Better life with upcycle Is Selling "Sakekasu Ale" Brewed with Sake Lees and Nelson Sauvin Aromas
Kanagawa-based Better life with upcycle is selling "Sakekasu Ale" online, made with sake lees as a secondary ingredient. It is a beer that bridges sake and craft beer, featuring ginjo-like aromatics, hop notes reminiscent of apples and muscat grapes, and a dry finish.
Hop BroWhat I want to feature today is Better life with upcycle's new take on a sake lees ale from Kanagawa.
MugiWait, sake lees in beer!? So it's a fusion of sake and beer?
Hop BroExactly. The label is Sakekasu Ale, the style is Hoppy Ale w/ Sakekasu, and it layers in the aroma of Nelson Sauvin.
MugiWhat is that! Nelson Sauvin sounds like a spell, and I always get lost with IBU and SRM too!
Hop BroIn simple terms, IBU 35 means the bitterness is moderate, SRM 6 means the color is fairly pale, and ABV 6.0% means it has a solid drinkability.
MugiWow! And it has ginjo-like aromas plus apple and muscat notes, so the amount of aroma information is amazing!
Hop BroYeah, the idea is to combine the fruity hop character with the ginjo aroma from the sake lees for a dry finish like sake, making it a design that works with both Japanese and Western dishes.
MugiThat means endless food pairings! And the Kanagawa-local collaboration between MIKAWAYA in Ebina and Kanai Shuzo in Hadano is so cool!
Hop BroThe background is great too. Better life with upcycle comes from a bakery, and it keeps brewing with an upcycling mindset that addresses food loss.
MugiWhat should I watch out for before buying? I tend to click buy and then go, 'Oh no,' because that's just how I roll!
Hop BroBe sure to check that it needs refrigeration and is for people 20 and over. The best-before date is clearly listed as March 28, 2026, and the special offer price is 565 yen including tax for 350 ml... honestly, it makes me want to chill one and drink it right now.
MugiIt's decided! Hop brother handles the food, I handle the glass, and tonight we're toasting with Sakekasu Ale!
A Japanese-style nuance built by layering sake lees ginjo aroma with hop aroma
Better life with upcycle's "Sakekasu Ale" is a Hoppy Ale w/ Sakekasu that combines sake lees with the aroma hop Nelson Sauvin. In the product description, it highlights not only the ginjo aroma derived from the sake lees, but also fruitiness reminiscent of apples and muscat grapes, along with a dry finish that evokes "sake." Designed to bring out both a beer-like hop character and a sake-like impression at the same time, it is presented as a versatile pairing for both Japanese and Western dishes.
The specifications are ABV 6.0%, IBU 35, SRM 6, and 350 ml contents. The sale price is 565 yen including tax, shown as a special offer from the regular 627 yen, and the product page clearly states a best-before date of March 28, 2026.
A collaboration born from cooperation between Ebina and Hadano
This label is being released as a collaboration beer between MIKAWAYA's ViNA GARDENS PERCH store in Ebina and Kanai Shuzo in Hadano. It is a project that connects local sake makers, and its appeal goes beyond simply "using sake lees," as it also carries a Kanagawa-local context.
The brewery's background
Better life with upcycle is a brand based in Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture, that advances product making with an upcycling mindset aimed at tackling food loss. In its official story, the company emphasizes sustainable product development centered on bread, building on a long history as a bakery. Seen in that context, "Sakekasu Ale" can be described as a beer that embodies the brand's character by balancing reinterpretation of ingredients with local collaboration.
The product page also includes handling notes such as keeping it refrigerated and being for customers aged 20 and over, so it is worth checking the storage conditions before purchasing.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroWhat I want to feature today is Better life with upcycle's new take on a sake lees ale from Kanagawa.
MugiWait, sake lees in beer!? So it's a fusion of sake and beer?
Hop BroExactly. The label is Sakekasu Ale, the style is Hoppy Ale w/ Sakekasu, and it layers in the aroma of Nelson Sauvin.
MugiWhat is that! Nelson Sauvin sounds like a spell, and I always get lost with IBU and SRM too!
Hop BroIn simple terms, IBU 35 means the bitterness is moderate, SRM 6 means the color is fairly pale, and ABV 6.0% means it has a solid drinkability.
MugiWow! And it has ginjo-like aromas plus apple and muscat notes, so the amount of aroma information is amazing!
Hop BroYeah, the idea is to combine the fruity hop character with the ginjo aroma from the sake lees for a dry finish like sake, making it a design that works with both Japanese and Western dishes.
MugiThat means endless food pairings! And the Kanagawa-local collaboration between MIKAWAYA in Ebina and Kanai Shuzo in Hadano is so cool!
Hop BroThe background is great too. Better life with upcycle comes from a bakery, and it keeps brewing with an upcycling mindset that addresses food loss.
MugiWhat should I watch out for before buying? I tend to click buy and then go, 'Oh no,' because that's just how I roll!
Hop BroBe sure to check that it needs refrigeration and is for people 20 and over. The best-before date is clearly listed as March 28, 2026, and the special offer price is 565 yen including tax for 350 ml... honestly, it makes me want to chill one and drink it right now.
MugiIt's decided! Hop brother handles the food, I handle the glass, and tonight we're toasting with Sakekasu Ale!
