The craft brewery Nara Brewery, based in Nara, published a feature article, "We’re releasing another 'UNDERWATER'" and revealed the new entry in the series, "UNDERWATER: LUMINOUS".

The original "UNDERWATER" is a beer brewed with elements tied to Yucho Shuzo, the brewery known for the sake "Kaze no Mori" - namely, its yeast and brewing water. Its defining feature is a design centered on the richness of ginjo-style aroma, and a 2026 edition is already being rolled out.

What is especially interesting in this post is that Nara Brewery has been working for several years on "creating a different flavor angle using the same ingredients." The inspiration it cites is a sake expression marked by sweetness and acidity. In particular, it says it was influenced by the sweet-tart character of "Mizuhana," brewed at Yucho Shuzo’s dedicated sake brewery "Kyohogura," and especially "Mizuhana 1355."

Because beer and sake differ greatly in their production methods, a simple substitution is not possible. That is why Nara Brewery continued experimenting until it could shape the Kaze no Mori-derived context into a flavor that works as beer. The result presented as that answer is the positioning of "UNDERWATER: LUMINOUS."

Nara Brewery is based in Nara City and has consistently explored local character and cross-disciplinary collaboration. This announcement is another example of the brewery’s approach: translating a theme rooted in Nara’s sake culture into the language of craft beer. At the time of the post, specific tasting details were said to be scheduled for the next release post, so it will be worth waiting for more information on how the balance of aroma, acidity, and sweetness ultimately lands.