Nara Brewing Releases Belgian Wit "KUSANAGI" Made with Shizuoka-Grown Suruga Elegant
Nara Brewing has announced "KUSANAGI," a Belgian wit made with Suruga Elegant citrus from Shizuoka and coriander from Bulgaria. With an ABV of 5.5% and an IBU of 14, it will be available in kegs and 350ml cans. Sales on the business e-commerce site begin at 12:00 on June 1, and sales on the consumer e-commerce site begin at 12:00 on June 12.
Hop BroNara Brewing's new release, KUSANAGI, is a Belgian wit.
MugiWhoa, that name is cool! What kind of beer does Suruga Elegant pair with?
Hop BroIt's a Shizuoka-grown citrus that gives it a bright aroma. It follows the same line as the regular PHILHARMONY, but this time it really puts the spotlight on ingredients from Shizuoka.
MugiCoriander is the spice used in cooking, right? Does Bulgarian coriander really make that much of a difference?
Hop BroIt does. They brought in Kiyoshi Takoi and Katsuyuki Shiba too, and worked all the way down to differences by origin. In other words, the key is how the aroma comes through.
MugiResearchers and brewers together makes it sound like a science experiment! A dialogue-driven recipe is pretty hot.
Hop BroThe contents are also true to a wheat beer, with Pilsner Malt plus flaked wheat and flaked oats. At ABV 5.5 and IBU 14, the smoothness from the wheat feels great.
MugiWith an IBU of 14, it sounds easy to drink! But it's using Aramis hops, so it's strange how it has restrained bitterness and still feels present!
Hop BroThat's the clever part. The acidity of the juice and the bitterness of the peel overlap with the hop bitterness, giving it shape even though it's light. Business e-commerce sales start on June 1 at 12:00.
MugiSo consumer sales start on June 12 at 12:00. I can't wait! If I can drink it in 350ml cans and kegs, I want to toast to this right now!
The Nara-based brewery Nara Brewing will release the Belgian wit "KUSANAGI." Nara Brewing, a brewery based in Nara that produces beer across a wide range of styles, has also continued to create distinctive expressions in its flagship Belgian wit "PHILHARMONY," using Yamato Tachibana from Nara and lemongrass. This new release builds on that tradition, while placing Shizuoka ingredients and collaboration with specialists at the forefront.
Joining this brew were Kiyoshi Takoi, formerly a senior fellow in Sapporo Breweries' R&D division and long a leader in Japanese beer science, and Katsuyuki Shiba, who previously served as brewmaster at AOI BREWING and is now responsible for raw-material sales and technical advisory at BET Inc. Through discussions with these two experts, both deeply versed in beer research and on-the-ground brewing, the team focused on differences in aroma depending on the origin of the coriander and selected Bulgarian coriander.
The ingredients are Suruga Elegant citrus from Shizuoka, Bulgarian coriander, and Aramis hops. The malt bill is based on Pilsner Malt, combined with flaked wheat and flaked oats. The style is Belgian wit, with an ABV of 5.5% and an IBU of 14. While preserving the lightness characteristic of a wheat beer born in Belgium, the recipe is designed to carefully layer the individuality of each ingredient.
The tasting impression begins with the gentle banana aroma typical of Belgian wit yeast, followed by the bright citrus aroma of Suruga Elegant and an anise-like nuance from the Bulgarian coriander. The mouthfeel is smooth thanks to the wheat. The acidity of the juice and the bitterness of the peel overlap with the hop bitterness, giving the beer a defined shape within its overall lightness.
It will be sold in kegs and 350ml cans. Business e-commerce sales begin at 12:00 on June 1, and consumer e-commerce sales begin at 12:00 on June 12. This is a collaboration beer that makes full use of ingredient pairings and expert knowledge, and is one to watch as a distinctly Nara Brewing creation.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroNara Brewing's new release, KUSANAGI, is a Belgian wit.
MugiWhoa, that name is cool! What kind of beer does Suruga Elegant pair with?
Hop BroIt's a Shizuoka-grown citrus that gives it a bright aroma. It follows the same line as the regular PHILHARMONY, but this time it really puts the spotlight on ingredients from Shizuoka.
MugiCoriander is the spice used in cooking, right? Does Bulgarian coriander really make that much of a difference?
Hop BroIt does. They brought in Kiyoshi Takoi and Katsuyuki Shiba too, and worked all the way down to differences by origin. In other words, the key is how the aroma comes through.
MugiResearchers and brewers together makes it sound like a science experiment! A dialogue-driven recipe is pretty hot.
Hop BroThe contents are also true to a wheat beer, with Pilsner Malt plus flaked wheat and flaked oats. At ABV 5.5 and IBU 14, the smoothness from the wheat feels great.
MugiWith an IBU of 14, it sounds easy to drink! But it's using Aramis hops, so it's strange how it has restrained bitterness and still feels present!
Hop BroThat's the clever part. The acidity of the juice and the bitterness of the peel overlap with the hop bitterness, giving it shape even though it's light. Business e-commerce sales start on June 1 at 12:00.
MugiSo consumer sales start on June 12 at 12:00. I can't wait! If I can drink it in 350ml cans and kegs, I want to toast to this right now!
