Far Yeast Grapevine 2024: A limited edition beer made with upcycled grapes from Katsunuma Winery in Koshu, Yamanashi Prefecture

In collaboration with Mercian Viticole Katsunuma Co., Ltd. (Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture; Representative Director: Yoshida Yasaburo), a farmland-owning corporation that cultivates grapes at Chateau Mercian Katsunuma Winery (Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture), we will be releasing a limited edition of "Far Yeast Grapevine 2024," made from grapes that have been picked for wine, from Tuesday, October 22nd.

■ Utilizing approximately 540 kg of grapes that were destined to return to the soil
When cultivating grapes for wine, a process called "bunch thinning" is carried out to thin out the bunches so that each fruit receives sufficient nutrients and produces delicious, concentrated grapes. The harvested grapes are then returned to the soil and used as fertilizer. In 2021, we teamed up with Mercian Viticol Katsunuma, located in the Katsunuma region of Yamanashi Prefecture, a major wine-producing region in Japan, to begin an initiative to upcycle grapes that were harvested but not used for winemaking into craft beer. This year marks the fourth year of the initiative.
The fruit that has been removed from the clusters has a low sugar content and is not suitable for winemaking, but it still has enough sugar to be used in beer. By utilizing this, we are able to regenerate the fruit into a fragrant beer.

■This year, we used the red wine varieties "Syrah" and "Muscat Bailey A."
"Far Yeast Grapevine" is a limited edition product made with Yamanashi grapes by "Brewed with YAMANASHI," a project that collaborates with the local community to promote the charm of Yamanashi through beer nationwide. The beer style changes every year. This year, two types of grapes, Syrah and Muscat Bailey A, which are new varieties of red wine grapes being experimented with in Yamanashi, are used.
In late August, our staff also visited the vineyards of Chateau Mercian Kamoidera Vineyard in Yamanashi City to thin the bunches. Using approximately 540 kg of purchased thinned fruit, we fermented 3,000 liters of product.

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■ A simple saison style that makes the most of the grapes' natural character
Far Yeast Grapevine 2024 uses a simple Saison style beer to bring out the natural character of the grapes. It combines the black pepper-like nuances of Syrah with the spicy aroma that is one of the characteristics of Saison yeast.
In addition, we focused on the production method called "maceration," in which grape skins are immersed in fermenting wine during the red wine production process. We immersed Syrah and Muscat Bailey A grape skins in fermenting beer to extract the maximum flavor of the grapes.
Furthermore, a small amount of Brettanomyces yeast is added during fermentation, which adds a slightly unique fruity aroma with nuances of cherry and plum.While maintaining the clean taste typical of a Saison, you can enjoy a complex flavor with a spicy, fruity aroma.

"Far Yeast Grapevine 2024" will be available for purchase in limited quantities on the Far Yeast Brewing official web store from 12:00 on Tuesday, October 22nd. Purchases on the official web store will begin on Friday, October 25th, and shipments to beer bars, restaurants, and liquor stores nationwide will begin on Wednesday, October 23rd.

Located in Yamanashi, the fruit kingdom, our company is working to reduce food waste while also aiming to establish the definitive deliciousness of grape beer. We will continue to brew this beer as a seasonal autumn product in collaboration with Mercian Viticole Katsunuma.

[Product overview]

Far Yeast Grapevine 2024
Sales start date: Tuesday, October 22nd
Suggested retail price: Open price
Ingredients: Grapes (produced in Koshu, Yamanashi Prefecture), malt (imported), sugar, hops
Alcohol content: 6.0%
IBU: 10
Style: Brett Saison with Grapes
Product: Happoshu (malt content: 25% to 50%)
Brewery: Far Yeast Brewing (Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture)
Specifications: 350ml can / 15L barrel
*Click here to purchase from the online store: https://faryeast.stores.jp/　　

[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, while coexisting with the local community and nature. https://www.chateaumercian.com/winery/katsunuma/ 

<Kirin Holdings Company, Limited Press Release>
~ Collaborative upcycling initiative using grapes from Château Mercian, aiming for sustainable winemaking ~ Far Yeast Brewing releases "Far Yeast Grapevine 2024"
https://www.kirinholdings.com/jp/newsroom/release/2024/1018_01.html

[About the Yamanashi Support Project]
Far Yeast Brewing's "Yamanashi Support Project" began in July 2020 with the desire to revitalize local industry by 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 peaches, grapes, and plums from Kosuge Village, where the brewery is located. Along with beer, the company is promoting the appeal of Yamanashi nationwide.

<Contact for inquiries regarding this matter>
For media representatives, click here
Far Yeast Brewing Co., Ltd. Public Relations Officer: Sasaki
Mail: pr@faryeast.com Phone: 03-6849-2812

For customers, liquor stores, and restaurants, click here
Mail: sales@faryeast.com Phone: 050-3135-3926