Sunao Brewery unveils new "272" Wine Ale, a collaboration with Yokote-grown grapes
Sunao Brewery in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, announced its new craft beer "272" on Instagram on February 18, 2026. A collaboration with odashima_grape, which grows grapes in the same city of Yokote, it is a Wine Ale made with wine yeast. In addition to being served at the shop, online sales are also being promoted.
Hop BroToday’s spotlight is Sunao Brewery’s new release from Akita’s Yokote: its name is "272"! It’s a Wine Ale born from a collaboration with odashima_grape.
MugiWhoa! A name made of just numbers is super intriguing! And wait, what even is a wine ale?
Hop BroIt’s 5.5% ABV, and the hops are Centennial and Pacifica. They used wine yeast and built the beer so the grape character layers over the brew.
MugiHold on, just hearing "wine yeast" makes this feel like a science class! Do I have to take a test before drinking it?!
Hop BroNo test! In simple terms, it’s an image of putting the focus of fermentation a bit more on the wine side to make the aroma more vivid. And this time, the key point is that they used Shine Muscat not just the flesh, but the skins too.
MugiEven the skins?! Wow! So what does that do to the taste?
Hop BroThat’s where the tannin character comes in. It adds an astringent nuance, so instead of just a sweet fruit beer, it leans toward something crisp and more grown-up.
MugiWhat! I thought it would be grape-juice-like, but having that astringency too is so stylish!
Hop BroAnd in the post they also recommend pairing it with "sake lees cream cheese," which sounds like a seriously good combo. You can drink it at the sunao brewery store, and you can buy it online too.
MugiThat’s perfect! Have one at the shop, then order more 272 online on the way home! I want to drink it right now!
A new release born from local collaboration in Yokote
Sunao Brewery (Yokote City, Akita Prefecture) unveiled its new "272" in an Instagram post at 21:24 on February 18, 2026. The style is Wine Ale, the ABV is 5.5%, and the hops are Centennial / Pacifica. According to the brewery’s post, it is a collaboration with odashima_grape, a grape grower in Yokote City, and was made possible through connections within the local community.
The flavor highlight is “not just the fruit, but the skins”
The description says this batch uses wine yeast. In addition, because Shine Muscat grapes are soaked not only with the flesh but also with the skins, the beer is designed to let you taste even the astringency that comes from the grapes. Rather than leaning too heavily into a bright, floral aroma, the key point seems to be how much fruitiness and tannin character were brought into the beer. The post also mentions how well it pairs with the shop’s recommended snack, “sake lees cream cheese.”
Sunao Brewery’s background and sales information
On its official website, Sunao Brewery says it is based in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, and makes beer with a focus on nature and ingredients. In the post, "272" is announced for serving at the store (sunao brewery) and sale through the online shop. At the shop, canned beer and growler-related items are also available. It’s a setup that lets you enjoy locally sourced Yokote ingredients both on tap and to go.
- Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DU5i-hckrp_/
- Official brewery website: https://sunaobrewery.com/
- Online shop: https://sunao-brewery.square.site
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday’s spotlight is Sunao Brewery’s new release from Akita’s Yokote: its name is "272"! It’s a Wine Ale born from a collaboration with odashima_grape.
MugiWhoa! A name made of just numbers is super intriguing! And wait, what even is a wine ale?
Hop BroIt’s 5.5% ABV, and the hops are Centennial and Pacifica. They used wine yeast and built the beer so the grape character layers over the brew.
MugiHold on, just hearing "wine yeast" makes this feel like a science class! Do I have to take a test before drinking it?!
Hop BroNo test! In simple terms, it’s an image of putting the focus of fermentation a bit more on the wine side to make the aroma more vivid. And this time, the key point is that they used Shine Muscat not just the flesh, but the skins too.
MugiEven the skins?! Wow! So what does that do to the taste?
Hop BroThat’s where the tannin character comes in. It adds an astringent nuance, so instead of just a sweet fruit beer, it leans toward something crisp and more grown-up.
MugiWhat! I thought it would be grape-juice-like, but having that astringency too is so stylish!
Hop BroAnd in the post they also recommend pairing it with "sake lees cream cheese," which sounds like a seriously good combo. You can drink it at the sunao brewery store, and you can buy it online too.
MugiThat’s perfect! Have one at the shop, then order more 272 online on the way home! I want to drink it right now!
