Yatsugatake Brewery launches a cold-brew coffee lager with CRU COFFEE
Yatsugatake Brewery has released a limited-edition cold-brew coffee lager made with lightly roasted Ethiopian beans supplied by CRU COFFEE. Built on the brewery's Kiyosato Lager base, the beer is offered on draft and in bottles.
Hop BroToday’s headline is Yatsugatake Brewery pulling a fun one with CRU COFFEE: a limited Water-Brewed Coffee Lager, Ethiopia Light Roast Ver.
MugiWait, a coffee lager? That sounds like breakfast and happy hour crashed into each other!
Hop BroIt starts from their regular Kiyosato Lager, then they cold-brew light-roast Ethiopian beans from CRU COFFEE for aroma, so the sip stays crisp and lager-like.
MugiOkay, but light-roast Ethiopian beans suddenly sounds like I’m being quizzed. What makes that special?
Hop BroWith that roast, you get gentle acidity and fruitiness more easily, without piling on harsh bitterness or astringency.
MugiSo it looks like beer, but your nose gets dragged into a fancy cafe aroma first?
Hop BroExactly, and Yatsugatake Brewery is known for Malt Centric brewing with pure Kiyosato water and imported German yeast, so the malt stays sturdy under all that aroma.
MugiHold on, malt-first brewing sounds like a special attack. What does it actually mean?
Hop BroIt means malt leads the flavor instead of disappearing into the background, so the coffee note can shine without the beer falling apart. No wonder it launched nationwide on February 7, 2025.
MugiThat is sneaky-good design. And they made it in 330ml bottles and draft too? That’s dangerous for my self-control.
Hop BroExactly. I want to try the draft at Moegi no Mura ROCK, then grab one to take home. That aroma-versus-sip gap sounds too good to leave alone.
Coffee aromatics in a lager
Yatsugatake Brewery has introduced a limited beer called Cold Brew Coffee Lager (Ethiopian Light Roast Ver.), built on its flagship Kiyosato Lager. The beer uses lightly roasted Ethiopian coffee beans supplied by CRU COFFEE, and the coffee character is extracted slowly by cold-brewing the flavor into the beer. According to the brewery's announcement, it went on nationwide sale on February 7, 2025.
What makes this beer interesting is the contrast between appearance and aroma. It keeps the crisp drinkability of a lager while adding a rich coffee presence on the nose. Bitterness and harshness are kept in check, while a gentle acidity and fruity character help the beer stay balanced and easy to drink.
Yatsugatake Brewery is based in Kiyosato, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, in the foothills of Mount Yatsugatake. The brewery highlights its use of clear local water, imported German yeast, and a malt-focused brewing philosophy it calls `Malt Centric`. It has been brewing since 1997, and its beers are closely tied to the character of the region.
The beer is available in 330ml bottles through the brewery's online shop, on draft at Moeginomura ROCK, and through other retail and wholesale channels. For drinkers who enjoy both coffee and beer, this collaboration shows how a familiar lager can be reshaped without losing its clean, mountain-grown identity.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday’s headline is Yatsugatake Brewery pulling a fun one with CRU COFFEE: a limited Water-Brewed Coffee Lager, Ethiopia Light Roast Ver.
MugiWait, a coffee lager? That sounds like breakfast and happy hour crashed into each other!
Hop BroIt starts from their regular Kiyosato Lager, then they cold-brew light-roast Ethiopian beans from CRU COFFEE for aroma, so the sip stays crisp and lager-like.
MugiOkay, but light-roast Ethiopian beans suddenly sounds like I’m being quizzed. What makes that special?
Hop BroWith that roast, you get gentle acidity and fruitiness more easily, without piling on harsh bitterness or astringency.
MugiSo it looks like beer, but your nose gets dragged into a fancy cafe aroma first?
Hop BroExactly, and Yatsugatake Brewery is known for Malt Centric brewing with pure Kiyosato water and imported German yeast, so the malt stays sturdy under all that aroma.
MugiHold on, malt-first brewing sounds like a special attack. What does it actually mean?
Hop BroIt means malt leads the flavor instead of disappearing into the background, so the coffee note can shine without the beer falling apart. No wonder it launched nationwide on February 7, 2025.
MugiThat is sneaky-good design. And they made it in 330ml bottles and draft too? That’s dangerous for my self-control.
Hop BroExactly. I want to try the draft at Moegi no Mura ROCK, then grab one to take home. That aroma-versus-sip gap sounds too good to leave alone.
