Popular craft beer maker "Yo-Ho Brewing". We handle ale (top fermentation) style beers such as "Yona Yona Ale", "Wednesday Cat" and "Indian Blue Demon".
At the brewery (Saku City, Nagano Prefecture), a limited-time factory tour "Adult Brewery Tour" is being held. Satisfaction is over 95%, and the application page is filled with interesting words such as "no glass at all", "kind and at home", "tasting that you can't usually say", and it seems to be fun anyway!
One day in September, when I was eager to go, I wondered if my thoughts were understood, and there was a guide to a tour for the media! I was so happy that I applied and participated early. We will report on the tour that is too fun, along with the connector "Yaho Aruaru".
◆ “Handmade” tour This tour is run by a project team created across departments. This is the 6th year of the event. The theme is different depending on the year, and this year the content is to pursue "Yona Yona Ale" thoroughly.
Black tent is a special reception counter
The tour is broadly divided into three processes: learning about raw materials, visiting the factory, and tasting. Start your tour with a welcome beer!
You will be greeted with a freshly poured "Yona Yona Ale"
On the tour, the Yahoo staff will be happy to guide you. "Yataro" who was in charge of us is a popular person who is often nominated. It seems that he is usually in charge of operating the official mail order shop.
[Yaho Aru Aru 1] Employees call by nickname At Yahoo, it is a rule to call by nickname regardless of position or department. "Marilyn" who sent us the tour information, and "Don-chan" who acted as a tour guide with Mr. Yataro. All the staff are giving out an aura of "Talk to me more and more!", So it's okay to hit more and more what you want to hear.
◆ The taste of malt I ate for the first time ... First, the turn to "know the raw materials". You can actually experience the taste and aroma of malt and hops, which are the main ingredients of Yona Yona ale. The malt I ate for the first time has aroma and sweetness, and I can eat it polypoly. Some people use it as a snack for sake. Grind the hops in the palm of your hand and enjoy the scent!
The "contents" of the hop. It seems that this yellow part is the source of the scent.
At the same time, you will be taught how to make beer. I recommend you to listen carefully here! The tour inside the factory will be much more enjoyable.
page Into the brewery you care about!
◆ Pay attention to "temperature" and "fragrance" Wearing a hat and shoe cover, we finally infiltrated the brewing site. Instead of looking through the glass aisle like a major manufacturer, you enter the "inside" where it is actually in operation. Therefore, it is dangerous to participate in shoes with heels or sandals. Wearing skirts and accessories is prohibited, so be prepared and participate.
Shuppatsu! (Yataro-san, I'm sorry for the blur)
The first thing you will be guided to is the "preparation room". Since it is about 40 degrees Celsius, there are large tanks lined up in a warm (no hot) room with the sweet scent of malt. Here you can sample the wort before mixing the hops. There was no bitterness derived from hops, and it was very sweet and rich.
[Yaho Aru 2] Employees can make beer freely !? In one corner of the brewing room is a small brewing tank that was ordered from the United States. Employees can make beer with this tank! So far, many masterpieces such as shiso beer and sansho beer have been born. By the way, Mr. Yataro manufactures prune beer. "Probably the second worst in history" It seems that it became a "stray work".
Next, we went to the fermentation room, which was filled with the aroma of beer. Since the yeast of ale beer is set to 20 degrees, it feels chilly when coming from a room of 40 degrees. The amount of beer in one fermentation tank takes about 156 years even if you drink one can every day! You can see how it is fermenting.
(I like this, Yataro-san's flow)
The next room is lined with tanks to cool down and let the yeast lie down. Here, tasting the "brewed beer" taken out of this tank. Compared to the regular version of Yona Yona Ale, it had a refreshing and refreshing taste. It tastes like this before filtration!
It takes about 15 minutes from taking it out to being able to drink it.
Now, the finished beer is packed in cans and barrels in the filling room. Unfortunately, this day was a holiday, but I was able to meet only one "employee". His (?) Name is "Abe-chan No. 2". An arm for carrying boxed cans. Before the introduction of the arm, it was taken from the name of the veteran staff who played this role when it was done manually.
It seems that cans usually flow one after another
The upper right arm is the hard worker Abe-chan No. 2.
Precautionary statement on the wall for "handling dangerous goods", sorting display written on the trash can, shift table of staff who processed the beer crown .. The bulletin board is studded with material about who made it. This flexible (?) Idea may have led to the making of interesting beer.
"Moe Moe"! I love the atmosphere that I'm not used to making hearts
Inside the factory, the temperature and scent change as the room changes. You can't understand this unless you go! I realized that yeast is a living thing. The inside of the factory, which is full of beer scent, is exciting.
page Long-awaited tasting time
◆ Tasting time full of inside stories The long-awaited tasting time! Everyone gets excited while listening to easy-to-understand explanations. Tasting a total of 6 types, including "Karuizawa Kogen Beer" that can only be bought around Karuizawa. Everyone gets tipsy in no time. It was like a little party. It will tell you a lot of stories that only Yahoo staff knows, such as behind-the-scenes stories of product development!
Being an adult, let's follow the "manner" properly
Yumipu is very good at pouring beer. It seems that it is also recommended to combine Yona Yona ale with Chinese food.
After this, go to the souvenir corner and you will be free to dissolve. A set that includes limited beer (a little cheaper than the market) and goods with a logo. I just bought it. Mania collecting goods to complete ... There are some fans.
Limited beer and goods ...
Bags sold as "tour-only" products. It was handmade by a staff member's wife from a towel. It seems that the towel with this logo is no longer on sale, so it's a really valuable limited edition. Yahoo is a beer maker loved by families.
◆ It's too hard to go home The one-hour tour was over in no time. Anyway, including Mr. Yataro who guided me, the staff's "Yaho love" was transmitted for a while, and by the end, I felt like I was already in the family of Yaho. Yahoo, I love you! I was sent off with a lot of smiles, and while holding a lot of beer, I went home with a lot of fulfillment.
This year, it will be held until November 1st (weekends only). You can apply from the official online shopping site. Many dates are already filled, so apply early! Of course, you can only participate if you are over 20 years old.