■ Communicating the appeal of hop cultivation in Hokuto City through beer
Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, is where full-scale hop cultivation first began in Japan. In the past, there were many growers here, but as major beer manufacturers began to use mainly imported hops, the number of growers has drastically decreased. Most farmers have now withdrawn. However, Kobayashi Hop Farmer Yoshitomo Kobayashi moved to Hokuto City and began cultivating hops in 2014 in an effort to continue the tradition of hop cultivation in Yamanashi.
"Far Yeast Farm to Brew" is a beer created to support the efforts of Kobayashi, who is also based in Yamanashi, and to share the appeal of hops grown in Hokuto City. It was first brewed in 2021 as part of the "Yamanashi Support Project" series, which teams up with producers and companies in the prefecture. Since then, it has been so well-received that it has been delivered every year at this time.
The product name "Farm to Brew" was inspired by the phrase "Farm to Table," which means "from the farm to the dining table." By consuming locally produced products, it is a sustainable initiative that reduces the environmental impact associated with transportation and warehouse management.
■A special beer only available at this time of year, made with fresh hops picked that morning and brewed on the same day.
In the US states of Washington and Oregon, where hop fields are located close to breweries, many breweries brew fresh hop beers that can only be enjoyed during the hop harvest season. Following this culture, fresh hop beers made with domestic hops are gaining attention in Japan. However, because there are few areas where hops are grown in Japan, frozen hops that are dried and frozen immediately after harvest are often used for fresh hop brewing.
A simple style that makes the most of the natural aroma of fresh hops from the fields
In order to deliver the natural, gentle aroma of fresh hops delivered straight from the fields, Far Yeast Brewing has adopted a classic, clear Kolsch style that is not normally brewed here. With the exception of a small amount of Columbus used for bittering, all hops used are Cascade, Sterling, and Comet, all harvested at Kobayashi Hop Farm in Hokuto City. This year, Comet, characterized by its refreshing citrus aroma, is used as the main hop, resulting in a clean, drinkable, and fruity flavor. This is a luxurious beer that can only be enjoyed at this time of year.
■Product Details Style: Fresh Hop Beer
Alcohol content: 5.0%
IBU: 23
Ingredients: Malt (Belgian and German), Hops, Wheat Hops: Columbus (American), Cascade, Sterling, Comet (Kobayashi Farm)
Item: Beer
■ 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.
Kobayashi Hop Farm: http://hokutohops.com/
