The innovative distilled spirits brand "Off Trail - Azeotrope" has finally launched its authentic barrel-aged series, "Malt Gin Distiller's Choice"! Two varieties, "alpha" and "beta," will begin shipping on Monday, March 6th.

Far Yeast Brewing , a brand that challenges itself with innovative distilled spirits brewing, is launching a line of authentic barrel-aged malt gin, " Off Trail -Azeotrope Malt Gin Distiller's Choice" (hereinafter "Distiller's Choice"). The first product, " Off Trail -Azeotrope Malt Gin Distiller's Choice "alpha"," and the second product , " Off Trail -Azeotrope Malt Gin Distiller's Choice "beta"," will begin shipping on Monday, March 6, 2023.

"Off Trail - Azeotrope" was launched in October 2021 as a spin-off project of "Off Trail," a brand that takes on the challenge of brewing beer using microorganisms, primarily through barrel aging (wooden barrel aging). It is a crossover brand between beer and distilled spirits that utilizes the fermentation and barrel aging know-how cultivated through beer brewing to take on the challenge of creating innovative spirits and liqueurs.

Since the brand's launch, we have been selling some of the New Pot distilled from beer, while aging the majority of it in various barrels. After a year and a half, we are finally ready to commercialize this and launch the brand's signature barrel-aged malt gin line.

Like "Off Trail," the distiller himself tastes each of the spirits aged in multiple barrels, and selects the barrels to be used while considering the type of blend and composition before producing the product, hence the name "Distiller's Choice."

The two products, released simultaneously as the first and second installments of the "Distiller's Choice" line, are both upcycled waste beers that were left with nowhere to go due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first release, " Off Trail - Azeotrope Malt Gin Distiller's Choice "alpha" , " is a lost beer carefully distilled twice in a pot still at Far Yeast Brewing's Genryu Brewery in Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture. The undiluted gin is then flavored with juniper berries and yuzu and aged for 13 months in red wine barrels. More than half of the gin is made from our regular beer "Kagua," which uses yuzu and sansho pepper as ingredients, and its fruity ester aromas contribute to the rich, fragrant finish. The barrels used were used to age numerous beers from the "Off Trail" project, adding complexity and lingering flavor to the undiluted gin. Enjoy the multifaceted flavors, from the top note to the lingering finish, with refreshing botanical notes, spiciness, and woody notes from the barrels.

The second release , " Off Trail - Azeotrope Malt Gin Distiller's Choice "beta" , " is a carefully selected blend of two barrel-aged malt gins. One was distilled twice in a pot still at the Braeckman distillery, a distillery with over 100 years of history in Belgium, and aged for 25 months in red wine barrels. The other was distilled twice in a pot still at a Japanese distillery, and aged for 18 months in bourbon barrels. The botanicals used are juniper berries, yuzu, and sansho pepper, creating a refreshing and accentuated aroma. The top note is dominated by the powerful aroma of red wine barrel aging. Blending with punchy bourbon barrel malt liquor results in a complex and lingering finish.

Both titles will begin shipping on Monday, March 6th, and pre-orders will begin on the official online store from 12:00 on Tuesday, February 28th.

[Product overview]

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Off Trail -Azeotrope Malt Gin Distiller's Choice “alpha”
(Off-Trail Azeotrope Malt Gin Distiller's Choice Alpha)

Sales start date: Monday, March 6th
Suggested retail price: Open price
Ingredients: Domestically produced (spirits)
Alcohol content: 47.0%
Style: Barrel Aged
Item: Liqueur
Contents: 500ml

※ Click here to purchase from the online store

[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids=" https://fyb-assets.hatte.jp/2023/02/e283e2529d4e468a4240ac8d22a9dfdf.jpg|"]

Off Trail -Azeotrope Malt Gin Distiller's Choice “beta”
(Off-Trail Azeotrope Malt Gin Distiller's Choice Beta)

Sales start date: Monday, March 6th
Suggested retail price: Open price
Ingredients: Belgian spirits
Alcohol content: 47.0%
Style: Barrel Aged
Item: Liqueur
Contents: 500ml

※ Click here to purchase from the online store

[Off Trail – What is Azeotrope?]

Launched in October 2021, this craft spirits brand crosses the boundaries between beer and distilled spirits. As a spin-off of "Off Trail," a cutting-edge beer brewing project that utilizes microbial barrel aging techniques, the brand is exploring innovative spirits and liqueurs. Focusing on genever-style spirits, which are malt-derived distilled spirits aged in barrels, the brand aims to bring a breath of fresh air to the distilled spirits world by leveraging the fermentation and barrel aging know-how cultivated through beer brewing. "Azeotrope" refers to the phenomenon of two liquids with different boiling points boiling together while maintaining their composition when mixed in a certain ratio, creating an azeotropic mixture. The name evokes the symbiosis of beer and spirits, our core businesses.