Omibeer introduces Sansho Ale made with Shiga-grown Budo Sansho
Omibeer has introduced Sansho Ale, its latest Beer of the Month. Brewed with Budo Sansho from Otsu, Shiga, the pale ale comes in at 5.5% ABV and 22 IBU, with citrus-like aroma, gentle pepper notes, and a clean finish.
Hop BroShiga has a fun one this time. Omi Bakushu just introduced this month’s beer, Sansho Ale, and it really caught my attention.
MugiWait, what! They put sansho in beer? The moment I heard grape sansho pepper, my brain went straight to yakitori.
Hop BroThat’s the interesting part. It’s a pale ale made with local Otsu ingredients, with citrusy aroma and a gentle peppery touch.
MugiWhoa! But IBU 22 sounds like a test score. Is that bitter? Not bitter? Tiny bit bitter?
Hop BroIBU is basically a bitterness scale, and a soft 22 IBU means you don’t need to brace yourself. It’s crisp, not aggressive.
MugiOkay, got it! So with ABV 5.5%, it sounds great with food, right? Like, dinner-friendly beer?
Hop BroExactly. The alcohol stays light, and the sansho doesn’t take over. It’s used to shape the aroma instead of shouting for attention.
MugiWhat does that even mean? Shape the aroma sounds like you’re doing arts and crafts with a smell.
Hop BroBasically, the sansho tightens up the citrus notes and turns them into easy-drinking balance. The finish stays clean too.
MugiThat sounds amazing! If I spot Omi Bakushu’s beer of the month, I’m ordering it immediately, preferably with snacks.
Hop BroUsing local ingredients in a rotating release really feels like Omi Bakushu. I want a pint just to taste that sense of Otsu in the glass.
MugiIt’s settled then. I need this citrusy sansho ale right now so I can yell, ‘Sansho can be this refreshing?!’
Omibeer’s Instagram post highlights Sansho Ale, a Beer of the Month brewed with Budo Sansho pepper from Otsu, Shiga. The beer is listed as a pale ale with 5.5% ABV and 22 IBU, and the brewery positions it as a fresh, food-friendly release.
Key details
- Ingredient: Budo Sansho pepper from Otsu, Shiga
- Style: Pale ale
- Numbers: 5.5% ABV, 22 IBU
- Profile: Bright citrus-like aroma, mild peppery lift, crisp bitterness
The English description says the beer is brewed with locally grown Budo Sansho, giving it a lively citrus character and a gentle pepper tingle balanced by a clean, crisp bitterness. Rather than pushing the spice aggressively, the beer appears designed to let the aroma and finish carry the character of the ingredient.
Omibeer is a craft brewery in Otsu, Shiga, and its official website describes the brewery as a small nanobrewery that releases a limited "Beer of the Month" series each month. That ongoing format gives the brewery room to work with seasonal and local ingredients. Sansho Ale fits that approach well: it is a clear example of a local ingredient being translated into a straightforward, approachable beer.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroShiga has a fun one this time. Omi Bakushu just introduced this month’s beer, Sansho Ale, and it really caught my attention.
MugiWait, what! They put sansho in beer? The moment I heard grape sansho pepper, my brain went straight to yakitori.
Hop BroThat’s the interesting part. It’s a pale ale made with local Otsu ingredients, with citrusy aroma and a gentle peppery touch.
MugiWhoa! But IBU 22 sounds like a test score. Is that bitter? Not bitter? Tiny bit bitter?
Hop BroIBU is basically a bitterness scale, and a soft 22 IBU means you don’t need to brace yourself. It’s crisp, not aggressive.
MugiOkay, got it! So with ABV 5.5%, it sounds great with food, right? Like, dinner-friendly beer?
Hop BroExactly. The alcohol stays light, and the sansho doesn’t take over. It’s used to shape the aroma instead of shouting for attention.
MugiWhat does that even mean? Shape the aroma sounds like you’re doing arts and crafts with a smell.
Hop BroBasically, the sansho tightens up the citrus notes and turns them into easy-drinking balance. The finish stays clean too.
MugiThat sounds amazing! If I spot Omi Bakushu’s beer of the month, I’m ordering it immediately, preferably with snacks.
Hop BroUsing local ingredients in a rotating release really feels like Omi Bakushu. I want a pint just to taste that sense of Otsu in the glass.
MugiIt’s settled then. I need this citrusy sansho ale right now so I can yell, ‘Sansho can be this refreshing?!’
