Cotama Brewery highlights plum-based pale ale UME GO RYO
Cotama Brewery in Takasaki, Gunma, introduced its pale ale UME GO RYO, brewed with plums from Konohanaen in Annaka with support from the Annaka Tourism Organization. It is the brewery's second plum beer, at 5% ABV, and is described as combining bright plum aroma with gentle acidity.
Hop BroI want to talk about UME GO RYO today, the new beer from Kotama Brewery in Takasaki, Gunma.
MugiThat name already sounds juicy! A beer made with plums from Annaka? I am fully interested.
Hop BroRight, and the style is a plum pale ale, brewed with plums from Konohanaen.
MugiWait, plum in a pale ale? And they still care about malt character too? How does that work?
Hop BroThat is the Kotama way. Malt is the beer's base, giving sweetness and body, and here they layer in a gentle tartness without throwing the balance off.
MugiSweetness, body, balance... this suddenly sounds like an engineering show. But 5% ABV means I could actually sip it slowly!
Hop BroExactly, and this is their second plum beer, so they have probably refined how they bring out the plum aroma this time.
MugiOhhh, so this is not a chug-it-ice-cold kind of beer, but one where you enjoy the temperature change?
Hop BroYes. If you pour it into a larger glass and take your time, the plum aroma and pale ale lightness open up gradually. That whole tasty even as it warms philosophy really shows.
MugiWhat is that, a beer and a magic trick? This already feels like the ultimate seasonal limited pour.
Hop BroUsing local fruit as the star while keeping the finish clean is seriously well done. I need to check that fresh plum aroma for myself.
MugiThen it is settled! I can already imagine that crisp first sip and the soft aroma after. I want one right now!
A seasonal beer built around local plums
Cotama Brewery, based in Takasaki, Gunma, is a craft brewery that places importance on malt character and aims to make beers that stay enjoyable even as they warm up. That approach is visible in UME GO RYO as well.
UME GO RYO is a pale ale brewed with plums from Konohanaen, with support from the Annaka Tourism Organization. The beer comes in at 5% ABV and is designed to deliver a fresh plum aroma with a pleasant, restrained acidity. According to the brewery's description, this is the second plum beer in the series, and the finished beer keeps the fruit's tartness while staying balanced overall.
The brewery also notes that the beer changes in character as it gradually warms, which suggests it is best enjoyed slowly in a larger glass. That gives drinkers a chance to follow the beer's evolution from a crisp first sip to a more rounded finish.
Plum-driven beers are not unusual in craft beer, but Cotama Brewery's version stands out for the way it pairs local fruit character with an easy-drinking pale ale profile. For a brewery that emphasizes drinkability and malt depth, this is a natural seasonal release shaped by its regional connections.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroI want to talk about UME GO RYO today, the new beer from Kotama Brewery in Takasaki, Gunma.
MugiThat name already sounds juicy! A beer made with plums from Annaka? I am fully interested.
Hop BroRight, and the style is a plum pale ale, brewed with plums from Konohanaen.
MugiWait, plum in a pale ale? And they still care about malt character too? How does that work?
Hop BroThat is the Kotama way. Malt is the beer's base, giving sweetness and body, and here they layer in a gentle tartness without throwing the balance off.
MugiSweetness, body, balance... this suddenly sounds like an engineering show. But 5% ABV means I could actually sip it slowly!
Hop BroExactly, and this is their second plum beer, so they have probably refined how they bring out the plum aroma this time.
MugiOhhh, so this is not a chug-it-ice-cold kind of beer, but one where you enjoy the temperature change?
Hop BroYes. If you pour it into a larger glass and take your time, the plum aroma and pale ale lightness open up gradually. That whole tasty even as it warms philosophy really shows.
MugiWhat is that, a beer and a magic trick? This already feels like the ultimate seasonal limited pour.
Hop BroUsing local fruit as the star while keeping the finish clean is seriously well done. I need to check that fresh plum aroma for myself.
MugiThen it is settled! I can already imagine that crisp first sip and the soft aroma after. I want one right now!
