Manchin Jozo introduces SUN DANCE, a peach wheat ale made with Hakuhou peaches
Manchin Jozo in Hokuto, Yamanashi, has introduced SUN DANCE, a seasonal peach wheat ale brewed at 4.5% ABV and 15 IBU. The beer uses Hakuhou peaches from a nearby farm and reflects a locally focused approach to fruit-driven brewing.
Hop BroI want to start with a beer from Hokuto, Yamanashi today: Manchin Jozo’s new peach release called SUN DANCE. It’s a seasonal PEACH WHEAT ALE made with local Hakuto peaches.
MugiWait, a peach beer!? The name SUN DANCE already sounds bright and summery. What does it taste like?
Hop BroThe style is PEACH WHEAT ALE, with ABV 4.5% and IBU 15. The wheat malt gives it a soft body, and the peach makes the finish feel milky and smooth.
MugiHold on, IBU 15? Is that a beer thing or somebody’s test score?
Hop BroIBU is a bitterness scale, so 15 means very gentle bitterness. And at 4.5% ABV, it stays light enough for the peach aroma to shine.
MugiOhhh, that sounds easy to drink. And Hakuto peaches only? That’s like casting the star player of the peach world.
Hop BroExactly, and they went all in. They used only Hakuto peaches from nearby Sakata Farm, helped harvest and sort them from 5 a.m., and with help from Yamanashi University they juiced 200 kilograms of fruit.
MugiWhat is this, a peach training camp? But also, what is post-ripening? Do peaches get a finishing school now?
Hop BroPost-ripening means letting the fruit rest after harvest so the aroma and sweetness develop more. In this case they had peaches that filled the brewery fridge with aroma, which tells you how carefully they handled the fruit.
MugiThat’s so good though. If sweetness and bitterness stay mild, the peach really gets to be the star. Now I want to try their fruit beers like HOTARU too.
Hop BroThat’s what Manchin Jozo does well, using local fruit in a way that actually leads the beer. SUN DANCE sounds perfect for peach season, the kind of bottle that makes you want a daytime pour.
MugiI’m sold. I want to raise a glass now with a chilled SUN DANCE, preferably while staring at actual peaches.
Manchin Jozo, based in Hokuto, Yamanashi, has introduced SUN DANCE, a peach wheat ale. The beer comes in at 4.5% ABV and 15 IBU. According to the brewery, wheat malt gives it a fuller body, while the addition of peaches creates a milky finish.
The fruit comes from Sakata Farm, located just near the brewery, and only Hakuhou peaches were used. The brewery team also took part in the harvest, starting work at 5 a.m. and helping sort the peaches before delivering them to the local cooperative. The brewery says the ripened fruit was stored in its refrigerator to the point that the room filled with peach aroma.
This release also involved support from students at Yamanashi University, who helped turn 200 kg of Hakuhou peaches into juice. They are also members of Manchin Gakuen’s "Mizubu" club, and the work reportedly finished in record time. Manchin Jozo also points back to HOTARU, which used Oishi plums, as another example of its fruit-led brewing. The brewery describes SUN DANCE as low in sweetness and restrained in bitterness, making it a straightforward seasonal beer built around local fruit.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroI want to start with a beer from Hokuto, Yamanashi today: Manchin Jozo’s new peach release called SUN DANCE. It’s a seasonal PEACH WHEAT ALE made with local Hakuto peaches.
MugiWait, a peach beer!? The name SUN DANCE already sounds bright and summery. What does it taste like?
Hop BroThe style is PEACH WHEAT ALE, with ABV 4.5% and IBU 15. The wheat malt gives it a soft body, and the peach makes the finish feel milky and smooth.
MugiHold on, IBU 15? Is that a beer thing or somebody’s test score?
Hop BroIBU is a bitterness scale, so 15 means very gentle bitterness. And at 4.5% ABV, it stays light enough for the peach aroma to shine.
MugiOhhh, that sounds easy to drink. And Hakuto peaches only? That’s like casting the star player of the peach world.
Hop BroExactly, and they went all in. They used only Hakuto peaches from nearby Sakata Farm, helped harvest and sort them from 5 a.m., and with help from Yamanashi University they juiced 200 kilograms of fruit.
MugiWhat is this, a peach training camp? But also, what is post-ripening? Do peaches get a finishing school now?
Hop BroPost-ripening means letting the fruit rest after harvest so the aroma and sweetness develop more. In this case they had peaches that filled the brewery fridge with aroma, which tells you how carefully they handled the fruit.
MugiThat’s so good though. If sweetness and bitterness stay mild, the peach really gets to be the star. Now I want to try their fruit beers like HOTARU too.
Hop BroThat’s what Manchin Jozo does well, using local fruit in a way that actually leads the beer. SUN DANCE sounds perfect for peach season, the kind of bottle that makes you want a daytime pour.
MugiI’m sold. I want to raise a glass now with a chilled SUN DANCE, preferably while staring at actual peaches.
