Mountain River Brewery in Kugayama Releases Buntan Fruit Ale "Hand over"
Mountain River Brewery in Kugayama, Suginami Ward, Tokyo, introduced the fruit ale "Hand over," made with buntan. It has an ABV of 4.5%. With a refreshing citrus aroma and gentle acidity, it is an easy pairing for a wide range of foods, from spicy dishes and gyoza to salty yakitori.
Hop BroMountain River Brewery in Kugayama has released a fruit ale called "Hand over" made with buntan. It's a perfect beer for the changing seasons, and the aroma is really great.
MugiWait, buntan is that big citrus fruit, right? A buntan fruit ale already sounds so refreshing just from the name!
Hop BroExactly. It's a fruit ale (buntan), and the ABV is 4.5%. They use pesticide-free buntan from Nakazato Natural Farm in Nakatosa Town, Kochi Prefecture, and they steep not only the juice but also the peel to bring out the aroma.
MugiThe peel too!? So, um, is that one of those beers where the citrus aroma really bursts out? It feels a bit advanced!
Hop BroGood catch. The hops are kept restrained so they don't get in the way of buntan's gentle bitterness, which lets the soft acidity and freshness come forward.
MugiI get it. So instead of going in hard with hops, it's more like making buntan the star. I kind of love that—it feels like the beer world's gentle cheer squad!
Hop BroExactly. It's clean-drinking and easy to pair with spicy dishes, gyoza, and even salty yakitori. It's a beer that's very much designed with food pairing in mind.
MugiA fruit beer that goes with gyoza sounds amazing! So it's the kind of beer that resets your palate for crispy-skinned gyoza, right!
Hop BroThat's right. It also goes well with Italian food and Japanese cuisine, and it's a nice beer for when the weather starts to feel warmer. I think it would drink especially well with salty yakitori.
MugiNow I really want to drink it! And it's already in its fourth season, right? It really feels like a beer that stays close to the season!
Hop BroYeah, and with climate change affecting how ingredients grow, you can also see the brewery's approach of staying connected to its producers while brewing. Today, I just want to raise a glass to Hand over.
MugiThen I'll get the gyoza ready! Of course the beer should be chilled too, so let's go with a Kugayama mood tonight!
A fruit ale made with buntan from a brewery in Kugayama
Mountain River Brewery in Kugayama, Suginami Ward, Tokyo, has released the fruit ale "Hand over" to match the changing seasons. The style is fruit ale (buntan), and the ABV is 4.5%. It uses pesticide-free buntan from Nakazato Natural Farm in Nakatosa Town, Kochi Prefecture, and features not only the juice but also the peel steeped in the brew to bring out its aroma.
Designed to let the aroma of buntan shine through
In a post, the brewery mentioned that it secured about the same yield as last year and introduced the beer as one that brings out buntan's character clearly. The hops are kept restrained so the beer stays balanced and lets the gentle bitterness of buntan come through. The result is a clean-drinking beer with refreshing citrus character and soft acidity at the forefront.
An easy beer to pair with food
Mountain River Brewery is also promoting this beer for its strong compatibility with meals. It works as a palate cleanser with punchy dishes like spiced food and gyoza, and is also said to pair well with Italian food, salty yakitori, and Japanese cuisine. Its bright citrus notes make it a good option for a drink as the weather starts to feel warmer.
A seasonal release that follows a changing climate
The caption also touched on how climate change is affecting the growth of raw ingredients such as fruit, barley, and hops. Now in its fourth season, "Hand over" is more than just a seasonal new release; it also reflects Mountain River Brewery's approach of brewing beer while staying connected to its producers.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroMountain River Brewery in Kugayama has released a fruit ale called "Hand over" made with buntan. It's a perfect beer for the changing seasons, and the aroma is really great.
MugiWait, buntan is that big citrus fruit, right? A buntan fruit ale already sounds so refreshing just from the name!
Hop BroExactly. It's a fruit ale (buntan), and the ABV is 4.5%. They use pesticide-free buntan from Nakazato Natural Farm in Nakatosa Town, Kochi Prefecture, and they steep not only the juice but also the peel to bring out the aroma.
MugiThe peel too!? So, um, is that one of those beers where the citrus aroma really bursts out? It feels a bit advanced!
Hop BroGood catch. The hops are kept restrained so they don't get in the way of buntan's gentle bitterness, which lets the soft acidity and freshness come forward.
MugiI get it. So instead of going in hard with hops, it's more like making buntan the star. I kind of love that—it feels like the beer world's gentle cheer squad!
Hop BroExactly. It's clean-drinking and easy to pair with spicy dishes, gyoza, and even salty yakitori. It's a beer that's very much designed with food pairing in mind.
MugiA fruit beer that goes with gyoza sounds amazing! So it's the kind of beer that resets your palate for crispy-skinned gyoza, right!
Hop BroThat's right. It also goes well with Italian food and Japanese cuisine, and it's a nice beer for when the weather starts to feel warmer. I think it would drink especially well with salty yakitori.
MugiNow I really want to drink it! And it's already in its fourth season, right? It really feels like a beer that stays close to the season!
Hop BroYeah, and with climate change affecting how ingredients grow, you can also see the brewery's approach of staying connected to its producers while brewing. Today, I just want to raise a glass to Hand over.
MugiThen I'll get the gyoza ready! Of course the beer should be chilled too, so let's go with a Kugayama mood tonight!
