4) FUJI SANSAN

Gotenba Koogen Brewery in Gotenba City, Shizuoka Prefecture, does bear a misleading name because Yonekyu Co,the owner of Mori no Biru (Forest Beer) Brewery, is also the owner of the Gotenba Koogen Resort beer Hall & Restaurant!

Since the brewery is located at the foot of Mount Fuji, no wonder they call it “Fuji Sansan/富士燦燦/Mount Fuji Brilliance”! There is a kind of pun involved as in Japanese you can Mount Fuji, “Fuji San”!

Most beer produced at the brewery is commercial beer for its resort, but this particular one is one of their few craft beers!

Product name: Fuji Sansan
Unpasteurized (生/nama)
Ingredients: Grain malt, Grain, Hop
Alcohol/ABV: 5.5 %
Contents: 330 ml

Short head
Bubbles: fine, white
Color: golden
Aroma: assertive. Bread, hints of oranges
Dry attack, refreshing pilsner type.
Bread, hops, hints of roasted oats.
Lingers for a while with a late appearance of oranges.
Gets noticeably drier with food.

Overall: A good quality thirst quencher best suited for a hot summer afternoon or evening.

Yonekyu-Mori no Biru Brewery (Gotemba Koogen)
421-0046 Gotemba City, Hodosawaji, Sumiyakisawa, 1015-1
Tel 0550-89-7611
Gotemba Koogen Homepage
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3) Winter Seasonal Oogon Fuji

Mori No Biru which iathe brewery of Gotemba Koogen Beer Company owned by the Yonekyu Company in Gotemba City does produce some seasonal brews in the craftbeer fashion!

The company for all its big size is still new as it was founded in 19797!

The regular beers are not craftbeers but this one is!

Product name: Winter Winter Seasonal Oogon Fuji
Unfiltered
Ingredients: barley malt, hops, yeast, water from a well dug 50 meteres deep into Mount Fuji!
Volume: 400 ml
Alcohol: 5.5%

Clarity: Very clean and slightly smoky
Color: Light yellow orange
Aroma: Bread, oranges
Bubbles: Fine and light bubble
Longish head
Taste: Dry attack.
Deep and somewhat complex.
Bread with hints of citruses.
Refreshing and easy to drink.

Overall: Thirst-quenching but better than average such beers.
Satisfying. To be enjoyed with snacks!

Mori no Biru Brewery (Gotemba Koogen)
421-0046 Gotemba City, Hodosawaji, Sumiyakisawa, 1015-1
Tel 0550-89-7611
Gotemba Koogen Homepage
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2) Tamori Cup Beer

“Tamori Cup Beer” is a limited/private label to commemorate a famous Yacht Race called Tamori (famous Japanese Comedian/TV MC) Cup by Gotenba Kogen Beer Co Ltd. (actually the brewery itself owned by Yonekyu Company is located in another location in Gotenba City).

Gotemba Koogen Brewery is located at the foot of Mount Fuji!

Product name: Tamori Cup Beer
Unfiltered, unpasteurized
Ingredients: barley and wheat malt, hops, yeast
Volume: 330 ml
Alcohol: 5.5%

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Deep apricot orange
Foam: Thin longish head. Fine bubbles
Aroma: Dry and fruity, assertive, sharpish. Bread, oranges.
Taste: Deep ale-like attack. Refreshing.
Bread, oranges.
Lingers for a while before disappearing on a slightly nutty dry note.

Overall: Very refreshing but deeper than a thirst-quenching low alcohol beer.
Its ale-like approach makes it both fit to drink on its own or with food any time of the year.
Although quite japanese in approach, should please European tasting buds
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1) Mori No Biru Brewery (Gotemba Koogen): Autumn

Autumn (or “kooyou”, “red Leaves” in Japanese) is a seasonal limited beer brewed by Gotenba Kogen Beer Co Ltd. (actually the brewery itself owned by Yonekyu Company is located in another location in Gotenba City):

Gotenba Kogen Beer/ Autumn
Barley and Wheat Malt
Alcohol: 5.5%
Contents: 500ml

Foam: Plenty. Firm head
Colour: Light amber
Aroma: Sharp
Taste: Lager. Strong dry taste at first which tails off quickly.

Comments: Typically Japanese. Does not linger much.
Tasting conducted by Patrick Harrington and Robert-Gilles Martineau

Mori no Biru Brewery (Gotemba Koogen)
421-0046 Gotemba City, Hodosawaji, Sumiyakisawa, 1015-1
Tel 0550-89-7611
Gotemba Koogen Homepage