Hiruzen Brewery Tsuchi to Mizu announced its new vintage ale "V-9" in a post on March 7, 2026. The post began with "It's been a long time." and went on to share the production process and flavor direction in concrete detail.

Published Specs


- Product name: Vintage Ale "V-9"
- Brew date: May 28, 2025
- Bottling date: July 8, 2025
- Aging: Oak barrel-aged, then 8 months of bottle aging
- Alcohol content: 8%

The post describes the beer's flavor traits as "a smoky aroma that spreads across the palate and lingers on the nose" and "a slight acidity and fruity character," calling it "a new sensation that is almost beyond beer." It is presented as something to enjoy slowly and quietly. The purchase path was 안내ed through the online shop linked in the profile.

How Hiruzen's sense of place comes through in the glass


A key word for this V-9 is the terroir of Hiruzen and Chuwa, which was also mentioned in the post. Based in the Hiruzen area of northern Okayama Prefecture, the brewery has continuously released vintage ales up to now. The method of oak barrel aging followed by a long bottle-aging period also fits the brewery's broader context of enjoying how a beer's profile changes over time.

With its smoky aroma, acidic nuances, fruit-like elements, and 8% ABV design, this looks like a bottle made to be approached differently from a flashy hop-aroma style beer, with attention paid to how it changes with temperature and how it lingers after a meal. As a long-awaited new release announcement, it is one that existing fans and drinkers interested in aged styles will not want to miss.