たわわなれ (Low Hanging Fruit)

The bright acidity and fruit flavors of kettle sour beers are a perfect fit for summer, but we started to wonder—is there a sour beer that is suited for the middle of winter? It turns out there is, and it uses one of Japan’s most iconic winter images: mikan.

While very much a part of daily winter life in Japan, the relatively low acidity and high sugar content of mikan means it lacks the standout flavor profile and aroma of fruits like Yuzu. Our solution was simple: use more of it and in a sourer base than usual to make its flavor and aroma pop. The result is a beer that you would be forgiven for thinking looks like fresh squeezed mikans. The aroma is slightly tart, as is the flavor, a combination which makes it hard to realize that the ABV is 7%. While this beer won’t likely replace kagami mochi on the alters of Japanese homes for New Year’s anytime soon, it is certainly right at home around the kotatsu and is another great way to enjoy holiday time with friends and family.

Naming: There is no fruit that quite says "winter" like a mikan. In the west, the mere aroma brings thoughts of the holiday season while, in Japan, mikan while sitting under the kotatsu is often viewed as the quintessential winter image. From simply a tongue-in-cheek perspective, there is no winter sour choice that is more obvious than a "mikan sour" and it can be said we went for the low-hanging fruit in that selection! That said, what could be more appealing than an over-burdened mikan tree, its branches hanging low with the weight of this season's bounty?