Better life with upcycle, long-aged beer "Ume Maibock" made with plums used for umeshu
Better life with upcycle, based in Ebina City, Kanagawa, is selling "Ume Maibock," made with brandy-soaked plums that were used to make umeshu at Kanai Shuzo in Hadano. Built on the German maibock enjoyed in May, this beer layers the aroma of plum with the sweetness of malt.
Hop BroToday, Better life with upcycle's Ume Maibock is interesting. Using brandy-soaked plums that were used for making umeshu is a pretty daring idea.
MugiWhat! They put plums from umeshu into beer? Brandy-soaked plums sound delicious just by themselves!
Hop BroAnd the style is Maibock w/ Ume. Maibock is a German beer enjoyed in May, and it's often brewed in winter and left to mature.
MugiMaibock? May? So a winter-brewed May beer tastes good even on the calendar?
Hop BroExactly. "Mai" means May, and it's designed to be drunk during the shift from spring to early summer. That's why this long-aged brew has a real depth that comes from time.
MugiOh, I want to know what it tastes like! It said sweet aroma - what kind of flavor does that become?
Hop BroThe sweet aroma of plums soaked in the tank is layered with Hallertau Blanc from the dry hop. It's herbal and clean, so it supports the plum's character without getting in the way.
MugiHallertau Blanc sounds like a spell all of a sudden! But I get it now - it supports the plum with a herbal aroma. That's cool...!
Hop BroAnd it's 8.0% ABV, IBU 19, 350 ml, and 627 yen. It sounds substantial, but the malt sweetness and the outline of the plum probably make it easy to keep drinking.
MugiBetter life with upcycle in Ebina also has a bakery background, right? Sustainable living isn't just a slogan - they're showing it through beer, which is impressive!
Hop BroThat's exactly what's appealing. This idea of giving a new expression to plums that have already served their original purpose - I like how it turns the story of the ingredients into a single glass.
MugiJust hearing about it makes me want to drink it already! Tonight, I want to toast while imagining the layering of plum and malt!
Maibock with plum at the center
Better life with upcycle is selling "Ume Maibock". It costs 627 yen (tax included) and comes in 350 ml cans. The style is Maibock w/ Ume, with ABV 8.0%, SRM 5, and IBU 19. According to the product page, it is a long-aged beer made with brandy-soaked plums that were used at Kanai Shuzo in Hadano for making umeshu.
At the core of this beer is the seasonal character of the maibock style. The description explains that "Mai" means May, and presents it as a German beer style that is brewed in winter, laid down to mature, and enjoyed in May. The idea of savoring a slowly matured liquid as the season moves from spring into early summer clearly defines the personality of this product.
The flavor design is also straightforward. The sweet aroma brought by the plums soaked in the tank is matched with the clean, herbal scent of Hallertau Blanc used for dry hopping, balancing the beer in the first impression. It is said to have a substantial mouthfeel, while the richly used malt sweetness and plum flavor spread firmly across the palate. The appeal lies in how it brings out the outline of the fruit while still preserving the beer's body.
Better life with upcycle is a brewery based in Ebina City, Kanagawa, that continues making beer while coming from a bakery background. On its official website, it emphasizes giving new value to ingredients and stories born in the world of breadmaking, and it presents the stance of "a sustainable toast in everyday life." Rather than simply reusing by-products, it is a brewery that builds each glass by incorporating the background of the ingredients as well.
This time's "Ume Maibock" also sits along that same line. By reconnecting plums that were used in liquor production to a long-aged beer, it gives the fruit a new expression even after its original role has ended. The composition, with malt body, the sweet-and-tart impression of plum, and herbal hop aroma layered together, also seems easy to pair with meals. Since it is sold as a canned product that requires refrigerated storage, it should be enjoyed while minimizing temperature changes.
Product Overview
- Style: Maibock w/ Ume
- ABV: 8.0%
- IBU: 19
- Volume: 350 ml
- Price: 627 yen (tax included)
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday, Better life with upcycle's Ume Maibock is interesting. Using brandy-soaked plums that were used for making umeshu is a pretty daring idea.
MugiWhat! They put plums from umeshu into beer? Brandy-soaked plums sound delicious just by themselves!
Hop BroAnd the style is Maibock w/ Ume. Maibock is a German beer enjoyed in May, and it's often brewed in winter and left to mature.
MugiMaibock? May? So a winter-brewed May beer tastes good even on the calendar?
Hop BroExactly. "Mai" means May, and it's designed to be drunk during the shift from spring to early summer. That's why this long-aged brew has a real depth that comes from time.
MugiOh, I want to know what it tastes like! It said sweet aroma - what kind of flavor does that become?
Hop BroThe sweet aroma of plums soaked in the tank is layered with Hallertau Blanc from the dry hop. It's herbal and clean, so it supports the plum's character without getting in the way.
MugiHallertau Blanc sounds like a spell all of a sudden! But I get it now - it supports the plum with a herbal aroma. That's cool...!
Hop BroAnd it's 8.0% ABV, IBU 19, 350 ml, and 627 yen. It sounds substantial, but the malt sweetness and the outline of the plum probably make it easy to keep drinking.
MugiBetter life with upcycle in Ebina also has a bakery background, right? Sustainable living isn't just a slogan - they're showing it through beer, which is impressive!
Hop BroThat's exactly what's appealing. This idea of giving a new expression to plums that have already served their original purpose - I like how it turns the story of the ingredients into a single glass.
MugiJust hearing about it makes me want to drink it already! Tonight, I want to toast while imagining the layering of plum and malt!
