Yamanashi with beer, the popular fruit ale made with grapes, a "taste of autumn," will be available again this year. Following on from last year, the ale was created in collaboration with Chateau Mercian Katsunuma Winery, using grapes grown for wine production.

When cultivating wine grapes, a process called "bunch thinning" is carried out to ensure that each fruit receives adequate nutrition and that delicious, concentrated grapes are grown. The harvested fruit is usually returned to the fields, but last year we started an initiative to take these and upcycle them into beer. The harvested fruit has a low sugar content and is not suitable for winemaking, but it still has enough sugar to be made into beer. We have taken advantage of this and regenerated it into a delicious fruit pale ale that makes the most of its fruity aroma and acidity.

At the end of August, our staff also visited the vineyards of Chateau Mercian Katsunuma Winery to thin the grapes, and received approximately 600 kg of thinned grapes from 10 varieties, mainly Merlot, Syrah, and Koshu.

[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids=" https://fyb-assets.hatte.jp/2022/10/30889ab26a629ebcb257c8aff08f412a.jpg|,https://fyb-assets.hatte.jp/2022/10/37dcf380896e3c981ecb1265dcd4e15e.jpg|"]

A fruit pale ale that brings out the rich aroma of Yamanashi's autumn grapes.

Far Yeast Grapevine 2022 uses yeast that enhances thiols, a grape-based aromatic compound, and Nelson Sauvin hops, which have a white grape aroma, resulting in a fruity pale ale with even more grape flavor than last year.

The reddish color and the aroma of unripe fruit with a hint of acidity and a hint of sweetness make the grapes present even before you take a sip. The flavor is soft, reminiscent of white grapes and strawberries with a slight tannin, and the gentle carbonation and light, dry body quench the thirst.

"Far Yeast Grapevine 2022" will go on general sale from Sunday, October 16th, and pre-orders will begin on our online store from 1:00 PM on Tuesday, October 11th.

Located in Yamanashi, the kingdom of fruit, we are working to reduce food waste while also striving to establish the ultimate deliciousness of grape beer. We will continue to collaborate with Château Mercian Katsunuma Winery and brew this beer every year as a seasonal autumn product.

[Product overview]

[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids=" https://fyb-assets.hatte.jp/2022/10/876553a18361928bf51c44671060cd33.jpg|"]

Far Yeast Grapevine 2022

Sales start date: October 16th (Sunday)
Suggested retail price: Open price
Ingredients: Grapes (produced in Koshu, Yamanashi Prefecture), malt, hops, sugar
Alcohol content: 6.0%
IBU: 15
Style: Fruited Pale Ale
Product: Happoshu (malt content: 25% to less than 50%)
Brewery: Far Yeast Brewing (Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture)
Specifications: 350ml can
※ Click here to purchase from the online store

[About Chateau Mercian Katsunuma Winery]

"Making Japan a world-famous wine-producing region." To ensure that Japanese wine is beloved and enjoyed by people in Japan and around the world, Château Mercian preserves Japan's nature, culture, and sensibility, evolving them to bring joy to people. Château Mercian Katsunuma Winery originated from the Dai-Nippon Yamanashi Winery, founded in 1877 (Meiji 10) as Japan's first private winery. Château Mercian has three wineries in Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures, but Katsunuma Winery is the central winery of Château Mercian, producing over 80% of the company's total production. Toward the realization of our dream of "Making Japan a world-famous wine-producing region," we will continue to move forward into the future, centered around our winery and coexisting with the local community. https://www.chateaumercian.com/winery/katsunuma/

[About the Yamanashi Support Project]

Far Yeast Brewing's "Yamanashi Support Project" began in July 2020 with the desire to revitalize local industry through brewing beer using local produce. In October of the same year, the company relocated its headquarters from Shibuya to Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, where the brewery is located, further strengthening collaboration with producers and businesses within the prefecture. To date, the company has brewed products using local produce, including "Peach Haze," made with peaches from Yamanashi City; "Ume-kin' Me Crazy!", made with plums from Kosuge Village, where the brewery is located; "Grapevine," made with grapes from Koshu City; and "Farm to Brew," made with plenty of fresh hops from Hokuto City. Along with their beer, they are promoting the appeal of Yamanashi across the country.

<Contact for inquiries regarding this matter>
●For media representatives, please click here
Far Yeast Brewing Co., Ltd. Public Relations Officer: Sasaki
Mail: pr@faryeast.com Phone: 03-6849-2812
●Customers, liquor stores, and restaurants, please click here
Mail: sales@faryeast.com Phone: 050-3135-3926