[Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture] Taste the 4-drink comparison set of SANRIKU BEER from Sanriku Brewing Company!

The Sanriku Coast, which straddles Iwate and Miyagi, is surrounded by a beautiful landscape created by a ria coastline and rich nature

The coastal city of Ofunato in Iwate Prefecture is still in the process of recovering from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and Sanriku Brewing Company was established in 2018 to help with that recovery effort

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The brand name is Sanriku Beer

The name was chosen by the owner, who wanted to convey the appeal of the food produced by the rich nature of Sanriku

The four types of beer are made with "Camellia Tea" from Ofunato, "Hokugen no Yuzu" from Rikuzen-Takata, "Date Masayume" rice from Tome rice in Miyagi Prefecture, and oysters from Sanriku, and are easy to enjoy as table beers

OEM production through contract brewing

Sanriku Brewing outsources brewing to Helios Sawauchi Brewery in Nishiwaga, Iwate Prefecture, and Marca LLC in Nishi Ward, Osaka City. They provide detailed recipes, including the malt blend ratio, boiling temperature and time, type and blend of hops, and timing of addition, to ensure that the beer is brewed with care

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Our recommendation for Sanriku Beer is the "4-beer tasting set"

This set of four bottles includes three classic Sanriku beers and one limited edition brewed beer, so you can enjoy comparing the different flavors

Here are some reviews from people who have actually tried them

By the way, "IBU" stands for "International Bitterness Units," and the higher the number, the more bitter it is

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Weekend Seagull (Style: Belgian White, Alcohol content: 5.0%, IBU: 15)

It is based on pilsner malt and is Sanriku Beer's flagship beer

Kesen camellia tea leaves are used as a secondary ingredient, and it has a fruity and refreshing taste that is unique to wheat

It is characterized by the use of coriander and orange peel, and has beautiful bubbles and a light acidity

I tried "Weekend Umineko"

When you put it in your mouth, you can taste the flavor of coriander, and in the aftertaste there is a slight lingering scent of camellia tea. There is also a subtle scent of the sea, which is probably because camellias grow in the sea breeze

The citrus flavor and moderate acidity are refreshing, making it easy to drink as much as you like

"Weekend Sea Cats" are good friends with seafood

Salmon sashimi, boiled scallops, crab-flavored kamaboko and bean sprouts were paired with carpaccio drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with lemon juice and salt

It pairs perfectly with "Weekend Uminekoto," and goes especially well with salmon

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Koisuru Saison (Style: French Saison, Alcohol: 6.0%, IBU: 25)

The secondary ingredient is the "northernmost yuzu" harvested in neighboring Rikuzen-Takata, which gives the drink its fragrant flavor

The French Saison yeast and Simcoe hops give it a refreshing Saison aroma

I tried "Koisuru Saison"

When you bring the glass close, you can smell the blend of yuzu and herbal aromas of hops, and when you put it in your mouth, a balanced mix of sweetness, slight acidity, and bitterness spreads

The citrus scent in the aftertaste is not that of hops, but rather the scent of yuzu, making it refreshing and easy to drink

The marriage of chicken and "Koisuru Saison"

I heard it goes well with chicken and pork dishes, so I tried grilling some chicken breast with salt and pepper

The mild flavor of the chicken breast brought out the citrus aroma and sweetness of the Saison, while the bitterness of the Saison brought out the umami of the chicken, so 400g of chicken went down easily

This Saison would also go well with tuna sashimi

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Dandy IPA (Style: IPA, Alcohol: 6.0%, IBU: 50)

This easy-to-drink IPA uses the brand rice "Date Masayume" as a secondary ingredient and has a citrus aroma from hops such as Centennial, Simcoe, Citra, and Amarillo, balanced with just the right amount of bitterness and a light body

I tried "Dateo IPA"

When poured into a glass, the gorgeous citrus and grassy aroma of hops wafts through the air, and in the mouth, the aroma and bitterness spread throughout the mouth

It has a light taste, a refreshing citrus aroma on the nose, and a clean, pleasant bitterness that lingers in the aftertaste

"Dateo IPA" with lots of meat

IPA pairs best with meat dishes, so I paired it with beef and pork steaks seasoned only with salt and pepper

It pairs perfectly with beef steak, bringing out the best in each other, making it seem like you could eat it forever

It also goes well with pork steak because the umami of the rice enhances the flavor of the meat

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Bababa Stout (Style: Stout, ABV: 5.0%, IBU: 25)

This oyster stout is made with oysters from Sanriku, and has the rich flavor of a dark beer with a slight saltiness that will surprise you with how delicious it is

"Bababa" is a dialect spoken in the southern coastal area of ​​Iwate Prefecture, and is the same expression of surprise as "jajaja" used in the NHK drama series

I tried Bababa Stout

It was a little too chilled, so I didn't notice much of a distinctive flavor at first

As it got closer to room temperature, it had a coffee-like flavor and a slight bitterness, a fragrant aroma, and the taste of salt and oysters

Oysters seem like a good match for "Bababa Stout"..

In Ireland, fresh oysters are a standard pairing with stout, but this time I couldn't get hold of any good oysters, so I paired it with canned ark shells, and the umami of the ark shells and the sweet and spicy sauce went really well together

It's also delicious with salted corn chips and yogurt dip, and it also goes well with chocolate

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summary

Sanriku Beer can be purchased online through the official website, as well as at roadside stations such as Sanriku and Takada Matsubara, and Three Peaks in Ofunato City

In addition to several restaurants in Ofunato City, you can also enjoy it in restaurants such as Yoshihama Shokudo in Morioka City and Subako in Hachioji City, Tokyo

Sanriku Beer <Information>

• Name: Sanriku Brewing Company LLC
• Address: Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture
• Official URL: https://sanrikubeer.com/

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