Fujizakura Heights Beer is now selling the limited-edition "Sakura Bock" timed to the cherry blossom season
Fujizakura Heights Beer in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, is now selling its seasonal limited-edition beer, "Sakura Bock," brewed each year to coincide with cherry blossom season. Brewed in December and aged for more than three months, this 8% doppelbock brings out the malt's richness and alcohol presence.
Hop BroToday, I'm introducing a limited-edition beer, "Sakura Bock," from Fujizakura Heights Beer in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, timed to the cherry blossom season.
MugiWait, Sakura Bock already sounds spring-like, but bock suddenly sounds pretty heavy, doesn't it?
Hop BroThat's what makes it interesting. The style is the German doppelbock, and because it uses about twice as much malt as a regular beer, it has a fuller, richer taste.
MugiTwice as much? What is that even like? Does adding more malt change the body that much?
Hop BroYes. With more malt, the grain sweetness and richness really come through, and this one is designed so you can clearly feel its 8% alcohol presence too.
Mugi8%? If I drank that while looking at the cherry blossoms, I might get hit by something pretty serious!
Hop BroAnd since it's brewed in December and aged for more than three months, the work done in the cold season comes through in the flavor. It has the weightiness of long aging.
MugiWow! And the serving suggestion says not to chill it too much, with around 8°C being best. That feels like a beer for adults!
Hop BroExactly. As the temperature rises, the malt aroma and sweetness open up, so it's perfect for spring air. The balance of sweetness and bitterness is good too.
MugiJust hearing about it makes me want to drink it! If I find it on Rakuten Ichiba, I'm having a glass while looking at the cherry blossoms!
Hop BroThat's the plan. This is a seasonal offering that feels very much like Fujizakura Heights Beer, and I want to savor it slowly while staying in the spring mood.
Fujizakura Heights Beer is a brewery based in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, that produces craft beer. The "Sakura Bock" now on sale is a seasonal product brewed each year to match the cherry blossom season, and is introduced as a beer that arrives in step with the spring air.
What sets this beer apart is that it is brewed in the cold month of December and then matured for more than three months. It is a premium beer whose long aging brings out the alcohol presence and the umami of the malt, and it falls into the German traditional dark, full-bodied beer style known as a doppelbock. By using about twice as much malt as a standard beer, it achieves a firm body and a rich, substantial flavor. Its alcohol content is a relatively high 8%, and it is finished with attention to the balance of sweetness, bitterness, and aroma.
As a guide to drinking it, the key is not to chill it too much. The recommended serving temperature is around 8°C, and as the temperature rises slightly, the malt-derived aroma and sweetness become easier to notice. It is the kind of beer you'd want to enjoy at a relaxed pace during cherry blossom season.
Sales are being announced on Rakuten Ichiba. Combining spring-only brightness with the weightiness of long aging, "Sakura Bock" is a product worth noting as a seasonal offering characteristic of Fujizakura Heights Beer.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday, I'm introducing a limited-edition beer, "Sakura Bock," from Fujizakura Heights Beer in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, timed to the cherry blossom season.
MugiWait, Sakura Bock already sounds spring-like, but bock suddenly sounds pretty heavy, doesn't it?
Hop BroThat's what makes it interesting. The style is the German doppelbock, and because it uses about twice as much malt as a regular beer, it has a fuller, richer taste.
MugiTwice as much? What is that even like? Does adding more malt change the body that much?
Hop BroYes. With more malt, the grain sweetness and richness really come through, and this one is designed so you can clearly feel its 8% alcohol presence too.
Mugi8%? If I drank that while looking at the cherry blossoms, I might get hit by something pretty serious!
Hop BroAnd since it's brewed in December and aged for more than three months, the work done in the cold season comes through in the flavor. It has the weightiness of long aging.
MugiWow! And the serving suggestion says not to chill it too much, with around 8°C being best. That feels like a beer for adults!
Hop BroExactly. As the temperature rises, the malt aroma and sweetness open up, so it's perfect for spring air. The balance of sweetness and bitterness is good too.
MugiJust hearing about it makes me want to drink it! If I find it on Rakuten Ichiba, I'm having a glass while looking at the cherry blossoms!
Hop BroThat's the plan. This is a seasonal offering that feels very much like Fujizakura Heights Beer, and I want to savor it slowly while staying in the spring mood.
