Big Hand Bros. Releases New "Amethyst," a 12% Barleywine
Big Hand Bros. Brewery in Nishijin, Kyoto, released its new "Amethyst" on Beer Note on December 24, 2025. A Barleywine with ALC 12.0% and IBU 40, it highlights a rich depth reminiscent of black candy, a viscous mouthfeel, and flavor changes brought on by aging.
Hop BroBig Hand Bros. Brewery in Nishijin, Kyoto, has released a new beer called "Amethyst." It's a Barleywine!
MugiHuh! Amethyst is the name of a gemstone, right!? Just the name already sounds powerful!
Hop BroExactly, it's one beer in their mineral-name series. And with ALC 12.0% and IBU 40, it's definitely built with some serious backbone.
MugiWhat is that, some kind of spiciness level!?
Hop BroRoughly speaking, it's a measure of bitterness. But Amethyst isn't just bitter - the star is its rich black-candy-like depth and viscous mouthfeel.
MugiWhoa, a black-candy beer!? That sounds like a "drinkable dessert" to me!
Hop BroIt's also fragrant and mellow, with sweetness and umami layering together. It's the kind of beer you sip slowly rather than gulp down.
MugiSo it's a bottle for a special occasion! Perfect for Christmas or an anniversary!
Hop BroExactly. One of the charms is how its character changes as it ages over time. As the temperature rises, the way the aroma opens up changes too, so there's plenty to study.
MugiThe way you say "study" makes you sound like a researcher! Hop-bro, the moment you hold beer, you suddenly turn the place into a lab!
Hop BroBrewed in the basement of a retro building in Nishijin, this is a beer that shows the brewery's free-spirited style, grounded in the context of British ales. It definitely makes you want to drink it.
MugiFor sure! Totally! Let's open an Amethyst right now and have our own "aging check session" together!
Overview of the New Release
Big Hand Bros. Brewery featured "Amethyst" on its official Beer Note. The style is Barleywine, and the specs are ALC 12.0% / IBU 40. The description emphasizes a fragrant, mellow, viscous texture, along with a rich black-candy-like character and layers of complex sweetness and umami. It also presents the way the flavor profile changes as it matures over time as part of this beer's appeal.
Flavor Highlights
Although it has the high-alcohol structure typical of a Barleywine, the design clearly leans not simply toward strength, but toward a beer meant to be sipped slowly. The official description also positions it as a bottle for special occasions, making it a release worth studying for beer lovers who want to enjoy differences in temperature shifts and nuances brought out by aging.
Brewery Context
The brewery is based in a retro-building basement in Nishijin, Kyoto, and develops a wide range of styles while grounding its work in British ale traditions. The head brewer has brewing experience in the UK and follows a policy of not locking into a single style, instead pursuing the beers he wants to make. Its series named after minerals is also part of the brand's identity, and "Amethyst" can be seen as a beer that continues that context.
References
- Amethyst (Beer Note)
- Bighand Bros. Brewery (Official)
- Bighand Bros. Beer (Official Site)
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroBig Hand Bros. Brewery in Nishijin, Kyoto, has released a new beer called "Amethyst." It's a Barleywine!
MugiHuh! Amethyst is the name of a gemstone, right!? Just the name already sounds powerful!
Hop BroExactly, it's one beer in their mineral-name series. And with ALC 12.0% and IBU 40, it's definitely built with some serious backbone.
MugiWhat is that, some kind of spiciness level!?
Hop BroRoughly speaking, it's a measure of bitterness. But Amethyst isn't just bitter - the star is its rich black-candy-like depth and viscous mouthfeel.
MugiWhoa, a black-candy beer!? That sounds like a "drinkable dessert" to me!
Hop BroIt's also fragrant and mellow, with sweetness and umami layering together. It's the kind of beer you sip slowly rather than gulp down.
MugiSo it's a bottle for a special occasion! Perfect for Christmas or an anniversary!
Hop BroExactly. One of the charms is how its character changes as it ages over time. As the temperature rises, the way the aroma opens up changes too, so there's plenty to study.
MugiThe way you say "study" makes you sound like a researcher! Hop-bro, the moment you hold beer, you suddenly turn the place into a lab!
Hop BroBrewed in the basement of a retro building in Nishijin, this is a beer that shows the brewery's free-spirited style, grounded in the context of British ales. It definitely makes you want to drink it.
MugiFor sure! Totally! Let's open an Amethyst right now and have our own "aging check session" together!
