A new Yama-Bushi after 12 years

Shiga Kogen Beer has added a new beer to its Yama-Bushi series: Yama-Bushi Go / Fresh Hop Saison. It is the first non-barrel-aged Yama-Bushi release since Yama-Bushi Four, which appeared 12 years ago. The long-awaited return gives the beer particular significance for drinkers who have followed the series over the years.

The beer is a fresh hop saison brewed with Cascade hops harvested from the brewery’s own fields on the day of brewing. Used fresh rather than dried, the hops bring vivid green, lively aromatics and a sense of immediacy to the beer. The recipe also includes homegrown spelt wheat, adding a rustic grain character alongside the saison’s dry and refreshing profile.

A 750ml bottle for sharing

The beer was initially considered for the brewery’s usual 330ml format, but the quality of the result led to a 750ml bottle release instead. It is well suited to sharing over a meal, allowing drinkers to explore its fresh hop character as the beer opens in the glass.

Based in Yamanouchi, Nagano, Shiga Kogen Beer is known for brewing with ingredients connected to its local environment, including homegrown hops and grains. Yama-Bushi Go reflects that approach particularly clearly: the beer captures the short window between hop harvest and brewing while pairing it with the expressive character of a saison.

With fresh Cascade aromatics, saison yeast complexity and the earthy character of spelt wheat, Yama-Bushi Go offers a focused look at Shiga Kogen Beer’s seasonal brewing. It is a distinctive bottle for fans of fresh-hop beers and for anyone interested in the next chapter of the Yama-Bushi series.