And Beer, a brewery based in Koshu, Yamanashi, has released a new beer called PICO PICO. It comes in at 3.9% ABV and is labeled as a fruit lager. The beer is inspired by the Mexican beer cocktail michelada, and the name "PICO" is said to mean "a little spicy" in Spanish.

Michelada is usually made by mixing beer with salt, chili powder, and lime. And Beer’s interpretation follows that idea in its own way: the brewery added four types of chili peppers, guajillo, ancho, pasilla, and mulato, along with red chili, black pepper, salt, and Hiroshima-grown lemon. Rather than pushing heat alone, the beer appears designed to balance spice, acidity, aroma, and umami.

The post also suggests pairing it with Mexican food and fried dishes. With its lower alcohol content and clear spice character, it should work well as a food beer. It was also created to mark the third anniversary of the brewery’s direct taproom, olla. The beer is being rolled out across And Beer’s taprooms and business-to-business keg sales, with availability described as limited until sold out.

And Beer brews in Katsunuma, Koshu City, in an area surrounded by vineyards and next to a winery. The brewery has built its identity around seasonal ingredients and food-driven beers, and PICO PICO fits neatly into that approach.