Hansharo Beer Releases Limited “Soun Fresh Hop” with Nagano Cascade
Hansharo Beer in Izunokuni, Shizuoka, has announced “Soun Fresh Hop,” a limited collaboration beer made with Son of THE SMITH, a Nagano producer of apples and hard cider. Freshly harvested Cascade gives the brewery’s first fresh-hop beer a bright, seasonal character.
Hop BroReflex Brewery in Izu has released a limited beer made with just-harvested hops: “Soun Fresh Hop.”
MugiWhat? You can put hops in beer right after harvest? Fresh-hop beer already sounds delicious!
Hop BroIt’s a collaboration with Nagano cidery Son of THE SMITH. They grew the Cascade hops themselves.
MugiA cidery collaborating on beer? And Cascade sounds like the name of a waterfall—what is it?
Hop BroCascade is a classic American hop variety, famous for its grapefruit-like aroma. It can bring lemony notes too.
MugiOoh! So is it like citrus juice? But since it’s beer, there’s still that proper hop bitterness, right?
Hop BroExactly. It’s a Fresh Hop Pale Ale, and the brewers add the freshly picked Cascade near the end of fermentation—a process called dry hopping.
MugiWhat’s that?! It goes into a liquid tank, so why is it “dry”? Is it a hop-drying trick?!
Hop BroThe name is confusing. It means adding hops late to bring out more aroma than bitterness. Since these hops were not dried, they should also give fresh leafy and herbal notes.
MugiFresh hops have a harvest aroma too? It sounds like drinking a whole hop field—suddenly, I’m feeling poetic!
Hop BroThe base is “Soun,” Reflex Brewery’s flagship American Pale Ale since 2015. It finishes with a herbal, refreshing aftertaste; it’s 5.0% ABV and 34 IBU.
MugiEasy to drink but full of fresh aroma—that’s perfect! Since it comes in 350 ml cans too, let’s find it before that limited harvest freshness is gone!
Fresh Cascade added at the end of fermentation
“Soun Fresh Hop” is a Fresh Hop Pale Ale brewed through a collaboration between Hansharo Beer and Nagano-based cidery Son of THE SMITH. The Cascade hops were grown by Son of THE SMITH, harvested, transported from Nagano to Shizuoka, and added directly to a tank containing the brewery’s “Soun” near the end of fermentation.
Unlike conventional dried hops, fresh hops preserve vivid green aromas associated with the harvest. In this beer, Cascade’s grapefruit- and lemon-like citrus character is layered with fresh notes of young leaves and herbs. The palate begins with a lively citrus flavor, followed by a pleasant hop bitterness that tightens the finish. A refreshing herbal impression is expected to linger.
A seasonal interpretation of Hansharo’s “Soun”
The base beer, “Soun,” is one of Hansharo Beer’s regular American Pale Ales. It is known for fruity citrus notes from American hops and a clean, refreshing bitterness. Added to the brewery’s regular lineup in 2015, its name refers to Hōjō Sōun, the Sengoku-period lord associated with the Izu and Sagami regions.
Hansharo Beer is operated by Kuraya Narusawa beside the UNESCO-listed Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace in Izunokuni. Alongside its regular beers, the brewery produces limited releases in a wide range of styles. “Soun Fresh Hop” builds on the approachable profile of the regular beer while highlighting the fleeting freshness of the hop harvest.
The beer has an alcohol content of 5.0% ABV and 34 IBU. It is offered in 350ml cans and 10L or 15L kegs. As a limited brew tied to the hop harvest, availability may be seasonal.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroReflex Brewery in Izu has released a limited beer made with just-harvested hops: “Soun Fresh Hop.”
MugiWhat? You can put hops in beer right after harvest? Fresh-hop beer already sounds delicious!
Hop BroIt’s a collaboration with Nagano cidery Son of THE SMITH. They grew the Cascade hops themselves.
MugiA cidery collaborating on beer? And Cascade sounds like the name of a waterfall—what is it?
Hop BroCascade is a classic American hop variety, famous for its grapefruit-like aroma. It can bring lemony notes too.
MugiOoh! So is it like citrus juice? But since it’s beer, there’s still that proper hop bitterness, right?
Hop BroExactly. It’s a Fresh Hop Pale Ale, and the brewers add the freshly picked Cascade near the end of fermentation—a process called dry hopping.
MugiWhat’s that?! It goes into a liquid tank, so why is it “dry”? Is it a hop-drying trick?!
Hop BroThe name is confusing. It means adding hops late to bring out more aroma than bitterness. Since these hops were not dried, they should also give fresh leafy and herbal notes.
MugiFresh hops have a harvest aroma too? It sounds like drinking a whole hop field—suddenly, I’m feeling poetic!
Hop BroThe base is “Soun,” Reflex Brewery’s flagship American Pale Ale since 2015. It finishes with a herbal, refreshing aftertaste; it’s 5.0% ABV and 34 IBU.
MugiEasy to drink but full of fresh aroma—that’s perfect! Since it comes in 350 ml cans too, let’s find it before that limited harvest freshness is gone!
