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Umenishiki Beer SOKUJO Full Review – Elegant Ginjo Aroma from Sake Yeast
This article is based on a past tasting experience and was updated in June 2025.
What You’ll Learn
- Key features and appeal of this beer
- Detailed flavor profile
- Where to buy and recommendations
I’ll give you the expert breakdown on the hops in this beer!
Got it! Let me break down what makes this beer special…
Wow, this beer sounds fascinating! I can’t wait to find out how it tastes!
Umenishiki Beer SOKUJO Full Review – Elegant Ginjo Aroma from Sake Yeast
Here’s my review of SOKUJO, a special beer brewed by Umenishiki, one of Shikoku’s most storied sake breweries.This unique beer uses sake yeast, creating a fusion of sake’s aroma and beer’s refreshing character.I’ll break down the depth from one year of aging and how this 7.0% ABV beer is surprisingly easy to drink.
What You’ll Learn
- Features of Umenishiki Beer SOKUJO brewed with sake yeast
- Unique flavor profile combining sake-like aroma with beer character
- Smooth mouthfeel from one year of aging
- History of Shikoku’s legendary Umenishiki brewery and their craft beer venture
- Explanation of the unique “Sake Yeast Beer” style
I’ve never heard of Umenishiki Beer! What kind of beer is it?
It’s a craft beer made by Umenishiki, a historic sake brewery in Shikoku. They were one of the first in Japan to get a craft beer brewing license. This SOKUJO is an especially rare brew made with sake yeast.
Umenishiki Beer SOKUJO: Basic Information
| Beer Name | Umenishiki Beer SOKUJO |
| Brewery | Umenishiki Yamakawa Co., Ltd. (Ehime) |
| Beer Style | Sake Yeast Beer / Ginjo Beer |
| ABV | 7.0% |
| Ingredients | Malt, rice koji, rice, hops |
| Volume | 330ml |
| Price | 660 yen (tax incl.) |
| Liquor Category | Happoshu (due to rice koji) |
| Characteristics | Sake yeast, 1-year tank aging |
| Place of Purchase | Sake House Morimoto (Tokushima) |
| Date of Purchase | January 2024 |
What Is Umenishiki Beer?
Umenishiki Beer is a pioneer that obtained one of the first brewing licenses in April 1994, when Japan’s deregulation lowered the minimum production volume to 60KL. The Yamakawa family founded their sake business in 1872, and this century-old brewery took on craft beer during the Heisei-era deregulation.
Umenishiki and Okhotsk Beer both received License No. 1 from the National Tax Agency on the same day. In July 1995, they opened the Umenishiki Garden Tanbara Beer Brewery, drawing attention as a unique beer garden with an herb garden.
Is beer brewed with sake yeast rare? What makes it special?
Very rare. Regular beer uses beer yeast, but this uses sake yeast. That’s why it has a distinctive ginjo aroma – that fruity, elegant fragrance found in premium sake.
Beginner’s Guide: Sake Yeast Beer
Sake Yeast Beer is beer fermented with sake yeast (such as the Brewing Society of Japan’s K7, K9, or K10 strains) rather than beer yeast. Unlike regular beer, it features fruity aromas of orange, apple, muscat, melon, and banana, along with sandalwood-like fragrances and sometimes complex flavors of butter, condensed milk, shiitake, or blue cheese. It’s a uniquely Japanese beer style offering more diverse and complex flavors.
Umenishiki Beer SOKUJO (330ml) Release Announcement
[2023.3.14]
We will sell a limited quantity of sake-like beer brewed with sake yeast.
Made with ginjo yeast instead of beer yeast, featuring an elegant ginjo aroma.
Brewed in January of last year and aged in tanks for one year. The aging process has produced a mellow, soft, and clear flavor.[Product Name] 梅錦ビール 速醸（SOKUJO） 330ml
[Price] 600円（税込660円）
[Style] Sake Yeast Beer or Ginjo Beer
[Ingredients] Malt, rice koji, rice, hops
[ABV] 7.0％
[Category] 発泡酒*
[Release Date] 2023年 3月14日 Limited quantity
*Same liquor tax rate as beer, but classified as happoshu due to rice kojiFrom official website https://www.umenishiki.com/contents/blog/info/1397.html
Tasting Review
Beer tasting sounds difficult… What order should I taste in?
Don’t worry! Go in order: appearance, aroma, taste, then overall impression. SOKUJO has a particularly distinctive aroma, so take your time with it.
Appearance
A barley-tea brown color with SRM around 5. Highly transparent, with a slight amber glow in the clear liquid. Head retention is moderate, but the fine bubbles create a pleasant impression.
Aroma
Aroma (Orthonasal)
A sake-like green apple aroma hits first, layered with Belgian-style floral notes. Malt sweetness lies beneath, creating a pleasant composite aroma. Lean in and you’ll catch strong refreshing hop notes – a multi-layered aromatic structure.
Flavor (Retronasal)
The retronasal aroma reveals strong grapefruit peel and grape skin hop impressions. A chicle-like quality similar to Mosaic hops is also detectable. Mixed with Ramune soda freshness and sweet rum raisin and dried persimmon notes, it forms a complex, captivating flavor.
What’s ‘chicle’? So many technical terms…
Chicle is tree sap originally used to make gum. It describes a faintly sweet, slightly resinous flavor like chewed-out gum. It’s a characteristic aroma of Mosaic hops.
Taste
Mouthfeel
Extremely gentle and smooth mouthfeel with natural malt softness. The malt’s gentleness and alcohol’s coolness harmonize beautifully – so drinkable you’d never guess 7.0% ABV.
Body and Texture
Prominent malt sweetness with a luxurious biscuit quality. The malt character recalls German Dortmunder/Export styles, but sake-like freshness prevents any cloying. Clean sweetness like Mitsuya Cider (Japanese lemon-lime soda) adds complexity approaching American-Belgian ales. Elegant hop aromas reminiscent of rum raisin ice cream spread through the palate for an indulgent drinking experience.
The Swallow
No dankness at all – completely clear. Just slight carbonation friction, then it flows down as smoothly as sake. The finish is crisp and clean.
Aftertaste
Rum raisin flavor fills the mouth with a pleasant lingering finish. Alcohol warmth is subdued, with mellow aged character.
Bottom of the Bottle
At the bottom, the sake-like impression intensifies dramatically. Rum raisin and dried grape sweetness remain, but alcohol coolness becomes more pronounced, completely changing the character. Bread-like flavors are detectable, but the coolness stands out. Compared to actual sake though, the alcohol feels lower with a gentle character.
Does the taste really change at the bottom? Why?
Great question! Sediment and yeast can accumulate at the bottom. With a long-aged beer like this, you can enjoy the variation within the bottle. The stronger sake character likely comes from more concentrated sake yeast characteristics.
Flavor Profile
| Flavor Element | Intensity (1-5) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Bitterness | 2/5 | Restrained, well-balanced, pleasant bitterness |
| Sweetness | 3/5 | Natural malt sweetness with rum raisin notes |
| Sourness | 1/5 | Barely perceptible, slightly fruity acidity |
| Body | 3/5 | Medium body, smooth and clean mouthfeel |
| Aroma Intensity | 4/5 | Distinctively elegant ginjo aroma from sake yeast |
Overall Rating
Scoring Breakdown
| Aroma (out of 10) | 9点 |
| – Malt (out of 3) | 3点 |
| – Hops (out of 3) | 3点 |
| – Other (out of 4) | 3点 |
| Appearance (out of 6) | 5 pts |
| – Color (out of 2) | 2点 |
| – Clarity (out of 2) | 2点 |
| – Head Retention (out of 2) | 1点 |
| Flavor (out of 19) | 18点 |
| – Malt (out of 3) | 3点 |
| – Hops (out of 3) | 3点 |
| – Condition(2点満点) | 2点 |
| – Aftertaste(3点満点) | 3点 |
| – Balance(4点満点) | 4点 |
| – Other (out of 4) | 3点 (Slightly pronounced diacetyl detected) |
| Body (out of 5) | 5 pts |
| Overall (out of 10) | 8点 |
| Total (out of 50) | 46 pts |
Overall Impression
A wonderful beer with excellent balance between berry-like fruitiness, sake yeast complexity, and malty character. The sweetness reads as ‘the sweetness of a fine beverage’ rather than just sweet beer. You can feel Umenishiki’s brewing history and craftsmanship in every sip.
What food do you recommend pairing it with?
With its complex sake yeast flavor, it pairs beautifully with Japanese cuisine – especially grilled fish, tempura, and miso dishes. For Western food, try mild cheese dishes or roast chicken.
FAQ
| Q: Where can I buy Umenishiki Beer SOKUJO? |
| A: Available at select liquor shops. I purchased mine at Sake House Morimoto in Tokushima. Also occasionally found at Shikoku liquor stores and online. It’s limited production, so buy it when you find it. |
| Q: How is this different from regular beer? |
| A: The biggest difference is the yeast. This uses sake yeast (ginjo yeast) instead of beer yeast, giving it an elegant ginjo aroma with more complex, delicate flavors. One-year aging creates an exceptionally smooth mouthfeel. |
| Q: Is it easy to drink at 7.0% ABV? |
| A: Surprisingly easy to drink despite 7.0% ABV. Aging has smoothed out rough edges, and the sake yeast’s fruity aroma plus malt sweetness mask the alcohol. It’s dangerously drinkable, so pace yourself. |
Related Beer Information
If you’re interested in sake yeast beers like this, try these other brands:
- Kiuchi Brewery’s “Hitachino Nest Beer Ginjo Ale”
- Kyoto Brewing’s “Ichigo Ichie” series
- COEDO “Ruri” seasonal ginjo edition
- Fujizakura Kogen Beer’s “Ginrei”
These represent a uniquely Japanese beer style evolution, fusing traditional sake-brewing heritage with craft beer innovation.
Japan Craft Beer Exploration
As someone who lived in Japan until 2024, I’ve documented my craft beer travels across the country. From Hokkaido to Kyushu, I’ve visited unique breweries all over Japan. Check the tag page below for reports on seasonal brews, local-ingredient beers, brewer interviews, and more.
American Craft Beer Exploration
Currently based in Seattle, I document my craft beer travels across the US and Canada. Browse the category page below for brewery visit reports, local-only releases, and brewer conversations from across North America.
Conclusion
Umenishiki Beer SOKUJO is an extremely unique and captivating sake-yeast beer. Its elegant ginjo aroma merges beautifully with malt character, and one-year aging delivers an exceptionally smooth mouthfeel. The 46/50 score reflects its complexity and balance.
A masterwork from Shikoku’s prestigious Umenishiki brewery, leveraging decades of sake-brewing expertise. Grab it when you see it – it’s limited production. With berry-like fruitiness and sake-like complexity, it’s a must-try for both craft beer and sake fans.
Have you tried Umenishiki Beer SOKUJO? Share your thoughts or sake yeast beer recommendations in the comments!
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