後ろめたい秘密 (Dirty Little Secret)

While complex beers are great and works of art in many respects, sometimes in instances like this you just want something cold, wet, and refreshing in your hand. It is a closely guarded secret in the brewing community here in Japan that after a long hard day at one of Japan’s hot summer beer events the first thing most brewers reach for isn’t an IPA but a lemon sour. Something about the simple combination of lemon juice, distilled spirits, and strong, bubbly carbonated water makes it the ultimate remedy for a parched throat. As we were joking about brewer’s affinity for the drink, we started to wonder if we could replicate something similar in an upcoming beer: little to no bitterness, intensely dry finish, refreshing hop flavour and aroma...

Loosely based on an American Cream Ale, this beer uses a bit of Vienna malt for character and 20% rice flakes to keep the body light and dry. This was combined with brewing techniques adapted from the Brut IPA style to ensure there was as little residual sugar as possible. Refreshing fruit character comes from the unique use of Nelson Sauvin hops alongside Mosaic and Citra. Who knows, maybe we have crafted something that brewers can look to after a long day without feeling like it is a dirty little secret.

Naming: For all the craft beer industry’s self-righteous proclamations about the significance of being small, independent and lovingly produced, it is without question a hypocrisy that it is the biggest of mass-produced alcoholic beverages that we reach for at the end of a hot day at an event.Who knows, maybe we have finally crafted something that brewers can look to after a long day without feeling like it is a dirty little secret.