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Hiruzen Brewery Tsuchi to Mizu Announces Limited Sour Ale [S-12]
Hiruzen Brewery Tsuchi to Mizu in Maniwa, Okayama Prefecture, is introducing its limited-edition "Sour Ale 2025 [S-12]." Brewed with homegrown hops and wild yeast, it is characterized by a golden-yellow appearance, aromas evoking citrus and earth, and a tannic bite reminiscent of orange wine.
Hop BroHiruzen Brewery Tsuchi to Mizu in Maniwa, Okayama Prefecture has released a limited sour ale. This Sour Ale 2025 [S-12] is quite a distinctive one.
MugiWhoa! A sour ale is that tangy kind, right? Just hearing limited-edition S-12 makes it sound amazing!
Hop BroExactly, and the key point is that it uses their homegrown hops called Tea Maker. Since they’re grown without fertilizer or pesticides, it feels like the land itself is coming through, doesn’t it?
MugiThe land itself coming through? And it says wild yeast too, but what does it mean for yeast to be wild?
Hop BroSimply put, it means they don’t use yeast selected artificially; they brew in a way that lets the yeast already present in the environment do the work. So the microbes of the land become part of the beer’s flavor profile.
MugiOhhh! So it’s not exactly the same every time, but has a bit of variation? And it looks golden yellow too, so it already sounds delicious!
Hop BroThat’s right. The aroma combines the citrusy side of the hops with the earthy scent of wild yeast. The taste has an orange wine-like astringency and a light bitterness, making it pretty layered.
MugiOrange wine-like astringency? You can describe beer like that!? If it also has light bitterness, then it sounds like it’s not just sour!
Hop BroAnd because it isn’t heat-treated, the yeast is still alive in the bottle. So the sediment is part of the quality, and the trick is to pour it gently by tilting the bottle slowly.
MugiI see, so you enjoy it including the sediment. And if it’s best 1 to 2 hours later, waiting a little actually sounds fun!
Hop BroIt’s 8% ABV, and since it comes in 375 ml and 750 ml bottles, it’s the kind of beer you want to sit down and spend time with. This is definitely one you’ll want to follow as a series.
MugiWow, it feels like you could drink in the air of Hiruzen itself! I’m suddenly in the mood to open this limited sour ale right now!
Limited Sour Ale [S-12]
Hiruzen Brewery Tsuchi to Mizu, based in the Hiruzen area of Maniwa, Okayama Prefecture, is introducing its limited-edition Sour Ale 2025 [S-12]. According to the product description, it is part of the series following S-11, and this time it is a limited-time ale made with "Tea Maker," a homegrown hop cultivated without fertilizer or pesticides.
What stands out about this beer is the clearly defined wild-yeast character that is so typical of Tsuchi to Mizu. As you bring the glass closer, the faint citrus aroma from the hops is layered with an earthy scent characteristic of wild yeast. It looks golden yellow. The flavor is built around an astringency reminiscent of orange wine and a light bitterness, and it is recommended to enjoy it 1 to 2 hours after taking it out of the refrigerator, once the liquid has warmed up.
The alcohol content is 8%. Because it is not heat-treated, live yeast remains in the bottle, and it contains sediment as well. When pouring, the bottle should be tilted gently, and the sediment that settles at the bottom of the bottle is said to pose no quality issues.
Tsuchi to Mizu is a brewery that continues to make beer in the Hiruzen and Chuka areas of northern Okayama, making use of natural spring water, wild yeast, and local microorganisms. On the product page, the brewery describes its approach to brewing as one that relies on natural fermentation by wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria in the air, changes that continue inside the bottle, and a philosophy of preparing the ingredients and environment, then leaving the work to the microbes.
The ingredients also reflect this approach: in addition to spring water from the local area, the malt is German organic malt, the hops are Austrian organic hops, and the coriander seed is also Austrian organic. Given Tsuchi to Mizu's signature worldview, S-12 can likewise be seen as a beer that translates the flavors of the land and the fluctuations of natural fermentation directly into taste.
Two sizes are available: 375 ml and 750 ml. For readers following limited sour ales, this is a release to enjoy not just as a beer, but within the broader context of the series.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHiruzen Brewery Tsuchi to Mizu in Maniwa, Okayama Prefecture has released a limited sour ale. This Sour Ale 2025 [S-12] is quite a distinctive one.
MugiWhoa! A sour ale is that tangy kind, right? Just hearing limited-edition S-12 makes it sound amazing!
Hop BroExactly, and the key point is that it uses their homegrown hops called Tea Maker. Since they’re grown without fertilizer or pesticides, it feels like the land itself is coming through, doesn’t it?
MugiThe land itself coming through? And it says wild yeast too, but what does it mean for yeast to be wild?
Hop BroSimply put, it means they don’t use yeast selected artificially; they brew in a way that lets the yeast already present in the environment do the work. So the microbes of the land become part of the beer’s flavor profile.
MugiOhhh! So it’s not exactly the same every time, but has a bit of variation? And it looks golden yellow too, so it already sounds delicious!
Hop BroThat’s right. The aroma combines the citrusy side of the hops with the earthy scent of wild yeast. The taste has an orange wine-like astringency and a light bitterness, making it pretty layered.
MugiOrange wine-like astringency? You can describe beer like that!? If it also has light bitterness, then it sounds like it’s not just sour!
Hop BroAnd because it isn’t heat-treated, the yeast is still alive in the bottle. So the sediment is part of the quality, and the trick is to pour it gently by tilting the bottle slowly.
MugiI see, so you enjoy it including the sediment. And if it’s best 1 to 2 hours later, waiting a little actually sounds fun!
Hop BroIt’s 8% ABV, and since it comes in 375 ml and 750 ml bottles, it’s the kind of beer you want to sit down and spend time with. This is definitely one you’ll want to follow as a series.
MugiWow, it feels like you could drink in the air of Hiruzen itself! I’m suddenly in the mood to open this limited sour ale right now!
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