Himitsu Beer releases Fruit Scandal with Motosaka sake lees
Himitsu Beer, based in Ise, Mie, introduced Fruit Scandal, a collaboration beer with Motosaka Shuzo. The 5% ABV Fruits Ale combines sake lees, home-grown Koshihikari rice, mango, and pineapple, with a release event planned for July 4 at Yose in Tokyo.
Hop BroListen, Mugi, Himitsu Beer in Ise, Mie is dropping Fruit Scandal on July 4.
MugiWhat, that name already sounds dramatic! Himitsu Beer is up to something again?
Hop BroThey teamed up with Motosaka Shuzo, and it’s a Fruits Ale built around mango and pineapple.
MugiWait, a sake brewery and a beer brewery together? So this is a sake lees beer?
Hop BroExactly. They use the lees from pressing Motosaka Shuzo’s KINO, but this time it works more like a tropical flavor base than the main star.
MugiNo way, the sake lees is playing support? Unsung hero lees is not a phrase I expected today.
Hop BroAnd about 40% of the malt bill uses their homegrown Koshihikari rice, so that 40% malt design keeps the body light on its feet.
MugiHold on, that suddenly sounded like a brewer’s chalkboard. What is malt, the boss of grain?
Hop BroBasically, it’s the grain base that gives beer sweetness and body. Add rice to that and you get this light yet rich finish.
MugiThat’s cheating in the best way! And it even has ripe papaya vibes plus passion fruit-like aroma?
Hop BroYep, and at 5% ABV easygoing territory, it sounds dangerously crushable. There’s even a release event in Tokyo on July 4.
MugiI’m done for, my stomach and throat are fully convinced. I just want to toast with Fruit Scandal and start summer properly!
Himitsu Beer, based in Ise in Mie Prefecture, has released a collaboration beer with Motosaka Shuzo called Fruit Scandal. The beer is a 5% ABV Fruits Ale built around sake lees from pressing KINO (Kaeri-no), along with the brewery's home-grown Koshihikari rice, mango, and pineapple.
Compared with the brewery's previous sake-lees series, this release takes a different approach. Rather than putting the lees character at the center, the recipe uses it to support the depth and fullness of the tropical fruit profile. The post says the aroma also carries notes reminiscent of passion fruit and ripe papaya. About 40% of the malt bill is replaced with home-grown Koshihikari rice, aiming for a beer that is easy to drink while still delivering a dense fruit expression.
- Beer: Fruit Scandal
- Style: Fruits Ale
- ABV: 5%
- Main ingredients: mango, pineapple, sake lees, home-grown Koshihikari rice
Himitsu Beer continues to make beers rooted in Ise's local landscape. This collaboration also reflects that approach by linking local sake, home-grown rice, and seasonal fruit character in one beer. A release event is planned for July 4 at Yose in Tokyo, with Ise yakitori shop Nikawa joining the lineup. The post also notes that the local Shimenawa-hiki festival in Futami, Ise, will return on July 14 for the first time in seven years, tying the beer news to early-summer community events.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroListen, Mugi, Himitsu Beer in Ise, Mie is dropping Fruit Scandal on July 4.
MugiWhat, that name already sounds dramatic! Himitsu Beer is up to something again?
Hop BroThey teamed up with Motosaka Shuzo, and it’s a Fruits Ale built around mango and pineapple.
MugiWait, a sake brewery and a beer brewery together? So this is a sake lees beer?
Hop BroExactly. They use the lees from pressing Motosaka Shuzo’s KINO, but this time it works more like a tropical flavor base than the main star.
MugiNo way, the sake lees is playing support? Unsung hero lees is not a phrase I expected today.
Hop BroAnd about 40% of the malt bill uses their homegrown Koshihikari rice, so that 40% malt design keeps the body light on its feet.
MugiHold on, that suddenly sounded like a brewer’s chalkboard. What is malt, the boss of grain?
Hop BroBasically, it’s the grain base that gives beer sweetness and body. Add rice to that and you get this light yet rich finish.
MugiThat’s cheating in the best way! And it even has ripe papaya vibes plus passion fruit-like aroma?
Hop BroYep, and at 5% ABV easygoing territory, it sounds dangerously crushable. There’s even a release event in Tokyo on July 4.
MugiI’m done for, my stomach and throat are fully convinced. I just want to toast with Fruit Scandal and start summer properly!
