On August 20, Hikone Brewing introduced a new strawberry-based beer, Lovely Strawberry Ale. The brewery says it uses off-grade and surplus strawberries from Baba-chan Farm, a pick-your-own strawberry farm in Hikone’s Takamiya area, turning local fruit into a seasonal release with a clear community connection.

The beer shows a soft pink hue and leans into the sweet-tart character of strawberries. According to the brewery, no coloring or flavoring is added, so the fruit’s natural aroma and flavor come through. It is set at 4.5% ABV and 7 IBU, making bitterness very low and the drinking experience light and smooth.

Hikone Brewing operates at the foot of Mount Arako, brewing craft beer in step with the landscape and local community around Hikone, Shiga. The brewery has consistently highlighted regional ingredients in its beers, and this release continues that approach by putting Hikone-grown produce at the center. For beer fans, it is the kind of seasonal release that is worth following not just for the flavor, but for the story behind the glass.