You have to be on a constant lookout with Aoi Brewing in Shizuoka City as they tend to dish out completely different second versions of their craft beers!
This time it is a second version of their very recent Harumi Fruit Ale!
THis time they used only one hop variety, Rakau hop from Australia included at the last second solely for flavoring!

Served on tap
Barley, Wheat, Pilsner malt (Germany), Wheat malt (Germany), Aroma 150 malt (Belgium), rakau hop (Australia), Dry English Ale yeast, glutinous starch syrup, Harumi mandarines (grown in Shizuoka Prefecture)
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
ABV: 5.0%
IBU: 0
Production: 450 l

Bubbles: longish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: lemon/orange color
Aroma: very dry and fruity. Oranges, citruses
Taste: dry (not bitter!), very fruity and pleasant attack.
Plenty of oranges.
Drinks like an orange juice, but don’t be fooled, that would be a dangerous juice as it contains enough alcohol to hit you back later!
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on notes of oranges.
Oranges stay true all the way through.
Varies little with food.

Taste: the kind of craft beer to enjoy on a warm day!
Very easy to drink and smooth on the palate, but don’t forget it does contain enough alcohol for a late revenge!
Recommended pairings: nuts, salads.
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73) Kiyozawa Lemon Fruit Ale

Since its very beginning Aoi Brewing in shizuoka City has always been keen to create craft beers with local products!
The latest one is one made with lemons cultivated by an association of more 100 farmers in Kiyozawa, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City: Kiyozawa lemon Fruit Ale!

I actually met of of these farmers with their leader, Mr. Yukio Ozaki/尾崎行雄さん at Aoi Beer Stand in Shizuoka City!

Served on tap
Barley, Wheat, Pilsner malt (Germany), Wheat malt (Germany), Sapphire hop (Germany), Hallertau Blanc hop (Germany), Munich Classic yeast, glutinous starch syrup, Kiyozawa lemon peels and juice (grown in Shizuoka Prefecture)
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
ABV: 5.5 %
IBU: 13
Production: 450 l

Bubbles: long head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: lemon/orange color
Aroma: dry and fruity. Lemon, wheat.
Taste: very dry and fruity attack.
Dry lemons.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on more notes of lemon.
Very soft and satisfying!
Varies little with food.

Overall: Softer than expected in spite of its dryness and very satisfying craft fruit beer!
Both ladies and gentlemen will appreciate it although the ladies seem not to get enough of it!
Recommended pairings: potato salad, nuts.
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72) Harumi Fruit Ale (2017 version)

Aoi Brewing has just put out their 2107 version of Harumi Fruit ale, that is for the third year in a row!

Served on tap
Barley, Wheat, Pilsner malt (Germany), Wheat malt (Germany9, Aroma 150 (Belgium), Cascade hop (USA), Sapphire hop (Germany), Hallertau Blanc hop (Germany), Dry English Ale yeast, glutinous starch syrup, Harumi mandarines (grown in Shizuoka Prefecture)
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
ABV: 5.0%
IBU: 15
Production: 450 l

Bubbles: longish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: lemon/orange color
Aroma: dry. Mandarines
Taste: dry, deep and very fruity attack.
Mandarines, wheat.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on notes of oranges and mandarines.
Mandarines stay true all the way through.
Take a slight turn to sweetness with food with softer notes of oranges.

Taste: extravagant fruit ale craft beer!
Ladies don’t seem to have enough of it!
But gentlemen would do well to grab their share.
Milder than former versions.
Recommended pairings: nuts, salami.

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71) Black IPA

Aoi Brewing has just come up with a “session craft beer”, meaning that it was brewed in the company of Beck Company customers. Note that session craft beers have a lso a lower alcohol amount: BECKer’s IPA!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt (Great Britain), Munchen malt (Germany), Aroma 150 malt (Belgium), Southern Cross hop (Australia), Rakau hop (Australia), Cascade hop (USA), Ahtanum hop (USA), Dry English Ale yeast, glutinous starch syrup
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
ABV:4.5%
IBU: 31
Production: 450 l

Long head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white
Color: orange
Aroma: very fruity, dry, spicy. Honey, biscuits.
Taste: dry, bitter and fruity attack.
Dry honey, ginger bread, biscuits.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on more bitter notes of honey and oranges.
Changes little with food.

Overall: Superb IPA. Very bitter but still smooth and easy to drink.
Called “session PA”, because among other reasons its alcohol content is lower than usual.
A craft beer for all seasons but unfortunately a very limited one!
Recommended pairings: nut, chili con carne, cold meats, spicy sausages.

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70) BECKer’s IPA

Aoi Brewing has just come up with a “session craft beer”, meaning that it was brewed in the company of Beck Company customers. Note that session craft beers have a lso a lower alcohol amount: BECKer’s IPA!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt (Great Britain), Munchen malt (Germany), Aroma 150 malt (Belgium), Southern Cross hop (Australia), Rakau hop (Australia), Cascade hop (USA), Ahtanum hop (USA), Dry English Ale yeast, glutinous starch syrup
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
ABV:4.5%
IBU: 31
Production: 450 l

Long head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white
Color: orange
Aroma: very fruity, dry, spicy. Honey, biscuits.
Taste: dry, bitter and fruity attack.
Dry honey, ginger bread, biscuits.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on more bitter notes of honey and oranges.
Changes little with food.

Overall: Superb IPA. Very bitter but still smooth and easy to drink.
Called “session PA”, because among other reasons its alcohol content is lower than usual.
A craft beer for all seasons but unfortunately a very limited one!
Recommended pairings: nut, chili con carne, cold meats, spicy sausages.

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69) ALT (2017 version)

Aoi Brewing has decided to alter their ALT and the first batch in already served on tap!
The main difference is that Black malt is not longer used.

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt (Great Britain), Crystal malt (USA), Munich malt (Germany), Chocolate malt (USA), Australian galaxy Hop (Australia), Sylva hop (Australia), Select hop (Belgium), Nottingham Pale Ale Yeast (Great Britain), sugars
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
ABV:5.5%
IBU: 35
Production: 450 l

Bubbles: Long head. Very fine bubbles. Cremy. Light brown
Color: dark orange.
Aroma: Deep and dry. Bread, biscuits, ginger bread, dry honey.
Taste: smooth and deep attack. Creamy. Complex.
Bread, ginger bread, oranges.
Excellent blend of malt, yeast and alcohol.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on drier notes of oranges.

Overall: my good friend, Kent Rhoads, a very difficult to please beer critic, assured me this was the best brown ale he ever tasted in Japan!
Not over rich, well-rounded, complex and exciting.
A craft beer that you can both savor and quaff in all seasons!
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68) Southern IPA

Aoi Brewing in Shizuoka has come up with a different IPA brewed exclusively with New Zealand hps: Southern IPA!

Served on tap
Barley. Maris Otter malt (Great Britain), Munich malt (Germany), Aroma 150 malt (Belgium). All malts were of the same amount and simultaneously used.
Rakan hop, Southern Cross hop and Wainea hop (all from New Zealand). No dry hopping.
Nottingham Pale Ale yeast (Great Britain), sugars
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
ABV:6.5%
IBU: 35
Production: 450 l

Bubbles: long head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: deep orange/persimmon color
Aroma: dry, deep and fruity. Citruses, oranges, dry honey.
Taste: dry but not bitter at first, well-rounded fruity attack.
Oranges, bread, biscuits, faint honey.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on more notes of biscuits with acidity surging ahead and lingering on palate.
Stays smooth on the tongue and palate all the while in spite of the late bitterness.

Overall: totally different IPA type!
Very easy to drink and complex with a double impression starting smooth to finish on pleasant acidity.
Will definitely please both genders of any age!
A real pity it is a limited craft beer!
Suggested pairings: Nuts, sausages, dry meats.

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67) Supersonic Pale Ale

As its name indicates, Aoi Brewing in Shizuoka City came up with their last limited craft beer of the year: Supersonic Pale Ale!

Served on tap
Barley. Maris Otter malt (Great Britain), Crystal malt (Great Britain), Chocolate malt (Great Britain), Magnum hop (Germany), Willamette hop (USA), Sereia hop (Slovenia), Nottingham Pale Ale yeast (Great Britain), sugars
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
ABV:5.5%
IBU: 30
Production: 450 l

Bubbles: longish head, very fine bubbles, white color
Color: deep orange/persimmon
Aroma: dry, discreet and fruity. Bread, biscuits.
Taste: deep, dry, fruity attack.
Bread, biscuits, dry honey.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on more acid notes of bread and citruses.

Overall: very easy to drink pale ale!
Could easily become a habit.
Will please both genders of any age all year round.
A gentle craft beer for all seasons!
Suggested pairings: potato salad, sausages
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66) Christmas Ale

Starting from last year Aoi Brewing in Shizuoka Puts a very limited craft beer called Christmas Ale!
This year version being a little different I had been waiting in great expectation!

Served on tap
Barley. Maris Otter malt (Great Britain), Munich malt (Germany), Crystal malt (Great Britain), Chocolate malt (Great Britain), Pearl hop (great Britain), Nottingham Pale Ale yeast (Great Britain), sugars, orange peels, coriander, cinnamon, vanilla beans
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
ABV:8%
IBU: 30
Production: 450 l

Bubbles: long head, very fine bubbles, creamy, faint orange/white color
Color: deep orange/dark amber
Aroma: dry and fruity. Citruses, dry honey
Taste: dry/bitter, very deep and fruity attack.
Complex: oranges, persimmon, cinnamon.
Almost sirupy in texture.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing drier/more bitter notes of biscuits and honey.
Spicy bitterness will somewhat linger on the palate later.

Overall: a very rich and complex spicy but almost sirupy craft ale to be savored very slowly.
Perfect in cold weather!
Will show more facets with rise in temperature.
Extravagant craft beer maybe best drunk as dessert.
Recommended pairings: Sweets, chocolate.
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65) Challenger pale Ale

Aoi Brewing in Shizuoka City has come up a limited British style single mat, single hop craft beer: Challenger Pale Ale!

Served on tap
Barley. Maris Otter malt (Great Britain), Challenger hop (Great Britain), sugars, Nottingham Ale yeast (Great Britain)
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 28
Production: 450 l

Bubbles: longish head, fine bubbles, creamy, white.
Color: persimmon
Aroma: dry and fruity. Honey, persimmon, biscuits.
Taste: dry attack followed by welcome acidity/bitterness. Biscuits, citruses.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on drier/more bitter notes of citruses and lemon.
Takes on an even drier turn with food with acid oranges perking up.

Overall: dry and fruity craft beer that should please both genders of any age!
Elegant in spite of its marked bitterness.
Recommended pairings: potato salad, grilled fish, pickled fish.
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64) Fest Heffe Weizen

Aoi Brewing has come up with a new craft beer to celebrate the Autumn Beer Festivals: Fest Heffe Weizen!

Served on tap
Wheat and barley. Pilsner malt (Germany), Wheat malt (Germany), Crystal malt (Great Britain), Cascade hop (USA), Chinook hop (USA), Tetnang hop (Germany), Munich Classic yeast (Germany),sugars
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
ABV: 6.0
IBU: 20
Production: 450 l

Bubbles: Long head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white
Aroma: dry, fruity and spicy. Citruses.
Color: orange, persimmon
Taste: very dry and fruity attack. Spicy. Dry oranges.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on dry notes of mandarines and lemon.
Becomes softer on palate as temperature rises but still finishes on a very dry note.
Varies liitle with food.

Overall: a very refreshing and elegant craft beer in spite of its marked dryness.
Although produced in Autumn, will do well in all seasons.
For craft beer lovers of any gender or age!
Recommended pairings: cold meats, BBQ

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63) Mikan Sour Ale (2016 version)

Aoi Brewing’s 2016 version of their Mikan Sour Ale is at last available on tap at Aoi Beer Stanad in Miyuki-Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Served on tap
Barley and wheat, Pilsner Malt (Germany), Wheat malt (Germany), Magnum hop (Germany) Chinook hop (USA), Willamette hop (USA), mikan mandarine (Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City), French saison yeast (France)
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Alcohol/ABV: 4.8 degrees
IBU: 8
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: Longish head, very fine bubbles, white color
Color: smoky lemon color
Aroma: very light. Citruses
Taste: very dry, sour and fruity attack.
Starts lemonish to end definitely on sour mandarines.
Some acidity will appear late.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on strong notes of light acid mandarines.
varies little with food but for a more pronounced acidity.

Overall: splendid hot afternoon craft beer!
Very elegant in spite of its marked sour dryness and further strong acidity.
Will equally please both genders of any age.
Best savored in the afternoon!
Suggested pairings: nuts, cold meats, BBQ, strong cheese.
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62) Geppaku Fuusei Ale (2016 version)

Aoi Brewing Owner Naoki Mando in center and Master Brewer Kooichi Taka on the right!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to taste the brand new limited craft beer, Geppaku Fuusei Ale, 2016 version, by Aoi Brewing In Shizuoka City!
It is a French Saison ale type craft beer!

Served on tap
Barley and wheat, Pilsner Malt (Germany), Wheat malt (Germany), Opal hop (Germany) Perle hop (Germany), coriander, nutmeg, orange peels, lemon peels, clove, French saison yeast
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Alcohol/ABV: 5.5 degrees
IBU: 20
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: Longish head, very fine bubbles, white color
Color: smoky lemon/orange color
Aroma: dry and fruity. Citruses
Taste: very dry, spicy and fruity attack backed up with some pleasant acidity.
Complex. citruses, lemon, coriander,cloves.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on notes of dry lemon and dry spices, especially cloves.
Dry nuts will appear on the late.
Varies little with food.

Overall: great summer ale craft beer!
Very complex, fruity and spicy with a marked dryness.
Its sharpness makes it a very welcome beer in hot summer!
Will please both genders at any time of the day!
Suggested pairings: nuts, cold meats, pickles.
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61) Lingering Summer Ale

Aoi Brewing has come up with another craft beer: Lingering Summer Ale!
But I can assure you it will not linger long at AOI BEER STAND!
Incidentally this tasting was conducted with the help of two good friends of mine, namely Atsuko Kurata and Chiaki Hirano!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt (England), Munich Malt (Germany), Flaked barley malt (USA), Chinook hop (USA), Perle hop (Germany), Sugars, Lingerwood yeast (ale yeast-USA)
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Alcohol/ABV: 4.5 degrees
IBU: 29
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: Longish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, whitish orange color
Color: deep orange
Aroma: dry and fruity. Citruses, hop
Taste: dry and fruity attack but soft and light on the palate.
Citruses, bread, dry honey, unripe persimmon.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with dry oranges.

Overall: very easy to drink craft beer in spite of its high dryness,acidity.
A real summer craft beer!
Suggested pairings: sausages, cold meats.

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60) Cracked Fingers American IPA

Aoi Brewing in Shizuoka City has come up with a limited beer supposedly very bitter/acid!
Cracked Fingers American IPA (also accompanied by “55”)!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt (England), Munich Malt (Germany), Crystal Malt, Chinook hop (USA), Cascade hop (USA), American ale yeast
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Acohol/ABV: 6.5 degrees
IBU: 55
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: Longish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white
Color: very deep orange
Aroma: rich, dry and fruity. Oranges, citruses
Taste: very dry and fruity attack.
Complex: oranges, bread, dry honey
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on more dry notes of oranges and ever increasing bitterness/acidity after an initial mellow start.
Varies little with food

Overall: splendid bitter ale/American IPA!
Fluctuates with time and sips and keeps surprising you.
Very elegant in spite of its bitterness surging after every sip.
For bitter ale lovers!
Suggested pairings: cold meats, nuts, hamburgers.

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59) Boy Meets Girl Amber Ale

A new very limited craft beer has appeared on tap at Aoi Beer Stand in Shizuoka City.
Originally it is part of a collaboration fora Shziuoka Souvenir Set marketed by Isetan Department Store in Shizuoka City: Boy Meets Girl Amber Ale!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt (England), Munich Malt (Germany) Crystal Malt, Black Malt, Tettnang hop (Germany), Challenger hop (England) pale ale yeast yeast, nutmeg, coriander
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Acohol/ABV: 5 degrees
IBU: 23
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: Longish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, light brown color
Color: very dark orange
Aroma: pleasant, dry, spicy and very fruity. Nutmeg, honey, bread.
Taste: dry, fruity attack.
Complex: bread, honey, nutmeg.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on an increasingly acid note and more dry bread and honey.

Overall: a craft beer with a lot of character!
Might not please everyone because of its precise taste.
Personally loved it to the point of not needing food to accompany it!
Pity it is a very limited craft beer!
Suggested pairings: pork meats. cold or hot.

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58) Suruga Elegant Ale (2016 Version)

Aoi Brewing’s 2016 version of their Suruga Elegant Ale is at last available on tap!
It is made with Shizuoka-Grown “Ama Natsu” Oranges!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt (England), Topaz hop (Australia), Tettnang hop (Germany), French Saison yeast, Ama Natsu oranges
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Acohol/ABV: 5 degrees
IBU: 17
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: Longish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: orange
Aroma: sweetish and fruity. Sweetish oranges.
Taste: dry and very fruity attack.
Plenty of oranges. Faint dry honey.
Lingers enough on palate for true tasting before departing on drier notes of oranges.

Overall: a very elegant indeed fruit craft beer!
Purely local at that!
A craft beer for all seasons!
Suggested pairings: mixed nuts, cold pork meats, mixed salads.
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57) Harumi　(2016 version-3rd Batch)

Last year Aoi Brewing produced its first Harumi craft beer, a fruit craft beer made with real mikan/mandarin oranges grown in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City called “harumi mikan”. Following its great success it will be brewed every year although the quantity is limited due to the restricted availability of the mandarins!

This year’s Harumi will actually be brewed into 3 different batches which are bound to taste differently according to the very difference between the harvested mikan.
The harumi used in this third batch were comparatively bigger and more juicy than in the second batch.
Again the yeast was different.

Served on tap
Barley, Pilsner Malt, Maris Otter malt, Topaz hop, Sapphire hop, French Saison yeast
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Acohol/ABV: 5.5 degrees
IBU: 17
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: Shortish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: lemon/orange
Aroma: dry and fruity. Stronger than second batch. Oranges and lemons, orange albedo.
Taste: very deep, dry and fruity attack.
Quite different from second batch. More complex with plenty of green mandarin oranges and citruses.
Beautiful acidity which will fade away on a lighter note.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on notes of oranges and complex acidity
Lemons tend to fight with oranges with every sip
Changes little with food but for the appearance of more and more dry mandarin oranges.

Overall: very elegant and intriguing fruit craft beer.
Simply extravagant, and even better than the second batch!
Should please ladies and dry fruit beer lovers in particular.
A craft beer for all seasons.
Suggested pairings: vegetable salads, mixed nuts.

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56) Harumi　(2016 version-2nd Batch)

Last year Aoi Brewing produced its first Harumi craft beer, a fruit craft beer made with real mikan/mandarin oranges grown in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City called “harumi mikan”. Following its great success it will be brewed every year although the quantity is limited due to the restricted availability of the mandarins!

This year’s Harumi will actually be brewed into 3 different batches which are bound to taste differently according to the very difference between the harvested mikan.
The harumi used in this second batch were comparatively bigger and more juicy than in the first batch.
Moreover the yeast was different.

Served on tap
Barley, Pilsner Malt, Maris Otter malt, Topaz hop, Sapphire hop, Belgian HJ yeast
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Acohol/ABV: 5.5 degrees
IBU: 17
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: longish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: orange
Aroma: dry and fruity. Stronger than first batch. Dry oranges
Taste: deep, dry and fruity attack.
More complex with plenty of green mandarin oranges and citruses.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on notes of oranges with late appearance of pleasant acidity..
Mandarin oranges will surge even more strongly with further sips and acidity will also increase
Changes little with food but for the appearance of more and more dry mandarin oranges.

Overall: very elegant fruit craft beer.
Simply extravagant, and even better than the first batch!
Should please ladies and dry fruit beer lovers in particular.
A craft beer for all seasons.
Suggested pairings: vegetable salads, mixed nuts.
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55) Shisui (2016 version)

Koudai Fukuyama/福山康大さん, the second master brewer at Aoi Brewing in Shizuoka City, has come up with his 2016 version of “Shisui”!

It is presently served at AOI BEER STAND, Beer Junkies Motel and BEER GARAGE, so you had better hurry as this is a limited brew!

Served on tap
Barley, Wheat, Maris Otter malt (England), Pilsner malt (Germany), Munich nalt (Germany), Wheat malt (Germany), Magnum hop (Germany), Simcom hop (USA), Cascade hop (USA), Centinear hop (USA), American Ale yeast/Wyeast 1056 (USA), 水飴/Mizuame/sugared water.
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Dry hopping
Acohol/ABV: 5.1 degrees
IBU: 20
Starting sugar level: 11.9 Degrees P, Finishing sugar level: 2.3 degrees P
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: longish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: light orange
Aroma: dry and assertive. Citruses.
Taste: light, dry and fruity attack
Oranges, biscuits.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with dry oranges with pleasant acidity.
Varies little with food but for a drier note.

Overall: A craft beer without an overwhelming aroma, light enough and an easy taste!
A craft beer for all seasons!
Even better than last year’s first version!
Suggested pairings: salads, cold meats.