Far Yeast Tsukinode Ale and Tsukinode Lager are brewed using 100% barley from Otsuki City and hops from Hokuto City!
Far Yeast Brewing will be releasing a limited edition of "Far Yeast Tsuki no De Ale/Tsuki no De Lager" on Tuesday, January 21st. This is the first time that the company has brewed beer using 100% barley and hops produced in Yamanashi Prefecture.
■Made with 100% barley from Otsuki City and hops from Hokuto City The barley used as an ingredient comes from the Yanagawa Earth Self-Sufficiency Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as Yanagawa), which cultivates barley and soybeans in order to regenerate abandoned farmland in Otsuki City.
As we currently rely on imports for almost all of our beer ingredients, we were wondering if we could brew beer using only domestically produced ingredients. We then met with Ryoken, a company in Otsuki City that was looking for ways to use the barley they were cultivating as they expanded their farmland, and we were able to use the barley for brewing beer, which led to the release of "Tsuki no De Ale" and "Tsuki no De Lager."
In June 2024, our staff actually visited Ryoken's barley fields and harvested the barley under the guidance of Mr. Yamafuji of Ryoken. The barley was then malted domestically, resulting in malt suitable for brewing. Unlike the imported malt we normally use in beer brewing, there was almost no data available on the composition of the malt used this time, so we started by conducting malt saccharification tests to prepare the wort we were aiming for. We also completely reevaluated the manufacturing process, including the malt grind and saccharification program.
The hops used were from Kobayashi Hop Farm in Hokuto City. Hokuto City in Yamanashi Prefecture is well-suited to hop cultivation thanks to its cool climate and the amount of sunlight it receives, which is the highest in Japan, and it was the first town in Japan to fully start contract hop cultivation. While the number of hop farmers is currently on the decline, Kobayashi Hop Farm aims to spread the appeal of hops and revive and revitalize hops grown in Hokuto City, and currently supplies hops to many craft beer breweries across Japan.
We have been using hops from Kobayashi Hop Farm in the fresh hop beers we release every year, and this time we are using Chinook and Cascade, which give the beer a refreshing citrus-like and spicy aroma derived from the hops, as well as a mild bitterness.
■In order to allow you to simply enjoy the flavor of malt and hops in a style that simply captures the taste of barley and hops, we have created simple styles: Tsuki no De Ale is a golden ale, and Tsuki no De Lager is a pilsner. The only difference between the ingredients is the type of yeast used: Tsuki no De Ale has a gorgeous aroma thanks to the ale yeast, while Tsuki no De Lager has a clean, refreshing taste thanks to the lager yeast. We hope you will enjoy comparing the different flavors due to the yeast.
■ Collaboration with the "Reiwa Big Moon Project" to discover the charm of Otsuki City and create its future
The "Reiwa Big Moon Project" was launched by volunteers in Otsuki City in 2024 to bring out the "undiscovered charms" of Otsuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and create the future of the region. As an opportunity to rediscover the charms of Otsuki City, a portion of "Tsuki no De Ale" and "Tsuki no De Lager" will be rebranded as "BIG MOON Ale Beer" and "BIG MOON Lager Beer," both of which will be promoted under the original "Reiwa Big Moon Project" labels.
For more information and inquiries about the "Reiwa Big Moon Project," please click here .
"Far Yeast Tsuki no De Ale/Tsuki no De Lager" will be available for purchase in limited quantities on the Far Yeast Brewing official web store from 12:00 on Tuesday, January 21st. Purchases on the official web store will begin on Thursday, January 23rd, and shipments to beer bars, restaurants, and liquor stores nationwide will begin on Wednesday, January 22nd.
Far Yeast Moonrise Ale
Sales start date: January 21st (Tuesday)
Suggested retail price: Open price Ingredients: Malt (domestically produced), hops, sugar Alcohol content: 5.0%
IBU: 20
Style: Golden Ale
Product: Beer Brewery: Far Yeast Brewing Genryu Brewery (Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture)
Specifications: 350ml can / 15L barrel
Far Yeast Tsukinode Lager
Sales start date: January 21st (Tuesday)
Suggested retail price: Open price Ingredients: Malt (domestically produced), hops Alcohol content: 5.0%
IBU: 20
Style: Pilsner
Product: Beer Brewery: Far Yeast Brewing Genryu Brewery (Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture)
Specifications: 350ml can / 15L barrel
[About Yanagawa Earth Self-Sufficiency Research Institute]
Yanagawa Earth Self-Sufficiency Research Institute regenerates idle farmland in Otsuki City and cultivates major grains such as rice, barley, and soybeans without the use of pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides. Rooted in the local community, the research aims to bring peace of mind through agriculture that takes into consideration the environment and human health.
https://yana-ken.com/
[About Kobayashi Hop Farm]
Kobayashi Hop Farm is located in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, at the southern foot of Mt. Yatsugatake, a pioneering area for hop cultivation. They began trial cultivation in Hokuto City in 2014, and began full-scale hop cultivation and beer sales in 2016. They are committed to the preservation and development of hop cultivation. While most domestic hops are grown by contract farmers with major beer manufacturers, Kobayashi Hop Farm does not have exclusive contracts and sells its products freely, spreading the appeal of hops to a wider audience.
http://hokutohops.com/
[About Brewed with YAMANASHI]
"Brewed with YAMANASHI" started as the "Yamanashi Support Project" with the desire to revitalize local industry through brewing beer using local products. In October of the same year, the company's headquarters were relocated from Shibuya to Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, where the brewery is located, further strengthening collaboration with producers and businesses within the prefecture. In 2024, the fifth year of the project, the name was changed from "Yamanashi Support Project" to "Brewed with YAMANASHI" in light of the shift from "supporting the local area" to "co-creation with the local area."
To date, they have brewed products using local produce, such as "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 "Omoiro Tomato Ale" made with tomatoes from Hokuto City. Along with their beers, they are promoting the charm of Yamanashi across the country.