Zakkoku Koubou Releases New Foeder-Aged Beers in Bottles and Cans
Zakkoku Koubou Microbrewery in Ogawa, Saitama, has released new special beers aged in a large wooden foeder tank. The beers are available in both large bottles and cans, offering drinkers a choice between extended maturation and a more casual format.
Hop BroOgawa, Saitama’s Bakuzakkoku Kobo Microbrewery has released new long-aged foeder beers in both large bottles and cans. That is seriously tempting.
MugiWhat? Long-aged beer in a can too? What is a foeder? It sounds like a very powerful monster!
Hop BroA foeder is a large wooden tank. Bakuzakkoku Kobo has used an American oak foeder since 2020.
MugiSo how is that different from a stainless-steel tank? Does the beer turn into a lumberjack?
Hop BroMultiple resident yeasts, oak-derived tannins, and gentle natural acidity layer together for a deep, complex flavor. No lumberjack flavor, thankfully!
MugiTannins? A wine word just crashed the beer party! Are they related to bitter powder?
Hop BroSimply put, they are compounds from wood and fruit skins that add a light drying feel. They give the beer a flavorful backbone alongside its acidity and aroma.
MugiWow! The lineup is called the “NaRa” series, named after nara, the Japanese word for oak. Even the name smells woody!
Hop BroThe 750ml bottle suits meals or celebrations and can develop through bottle aging over time when stored properly. The 350ml can is packed at its peak, so enjoy it fresh.
MugiBig bottle for a special day, can for tonight’s solo treat! With local grains and hops, you can taste their farm-to-beer philosophy too.
Hop BroIt is a meeting of Ogawa ingredients and wood-aged craft. I want to explore those layers of acidity, mature aroma, and fruitiness—chill one immediately!
MugiI’ll make my foeder debut with a can, then open a big bottle with friends. Let’s drink NaRa!
Zakkoku Koubou Microbrewery has released a new range of long-aged special beers matured in a large wooden tank known as a foeder. The beers are available in 750ml bottles as well as 350ml cans.
The brewery introduced an American oak foeder in 2020. Yeasts living in the tank, oak-derived tannins and naturally developed acidity contribute layers of flavor that cannot be created in the same way in stainless-steel tanks. Zakkoku Koubou names its foeder-aged beers the “NaRa” series, a reference to the Japanese name for oak.
The bottled versions are designed for slow enjoyment with a meal or on a special occasion. The cans offer a more accessible alternative, fitting easily in a refrigerator and making it easier for one person to enjoy a foeder-aged beer. For drinkers interested in barrel-aged and sour beer but hesitant to open a large bottle, the canned format provides a convenient entry point.
Foeder maturation brings together gentle acidity, oak character and fermentation-derived complexity over time. The large bottles can continue to evolve when stored under stable, cool conditions. The canned products, however, are packaged after reaching a drinkable stage and are best enjoyed without extended storage.
Founded in 2003, Zakkoku Koubou is located near Ogawa Station in Saitama. The brewery follows a “beer from the field” philosophy, using homegrown grains and hops as well as barley and fruit from local organic farmers. Spent grain from brewing is also returned to the fields as fertilizer, creating a cycle between agriculture and brewing.
These new releases reflect the brewery’s focus on local ingredients, patient maturation and experimental brewing. They should appeal both to experienced fans of sour and aged beer and to those looking to explore foeder-aged beer for the first time.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroOgawa, Saitama’s Bakuzakkoku Kobo Microbrewery has released new long-aged foeder beers in both large bottles and cans. That is seriously tempting.
MugiWhat? Long-aged beer in a can too? What is a foeder? It sounds like a very powerful monster!
Hop BroA foeder is a large wooden tank. Bakuzakkoku Kobo has used an American oak foeder since 2020.
MugiSo how is that different from a stainless-steel tank? Does the beer turn into a lumberjack?
Hop BroMultiple resident yeasts, oak-derived tannins, and gentle natural acidity layer together for a deep, complex flavor. No lumberjack flavor, thankfully!
MugiTannins? A wine word just crashed the beer party! Are they related to bitter powder?
Hop BroSimply put, they are compounds from wood and fruit skins that add a light drying feel. They give the beer a flavorful backbone alongside its acidity and aroma.
MugiWow! The lineup is called the “NaRa” series, named after nara, the Japanese word for oak. Even the name smells woody!
Hop BroThe 750ml bottle suits meals or celebrations and can develop through bottle aging over time when stored properly. The 350ml can is packed at its peak, so enjoy it fresh.
MugiBig bottle for a special day, can for tonight’s solo treat! With local grains and hops, you can taste their farm-to-beer philosophy too.
Hop BroIt is a meeting of Ogawa ingredients and wood-aged craft. I want to explore those layers of acidity, mature aroma, and fruitiness—chill one immediately!
MugiI’ll make my foeder debut with a can, then open a big bottle with friends. Let’s drink NaRa!
