Craft beer brewed with cotton-flower yeast arrives from Tokyo

Avanti Co., Ltd., an organic cotton company based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, launched the craft beer Wata no Brew in September 2026 to mark the 30th anniversary of its own brand, PRISTINE. The beer uses yeast collected from the flowers of cotton the company grows in Japan. Why would a clothing company brew beer? The answer lies in an effort to make growing cotton a more sustainable line of work for farmers.

A by-product from the fields that grow clothing materials

Since its founding in 1985, Avanti has handled everything from importing organic cotton raw material to making products in Japan and recycling used fabric. Japan’s self-sufficiency in textile fibres is said to be close to 0%, and in 2021 the company launched Avanti Cotton Club, a domestic cotton-growing project, with the goal of raising that figure to 1%. Today 48 sites across the country take part. Rather than simply buying the harvested cotton, the company wants to create new by-products from the cotton fields and increase farmers’ income. This beer grew out of that idea. After three years of joint research with a professor in the Department of Fermentation Science at Tokyo University of Agriculture, known for research on flower yeasts, the company succeeded in isolating living yeast suitable for brewing from cotton flowers grown on a field in Tochigi Prefecture to organic farming standards.

Two flavours: the white flower and the green flower

Brewing was carried out by Futako Beer, a brewery in Futako-Tamagawa, Setagaya, Tokyo. Both beers are more than 99% malt. However, because they use Job’s tears (hatomugi) as an adjunct, they are classified as happoshu (a low-malt sparkling alcoholic drink) under Japan’s liquor tax law. White Label, made with yeast from white cotton flowers, is a 4.0% ABV white ale. It has a gentle, koji-like aroma and sweetness and a light drinking style, and is said to work well as an aperitif. Green Label, made with yeast from the flowers of green cotton (ryokumen), is a 4.5% pale ale brewed with organic malt. It also includes fresh domestic hops grown jointly with a farm in Shiga Prefecture. It has a refreshing acidity with banana-like flavours and body, and is a distinctive, strongly carbonated beer.

How to enjoy it in Europe

In Japan, each 350 ml can costs 880 yen (including tax), and for now sales are mainly within Japan. Avanti does, however, also accept wholesale enquiries from businesses, so importers and bars that handle Japanese craft beer may take an interest in future. What is worth noting here is where the yeast comes from. In Japanese brewing, yeast taken from flowers is sometimes used even for sake, and yeast influences the character of the aroma. In Europe, one way to enjoy these beers would be to compare them with Belgian or German wheat beers and explore how yeast changes the aroma. The idea of a cycle in which a clothing material and a drink are linked through the same field may also appeal to European readers with a strong interest in sustainability.