Back again this year by popular demand! “Hokuto no Hana Hops” is made with 100% Yamanashi-grown hops harvested by Kobayashi Hop Farm. Limited brewed by Far Yeast Brewing.

Craft beer brewery Far Yeast Brewing Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, Representative Director: Shiro Yamada) that has been introducing beers full of originality from Japan to the world, was in charge of brewing Hokuto no Hana Hops, a beer produced by Yoshimichi Kobayashi, a hop farmer in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, which will be released on December 21 (Tuesday) at Kobayashi Hop Farm.

 

 Hokuto City in Yamanashi Prefecture is suitable for hop cultivation due to its cool climate and solar radiation, which is the highest in Japan. It was the first town in Japan to start contract hop cultivation in earnest. However, the number of hop growers has been decreasing recently.

 Mr. Kobayashi, a hop farmer in Hokuto City, aims to convey the appeal of hops, revitalize Hokuto City hop cultivation, and raise awareness.

Currently, he supplies hops to many craft breweries in Japan. This summer, Far Yeast Brewing brewed the Yamanashi support project “Far Yeast Farm to Brew” with fresh hops from the Kobayashi Hop Farm.

 “Hokuto no Hana Hops” is a beer produced and sold by Mr Kobayashi to bring hops appeal to as many people as possible. It is brewed by Far Yeast Brewing using only hops grown at the Kobayashi Hop Farm and was sold in limited quantities last year to great acclaim. The beer was sold in limited quantities last year and was very well received, so Far Yeast Brewing has decided to brew and sell it again this year.

Usually, several kinds of hops are used in beer. But for “Hokuto no Hana Hops,” for emphasizing the natural aroma and characteristics of freshly picked hops, we brewed it with only one type of hop, Cascade. By adding hops at different times during the boiling process, we extracted and layered the various flavors of the Cascade hops, resulting in a finished product with a depth of flavor that you can enjoy.

 ”Hokuto no Hana Hops” can be purchased from the website of Kobayashi Hop Farm from Tuesday, December 21, 2021.

 【Product Summary】

Product name : Hokuto No Hana Hops

Product type: Beer

Ingredients: Malt (foreign-manufactured), hops, sugars

ABV:5.0%

Beer Style: Pale Ale

Brewery: Far Yeast Brewing Genryu Brewery ( Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture) 

Specification: 330ml bottle

【About Kobayashi Hop Far】

Kobayashi Hop Farm is a hop farm located in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, at the southern foot of Mount Yatsugatake, a pioneer in hop cultivation. The farm has been experimentally growing hops in Hokuto City since 2014 and started full-scale hop cultivation and beer sales in 2016. We are working on the succession and development of hop cultivation. Most domestic hops are grown by contracted farmers of large beer breweries. However, Kobayashi Hop Farm does not have an exclusive contract with any. It provides hops freely to spread the appeal of hops.

Official website: http://hokutohops.com/

 

10 products from Far Yeast Brewing won prizes at Asia Beer Championship 2021. Off Trail Kriek in the Barrel was selected as the gold medal winner!

On Thursday, October 28, 2021, the results of the Asia Beer Championship 2021 were announced, and Off Trail Kriek in the Barrel was selected as the Gold Award in the Wild Ale category. In addition to Kriek in the Barrel, 9 beers were selected as the Chairman’s selection in seven categories. 

About Asia Beer Championship

The Asia Beer Championship is an international beer competition for brewing companies from all over Asia, from Jordan to Japan.  There are 32 categories, with Gold, Silver and Bronze awards in each category, and a Chairman’s Selection for beers which quality meet or exceed the standard.

This year, the tasting was held in Singapore on October 22 and 23, and the results were announced at a ceremony broadcast live online on October 28.

Click here for more information about Asia Beer Championship

【About the award-winning beers】

WILD ALE category:Gold medal

『Off Trail Kreik in the Barrel』

A barrel-aged fruit sour ale fermented and aged in oak barrels for eight months with wild yeast added to the wort of KRIEK IN THE FLESH, a collaboration beer with Portland brewery Culmination Brewing. The result is a well-balanced taste with a mild sourness followed by a bright cherry fruit aroma, and the oak barrel and leathery notes that only barrel age can provide.

Kriek in the Barrel was released once in 2019 and won a bronze award at the Asia Beer Championship 2019. It’s a product that has been highly praised internationally,

Click here for more information about  “Off Trail Kreik in the Barrel”

 

INTERNATIONAL LAGER category:Chairman’s Selection

『Far Yeast WESTBOUND 5th India Pale Lager』

This is the only lager style beer by Headwaters Brewery.

Using five types of hops, including Nelson Sauvin and Lemon Drop, and focuses on cleanliness and drinkability rather than strong hop flavours. With ABV 4.8%, which is slightly lower than most lager styles, and with its refreshing citrus flavor and crisp drinkability, it is easy to pair with food and can be enjoyed in a wide range of situations.

Click here for more information about Far Yeast WESTBOUND 5th India Pale Lager

 

SOUR BEER category:Chairman’s Selection

『Off Trail Hops and Dreams』

This is a new hop aroma product made by dry-hopping a barrel-aged blonde sour ale with HBC630, a new hop variety in the experimental stage.

When poured into a glass, it has a sweet aroma of candy-like esters, freshly picked peaches, and bananas, and when you sip it, the tropical lychee and apple cider flavors from the base beer burst in your mouth, and the hop aroma reminiscent of raspberries and cherries invites you into a dream world. 

Click here for more information about Off Trail Hops and Dreams

SOUR BEER category:Chairman’s Selection

『Far Yeast Silk Road ~Hazy Sour Ale~』

A sour ale with a silky smooth mouthfeel, with the refreshing and slightly woody aroma of lime based on the rich hop aroma of pine and citrus like Juicy IPA. It is a collaboration beer with Nara Brewing Company, which took on the challenge of encountering a new aroma.

Click here for more information about Far Yeast Silk Road ~Hazy Sour Ale~

SAISON category:Chairman’s Selection

『Far Yeast Tokyo White』

Tokyo White is one of the flagship beers from  Far Yeast Brewing. It has a fruity ester aroma and a gorgeous hop flavor characterized by a dry and sharp mouthfeel. 

Click here for more information about Far Yeast Tokyo White. 

GOLDEN ALE category:Chairman’s Selection

『Far Yeast Tokyo Blonde』

A light, refreshing golden ale made with an abundance of aromatic hops.

The aroma of hops, a hint of esters and malt, and the sweetness and bitterness of the fruity hop flavors are in perfect balance.

Click here for more information about Far Yeast Tokyo Blonde. 

GOLDEN ALE category:Chairman’s Selection

『Far Yeast Farm to Brew』

This fresh hop beer is made with Sorachi Ace and Sterling hops harvested in the morning of the brewing day at Kobayashi Farm in Hokuto City. To simply enjoy the aroma and flavor of the hops, we have created a Kölsch style that is aromatic and easy to drink. You can enjoy the fruity flavor of the malt and hops in a clean and drinkable way.

Click here for more information about Far Yeast Farm to Brew. 

AMERICAN STYLE IPA category:Chairman’s Selection

『Far Yeast Tokyo IPA』

Belgian IPA with a gorgeous aroma from Belgian yeast and American hops.

It has a well-balanced aroma of hops, malt and esters, with a citrusy hop aroma and bitterness, and a hint of roasted malt flavor.

Click here for more information about Far Yeast Tokyo IPA. 

 

FRUIT FLAVOURED BEER category:Chairman’s Selection

『Far Yeast Peach Haze』

This Hazy-style fruit pale ale is made with an abundance of peaches from Yamanashi City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Freshly picked peaches are used to bring out the freshness of the peaches, with two types of hops, Eldorado with its stone fruit aroma and Mosaic with its tropical aroma, enhance the peach aroma.

Click here for more information about Far Yeast Peach Haze. 

FRUIT FLAVOURED BEER category:Chairman’s Selection

『Far Yeast Passion Haze』

A Hazy IPA with passion fruit aromas and tropical flavors of pineapple, mango, citrus, and coconut. 

Click here for more information about Far Yeast Passion Haze. 

 

Three products from the Far Yeast and Off Trail series placed at the International Beer Cup 2022.

The International Beer Cup 2022 was held on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 in Ota-ku, Tokyo, and Far Yeast Brewing’s “Far Yeast Peach Haze” won the Silver Award in the fruits beer category. Off Trail Ume-kin’Me Crazy! 2022″ won the Bronze Award in the Wood-and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer category, and “Off Trail Kriek in the Barrel 2022” won the Silver Award in the Fruited Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer category. 

About The International Beer Cup

The International Beer Cup is a beer competition organized by the Japan Craft Beer Association and has been held annually since 1996. (Prior to 2013, it was called the International Beer Competition.) Although the competition is held in Japan, it is not only limited to domestic and microbrewed beers, but also includes beers from outside of Japan as well

Click here for the list of awards

【About the award-winning beers】

Far Yeast Peach Haze

Far Yeast’s seasonal summer staple. It is the most popular product of the “Yamanashi Support Project”, a project to promote the charms of Yamanashi through beer. This Hazy-style fruit pale ale is made with peaches from Peach Senka Yamashita, a peach farmer in Yamanashi City, Yamanashi Prefecture.

Off Trail Ume-kin’Me Crazy!2022

A barrel-aged strong ale brewed with hand-picked plums in Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, where the brewery is located, in collaboration with a business that works to restore, manage and utilize farmland in the village under the theme “Terroir Kosuge.

Off Trail Kriek in the Barrel2022

A collaboration with Culmination Brewing, a brewery based in Portland, Oregon, this barrel-aged sour ale was first released in 2019 and has since gone on to win various medals in international competitions. It is a product that is gaining worldwide recognition.

 

“Pink Salt & Yuzu Gose” is brewed at Far Yeast Brewing Tokyo Brewery in collaboration with Indian Brewery BIRA 91 Available exclusively at “Far Yeast Tokyo Brewery & Grill” Available from May 28th (Saturday)

 Far Yeast Brewing (Head Office: Kosuge-mura, Yamanashi Prefecture; Managing Director: Shiro Yamada; hereinafter referred to as “Far Yeast”), offering a wide variety of original beers from Japan to the world, has collaborated with BIRA 91, an Indian brewery. Far Yeast brewed “Pink Salt & Yuzu Gose” at its Tokyo Brewery in Gotanda, Tokyo. The beer will be available from Saturday, May 28, 2022 exclusively at Far Yeast Tokyo Brewery & Grill, a directly managed restaurant equipped with the brewery. 

 

■To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and India, a cultural exchange was held with recipes using specialties from each country: “Yuzu” and “Himalayan Pink Salt”.

In 2022, Japan and India will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. In this milestone year, we collaborated with BIRA 91, an Indian brewery to create “Pink Salt & Yuzu Gose”,  a gose made with Japanese yuzu and Indian Himalayan pink salt. Gose is typically a sour and salty beer style brewed via lactic acid fermentation with the additions of salt and coriander.

This time, Far Yeast Brewing’s Tokyo brewery and BIRA 91’s Bangalore brewery will brew the same recipe of Gose at the same time. In addition, the chefs of both restaurants will exchange their own pairing menus, which will be served at their own restaurants. This will be an exchange program to introduce the culture and breweries of each other’s country. This is our first time collaborating with an Indian brewery and vice versa, the first time for BIRA 91 to collaborate with a Japanese brewery.

This collaboration is recognized by the Secretariat of the Japan-India Diplomatic Relations 70th Anniversary Executive Committee (Embassy of Japan in India) as part of the Japan-India Diplomatic Relations 70th Anniversary Program.

■Gose style, the first challenge for Tokyo Brewery

From Japan, we used Yuzu, which is used in our regular beer KAGUA, and from India, we incorporated Himalayan pink salt, a representative Indian rock salt, into the recipe. Using ingredients representative of both countries, we have created a refreshing Gose perfect for early summer with its aroma of yuzu and juicy, pleasant acidity.

 Far Yeast Tokyo Brewery & Grill will offer this “Pink Salt & Yuzu Gose” along with a pairing menu created by the chefs at BIRA 91’s taproom for a limited time, from Saturday, May 28 to Friday, June 3. In addition, BIRA 91’s taproom in Bangalore will serve “Yuzu and Black Shichimi Fried Chicken” using yuzu, which will also be a regular menu item at Far Yeast Tokyo Brewery & Grill.

【Product Summary】

Pink Salt & Yuzu Gose

Serving : Far Yeast Tokyo Brewery & Grill

Release date:May 28th (Sat.)

Price:S size/¥700 M size/¥800 L size/¥1,000(Inc. tax)

IngredientsMalt (made in Germany), Wheat, Oats, Hops, Yuzu, Himalayan Pink Salt

ABV:4.5%

Style : Gose

Brewery:Far Yeast Brewing Tokyo Brewery (Gotanda, Tokyo)

 

【About BIRA91】

Imagined in India, Bira 91 aspires to bring flavourful beers to the new world. As one of the fastest growing brands in the world, Bira 91 has built a diverse portfolio of award-winning beers, one for every occasion, and aims to drive the global shift in beer towards more colour and flavour.

Bira 91 is now enjoyed in over 500 towns and cities spread across 15 countries and brews its beers across four breweries in India. Bira 91 also offers branded merchandize across categories such as glassware, apparel, and gifts, to make every day a lot more playful. Adding to this collection now we have the collaboration with boAt as well!

Established in 2015, Bira 91 is driven by a dynamic team of over 550 passionate beer lovers.

https://www.bira91.com/

Due to popular demand, Far Yeast Peach Haze will continue to be brewed as a seasonal staple! “Far Yeast Peach Haze” made with Yamanashi peaches. Preparation begins for the June release!

 Craft beer brewery Far Yeast Brewing Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, Representative Director: Shiro Yamada) that has been introducing beers full of originality from Japan to the world, has decided to make Far Yeast Peach Haze, a seasonal product made with peaches from peach farmer Peach Senka Yamashita (Yamanashi City, Yamanashi Prefecture; Representative Director: Kazuhiro Yamashita) as a seasonal standard product every spring and summer on an ongoing basis. This year’s product is scheduled to go on sale on Wednesday, June 1, and we have started brewing.

■Peach Haze, a popular product that has sold out in pre-orders for the past two production runs, will become a regular product every year for the spring and summer seasons.

In July 2020, Far Yeast Brewing brewed “Peach Haze” for the first time, using “Peach Senka Yamashita” peaches.

The limited release was the first product of the “Yamanashi Support Project,” which cooperated with local producers. It was a countermeasure for the decline in tourists to Yamanashi Prefecture due to the COVID-19 impact. We used beer to communicate the attractions of Yamanashi, and the product became a hot topic among craft beer fans. Due to the product’s popularity, it was re-brewed last year in 2021 too. We introduced a new squeezer system that could process the juice thoroughly, improving the work efficiency, so we used approximately 1,000 kg of peaches to make twice as much as the previous year. However, it was still sold out very quickly by reservation as last year.

This year will be the third year since we started selling the product, and we have decided to sell it at an early stage and have begun brewing. From now on, “Peach Haze” will be positioned as a seasonal staple product for spring and summer, and by brewing it every year, we aim to attract and establish a hard-core fan base. We also plan to sell a new product made with freshly harvested peaches in August this year. We are strengthening our production system to meet the demands of our fans and are preparing to deliver our products to a large number of peach beer fans.

■Utilizing Peach Specialty Yamashita’s outside-of-specification peach. 

Peach Haze is a Hazy style fruit pale ale made with plenty of peaches from Peach Senka Yamashita, a peach farmer in Yamanashi City. Peach Haze utilizes outside-of-specification peaches that cannot be sold on the general market due to their poor appearance.

Peach Senka Yamashita focuses on sixth industrialization, processing outside-of-specification peaches into juice and gelato for sale. This time, 1,000 kg of peaches harvested in 2021 and frozen for processing will be used to make 6,000 L of “Peach Haze.”

The Peach Haze to be brewed this time is scheduled to go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, June 1, with orders for wholesalers starting on Monday, April 25. This year, Peach Haze will also be served at the Peach Farmer Cafe La Pesca, which is operated on the premises of Peach Senka Yamashita, from mid-June. We will continue to collaborate with agricultural producers and other businesses in Yamanashi Prefecture to bring you a variety of made-in-Yamanashi beers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Yamashita, Representative of Peach Senka Yamashita

 

 

【Product summary】

Product name: Far Yeast Peach Haze

Release date: Wednesday, June 1st, 2022

Suggested retail price: 646 yen (tax included)

Ingredients: Peaches (produced in Yamanashi, Japan), barley malt, oats, wheat malt, hops, sugar

ABV: 5.5%

Beer Style: Fruited Hazy Pale Ale

IBU: 20

Product Type: Happoshu (malt content of at least 25% but less than 50%)

Brewery: Far Yeast Brewing Headwaters Brewery (Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture)

Specifications: 350ml can, 15L keg