South Horizon Brewing Releases Limited Sunny Motueka NZ Pilsner
Kochi-based South Horizon Brewing has released Sunny Motueka, a limited NZ Pilsner centered on New Zealand-grown Motueka hops. Lime and citrus aromas meet a clean, refreshing finish in this 5.0% ABV beer.
Hop BroSouth Horizon Brewing in Kochi City is releasing a limited beer called Sunny Motueka.
MugiWhoa! Even the name sounds bright. What kind of beer is Sunny Motueka?
Hop BroIt’s an NZ Pilsner starring New Zealand Motueka hops, with aromas like lime and lemon.
MugiWhat? A pilsner with hops in the spotlight? Does that mean IPA-like aroma?
Hop BroExactly. It has expressive hop aroma without IPA-level weight, plus a lager’s crisp, easy finish.
MugiExciting aroma and a clean finish! My glass is already sailing to Kochi!
Hop BroIt also uses a SMaSH recipe: one malt and one hop—RAHR NORTH STAR Pils malt and Motueka hops.
MugiSMaSH sounds like a special move! So it means nothing hides the ingredients?
Hop BroThat’s it. The simple recipe makes the clean malt and Motueka character vivid, with a gentle 2-out-of-5 bitterness.
MugiNice! It’s the brewery’s first take on an NZ Pilsner that moved its brewer in New Zealand—a journey in a glass.
Hop BroIt’s 5.0% ABV, a 350ml can, 770 yen, and limited in quantity. We can’t miss this lime-scented limited can.
MugiI want one! Let’s toast with Sunny Motueka, then start planning the next can!
A NZ Pilsner focused on Motueka
South Horizon Brewing’s limited-release Sunny Motueka is an NZ Pilsner brewed with New Zealand Motueka hops. The hop brings bright aromas reminiscent of lime, lemon, and citrus, while the beer retains the crisp, light character expected from a pilsner.
The recipe uses a SMaSH approach—Single Malt and Single Hop—to keep the ingredients focused. RAHR NORTH STAR Pils malt forms the base, Motueka provides the hop character, and Fermo Lager W is used as the yeast. This simple structure allows the clean malt profile and the distinctive qualities of Motueka to come through clearly.
Aromatic, but easy-drinking
Sunny Motueka offers a noticeable hop aroma without the weight of an IPA. Its bitterness is described as restrained, balancing aromatic intensity with the clean finish of a lager. The product page rates the body at 3/5, bitterness at 2/5, and sweetness at 3/5.
The beer is packaged in 350ml cans, with an ABV of 5.0%. It is priced at ¥770 and is being sold in limited quantities. The listed best-before date is June 30, 2027.
Inspired by New Zealand
The beer was inspired by a NZ Pilsner that impressed the brewer during a stay in New Zealand. Rather than simply reproducing that experience, Sunny Motueka interprets it through the brewer’s own perspective and represents the first beer of this kind made at South Horizon Brewing.
Based in Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture, South Horizon Brewing produces both core beers and seasonal releases in a range of styles. Its brand identity also draws on Kochi’s port-town setting, with names and designs inspired by ships, sailors, and the horizon over Tosa Bay. Sunny Motueka brings that local perspective together with the bright hop character of New Zealand in a notably approachable limited release.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroSouth Horizon Brewing in Kochi City is releasing a limited beer called Sunny Motueka.
MugiWhoa! Even the name sounds bright. What kind of beer is Sunny Motueka?
Hop BroIt’s an NZ Pilsner starring New Zealand Motueka hops, with aromas like lime and lemon.
MugiWhat? A pilsner with hops in the spotlight? Does that mean IPA-like aroma?
Hop BroExactly. It has expressive hop aroma without IPA-level weight, plus a lager’s crisp, easy finish.
MugiExciting aroma and a clean finish! My glass is already sailing to Kochi!
Hop BroIt also uses a SMaSH recipe: one malt and one hop—RAHR NORTH STAR Pils malt and Motueka hops.
MugiSMaSH sounds like a special move! So it means nothing hides the ingredients?
Hop BroThat’s it. The simple recipe makes the clean malt and Motueka character vivid, with a gentle 2-out-of-5 bitterness.
MugiNice! It’s the brewery’s first take on an NZ Pilsner that moved its brewer in New Zealand—a journey in a glass.
Hop BroIt’s 5.0% ABV, a 350ml can, 770 yen, and limited in quantity. We can’t miss this lime-scented limited can.
MugiI want one! Let’s toast with Sunny Motueka, then start planning the next can!
