18 Tohoku breweries showcase Iwate-grown hops, with brewing now under way in Akita too
Akita Akura Beer in Akita City has begun brewing with IBUKI hops grown in Tono, Iwate, and 18 Tohoku breweries will release their beers together in November.
Tono hops arrive in an Akita brew kettle
Akita Prefecture lies on the Sea of Japan side of the Tohoku region in north-eastern Japan. On 25 September, a new beer went into production at Akita Akura Beer, a craft brewery in Omachi, in the centre of the prefectural capital, Akita City. The brewery is using IBUKI hops harvested in Tono, an inland city in neighbouring Iwate Prefecture. The local newspaper Akita Sakigake Shimpo reported on brewery staff member Sato adding the hops to the kettle. Tono is one of Japan’s best-known hop-growing areas.
What is the Tohoku Toretate Hop Project?
This brew is part of the Tohoku Toretate Hop Project (“Tohoku Freshly Picked Hop Project”). Eighteen breweries across the Tohoku region are each making their own beer with the same IBUKI hops, and all will go on sale together in November. The raw ingredient is shared, but each brewery decides the style and recipe. The appeal of the project is arguably that it lets drinkers compare how the same hop shows a different character in different brewers’ hands.
Japanese beer begins to talk about where its ingredients grew
In brewing worldwide, hops from Germany’s Hallertau, the Czech Republic’s Saaz and American growing regions predominate, and Japanese craft beer often relies on imported hops too. Against that background, several breweries joining forces around locally grown hops suggests that Japanese beer is starting to present the origin and freshness of its ingredients as part of its own identity. The word “toretate” (freshly picked) in the project’s name hints at the aim of delivering the aroma of hops harvested that very year.
The beers released in November are essentially seasonal products for the Japanese market, so there is little chance of tasting all 18 side by side in Europe. Even so, knowing about this trend can enrich your enjoyment. At specialist shops and beer bars that stock Japanese craft beer, look at whether the label or description names the hop variety and where it was grown. If you spot “IBUKI” or “Tono”, it is a chance to experience the character of hops grown in Japanese fields. You could also try one alongside a beer made with freshly harvested hops from your own part of Europe in autumn, and see how the aroma differs from place to place.
Sources
This article was written by The Sake Wire editorial team, summarising the public sources listed above. Images are our own.
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