Nutori Brewing’s spring beer made with cherry leaves, “Hanasaka Nutori”
Kawaguchi, Saitama-based Nutori Brewing is offering a beer called “Hanasaka Nutori” made with salted cherry leaves. With a flavor reminiscent of sakuramochi and a clean finish, it is a beer that pairs easily with hanami and Japanese food.
Hop BroToday we’re talking about a spring beer from Nutori Brewing in Kawaguchi, Saitama, called “Hanasaka Nutori.” It uses salt-pickled cherry leaves, and even the name makes me want to take it along for hanami.
MugiWait, a beer with cherry leaves!? Is it sweet? Salty? I can’t picture which direction this is going at all!
Hop BroWhat it’s doing is less about sweetness and more about creating a springtime feel with an aroma reminiscent of sakuramochi and a subtle saltiness. And the finish is clean, so the nice part is that it doesn’t leave a heavy aftertaste.
MugiI see... but what does IBU 0 even mean!? Zero means it isn’t bitter? Is the wort basically lost at this point?
Hop BroIBU is a measure of bitterness, so this means it is designed to keep bitterness restrained. In other words, it’s not the kind of beer that pushes hard with hops; it aims for a gentle drinking experience that quietly accompanies the spring table.
MugiOhh! And with 4.5% alcohol, it sounds like something you can drink pretty lightly. At hanami, even if you have a few, it feels like you can still enjoy the conversation!
Hop BroExactly, and it pairs really well with Japanese food too. It goes especially well with salty snacks and spring vegetables, so if you line it up with tempura, boiled rape blossoms, or grilled fish, you’re in very good shape.
MugiWait, it goes with food that well!? I thought it was going to be some quirky spring wildcard, but it’s actually pretty dependable!
Hop BroWhat’s interesting about Nutori Brewing is that, rooted in Kawaguchi, it makes all kinds of house-brewed beers using small-tank brewing. They use Kawaguchi water, work with local ingredients, and it really feels like they’re turning the atmosphere of the place itself into beer.
MugiThat’s nice... it feels like you can drink the very atmosphere of Kawaguchi. If I drank this under the cherry blossoms, I think the memory of spring would stick with me too!
Hop BroThen it’s settled. Next time, let’s take some Hanasaka Nutori and spend a lazy afternoon under the cherry blossoms. It’s a beer that leans into seasonal character more than bitterness, so even Mugi should be able to drink it smoothly.
MugiYeah, I want to drink this! It’s perfect for the spring table, and if it can come along for hanami and Japanese food, I want to raise a glass right now!
A glass where cherry leaves take center stage
Nutori Brewing’s “Hanasaka Nutori” is a seasonal beer made with salt-pickled cherry leaves. It has an aroma and saltiness reminiscent of sakuramochi, while finishing clean, and it is designed to pair well with a wide range of meals. It has an alcohol content of 4.5% and an IBU of 0, so rather than pushing bitterness to the fore, it leans toward a flavor that complements springtime dining.
A brewery rooted in Kawaguchi
Nutori Brewing is based in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, and makes a diverse range of house-brewed beers by making the most of its small tanks. As a brewery, it emphasizes a desire to help beer culture take root in the city of Kawaguchi, and recipe development that makes use of local ingredients is one of its strengths. On its official website, you can see how it engages with the local community from both the brewing and food-service sides, through brewing with Kawaguchi water, serving beer at its attached shop, and offering nourishing meals.
Designed with spring pairings in mind
“Hanasaka Nutori” can be described as a beer that balances the seasonal feel of something easy to pick up during hanami with the practicality of pairing well with everyday meals. It goes well not only with Japanese dishes, but also with salty snacks and spring vegetables, letting you feel the season through its aroma while keeping the drinking experience light. True to a brewery rooted in its community, it is a bottle worth noting as an expression of the local atmosphere through beer.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday we’re talking about a spring beer from Nutori Brewing in Kawaguchi, Saitama, called “Hanasaka Nutori.” It uses salt-pickled cherry leaves, and even the name makes me want to take it along for hanami.
MugiWait, a beer with cherry leaves!? Is it sweet? Salty? I can’t picture which direction this is going at all!
Hop BroWhat it’s doing is less about sweetness and more about creating a springtime feel with an aroma reminiscent of sakuramochi and a subtle saltiness. And the finish is clean, so the nice part is that it doesn’t leave a heavy aftertaste.
MugiI see... but what does IBU 0 even mean!? Zero means it isn’t bitter? Is the wort basically lost at this point?
Hop BroIBU is a measure of bitterness, so this means it is designed to keep bitterness restrained. In other words, it’s not the kind of beer that pushes hard with hops; it aims for a gentle drinking experience that quietly accompanies the spring table.
MugiOhh! And with 4.5% alcohol, it sounds like something you can drink pretty lightly. At hanami, even if you have a few, it feels like you can still enjoy the conversation!
Hop BroExactly, and it pairs really well with Japanese food too. It goes especially well with salty snacks and spring vegetables, so if you line it up with tempura, boiled rape blossoms, or grilled fish, you’re in very good shape.
MugiWait, it goes with food that well!? I thought it was going to be some quirky spring wildcard, but it’s actually pretty dependable!
Hop BroWhat’s interesting about Nutori Brewing is that, rooted in Kawaguchi, it makes all kinds of house-brewed beers using small-tank brewing. They use Kawaguchi water, work with local ingredients, and it really feels like they’re turning the atmosphere of the place itself into beer.
MugiThat’s nice... it feels like you can drink the very atmosphere of Kawaguchi. If I drank this under the cherry blossoms, I think the memory of spring would stick with me too!
Hop BroThen it’s settled. Next time, let’s take some Hanasaka Nutori and spend a lazy afternoon under the cherry blossoms. It’s a beer that leans into seasonal character more than bitterness, so even Mugi should be able to drink it smoothly.
MugiYeah, I want to drink this! It’s perfect for the spring table, and if it can come along for hanami and Japanese food, I want to raise a glass right now!
