Nagano Minamikaze Beer starts brewing plum ale, plans late-July festival appearance
Nagano Minamikaze Beer in Nagano City has begun brewing an ale made with plums from Shinshu Shinmachi. This year’s batch uses plum extract and a revised recipe, with completion planned before Obon. The brewery also plans to appear at a beer event in Chikuma from July 31 to August 2.
Hop BroI've got a hot summer story today: Nagano Minamikaze Beer has started brewing an ale with ume from Shinshu Shinmachi.
MugiWait, an ume ale? Does that taste like plum wine wearing a beer disguise? My brain is already at a summer festival!
Hop BroThat is the fun part. The base is an ale-style beer, so it is less sweet than plum wine and more about layering in ume aroma and tartness.
MugiOhhh! But it says ume extract this year, right? How is that different from throwing the actual fruit in?
Hop BroGood question. This is basically aroma tuning: keeping the ume character clear while making it easier to avoid rough off-notes. In plain terms, it helps the brewer land the flavor they want.
MugiWhat even is beer tuning? That sounds like somebody is taking a wrench to a pint. So it is like grabbing the best parts of the ume?
Hop BroExactly. They also tweaked the recipe a bit, and they are aiming for completion before Obon. That timing is almost unfair in peak summer.
MugiThat is dangerous knowledge! If the brewpub is walkable from Nagano Station, that means fresh-poured timing is absolutely on the table, right?
Hop BroRight. Nagano Minamikaze Beer started in 2010, got its brewing license in 2022, and one of its signatures is using Shinshu-grown produce in both beer and food.
MugiSo the history is tasty too? And from July 31 to August 2, they are also pouring at Shiratori-en for the Shinshu Kitchen Car Night Beer Fest, right?
Hop BroYep, they are scheduled for Shiratori-en in Togura, Chikuma. A fresh ume ale in the works plus a summer festival is basically seasonal peak mode.
MugiI am done for. Just imagining that plum-scented pour makes me want a glass right now. Festival or brewpub, I need this summer beer.
Nagano Minamikaze Beer, a brewpub in Nagano City, has started brewing an ale made with plums from Shinshu Shinmachi. In the post, the brewery says this year’s batch uses plum extract and a slightly revised recipe, with completion planned before Obon. The beer fits the brewery’s focus on local ingredients and seasonal brewing.
The business began in 2010 as a standing bar, moved within Nagano City over the years, and opened at its current location in Shindencho in December 2021. It obtained its brewing license in April 2022 and has since positioned itself as a brewpub serving beer alongside dishes built around Shinshu produce. Being within walking distance of Nagano Station also makes it easy to visit for freshly brewed beer.
The post also announces an appearance at the Shinshu Kitchen Car Night Beer Fest at Shiratori-en in Togura, Chikuma, from July 31 to August 2. For the brewery, the plum ale project and the summer event schedule are moving forward at the same time.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroI've got a hot summer story today: Nagano Minamikaze Beer has started brewing an ale with ume from Shinshu Shinmachi.
MugiWait, an ume ale? Does that taste like plum wine wearing a beer disguise? My brain is already at a summer festival!
Hop BroThat is the fun part. The base is an ale-style beer, so it is less sweet than plum wine and more about layering in ume aroma and tartness.
MugiOhhh! But it says ume extract this year, right? How is that different from throwing the actual fruit in?
Hop BroGood question. This is basically aroma tuning: keeping the ume character clear while making it easier to avoid rough off-notes. In plain terms, it helps the brewer land the flavor they want.
MugiWhat even is beer tuning? That sounds like somebody is taking a wrench to a pint. So it is like grabbing the best parts of the ume?
Hop BroExactly. They also tweaked the recipe a bit, and they are aiming for completion before Obon. That timing is almost unfair in peak summer.
MugiThat is dangerous knowledge! If the brewpub is walkable from Nagano Station, that means fresh-poured timing is absolutely on the table, right?
Hop BroRight. Nagano Minamikaze Beer started in 2010, got its brewing license in 2022, and one of its signatures is using Shinshu-grown produce in both beer and food.
MugiSo the history is tasty too? And from July 31 to August 2, they are also pouring at Shiratori-en for the Shinshu Kitchen Car Night Beer Fest, right?
Hop BroYep, they are scheduled for Shiratori-en in Togura, Chikuma. A fresh ume ale in the works plus a summer festival is basically seasonal peak mode.
MugiI am done for. Just imagining that plum-scented pour makes me want a glass right now. Festival or brewpub, I need this summer beer.
