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.

ホプくん

I’ll give you the expert breakdown on the hops in this beer!

りほくん

Got it! Let me break down what makes this beer special…

ルネちゃん

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.

ルネちゃん

I’ve never heard of Umenishiki Beer! What kind of beer is it?

りほくん

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

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.

ルネちゃん

Is beer brewed with sake yeast rare? What makes it special?

りほくん

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 koji

From official website https://www.umenishiki.com/contents/blog/info/1397.html

Tasting Review

ルネちゃん

Beer tasting sounds difficult… What order should I taste in?

りほくん

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.

ルネちゃん

What’s ‘chicle’? So many technical terms…

りほくん

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.

ルネちゃん

Does the taste really change at the bottom? Why?

りほくん

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

Overall Rating

Scoring Breakdown

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.

ルネちゃん

What food do you recommend pairing it with?

りほくん

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

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.

Japan

「Japan」 – Article list.

rihobeer.com

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.

USA

「USA」 – Article list.

rihobeer.com

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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🏆 総合評価

🛒 購入情報

If you liked this article, hit the “Next Pint!” button!

It means “This is my next pint!” and saves this beer to your list.

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👉 Georgetown Brewing Visit Report in Seattle

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