GRANDLINE BREWING (Representative Director: Hayato Onishi, hereafter GLB), a craft beer brewery in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, will release a new sensation craft beer called "PONZ MAGIC (Ponzu-Style Sour Ale)" on Monday, February 16, 2026, developed with the acidity and aroma of Mizkan Ponzu Citrus Seasoned Soy Sauce as inspiration.
This familiar flavor that enhances dishes is delivered in the entirely new expression of craft beer. For this release, GLB has also developed unique pairing food to further enhance the distinctive acidity and aroma of "PONZ MAGIC."
PONZ MAGIC Product Overview
"Bringing the refreshing sensation of a ponzu sour into the world of craft beer."
A brew made with Mizkan Ponzu Citrus Seasoned Soy Sauce has arrived, designed to complement any dish. A well-balanced flavor combining crisp, refreshing acidity with subtle sweetness. This sour ale was designed as a food-pairing beverage, featuring a light body characteristic of low alcohol content, while its defined flavor profile enhances the umami of dishes. The aftertaste draws you in for another sip. Note the special beer label featuring holographic star processing that evokes "MAGIC."
Product Name: PONZ MAGIC
Beer Style: Ponzu-Style Sour Ale
ALC.: 3.0%
Ingredients: Ponzu (citrus juice (domestically produced), brewed vinegar), barley malt, wheat malt, hops / acidulant, flavoring, carbon dioxide
Hops Used: Mosaic
Release Date: Monday, February 16, 2026
Sales Locations: GRANDLINE BREWING Tap Room (Yokosuka), KANPAI SHOP [https://kanpaishop.jp/], beer bars and restaurants in the Kanto and Kansai regions, as well as liquor stores
Product Development Background
Since the brewery's inception, GLB has aimed to challenge various beer styles beyond popular IPAs and Hazy IPAs. The owner and brewing team discussed their aspiration to "someday create a craft beer using ponzu." However, at the time, the brewery's recognition and brewing infrastructure were still developing, so it was deemed premature to pursue this challenge.
On the 2nd anniversary, the team felt a strong sense of being recognized as a brewery through customer feedback and social media responses. Convinced that "now is the time," they took the bold step of directly approaching Mizkan, which became the first step toward realizing this project.
PONZ MAGIC Special Pairing Food Recipe Development
For this release of PONZ MAGIC, GLB developed a dedicated pairing food called "Fried Potatoes with Japanese Dashi Cream Cheese" to maximize the drinking experience. This pairing complements the ponzu-derived acidity and umami while highlighting the beer's distinctive character.
The simple sweetness of fried potatoes is lightened with Japanese dashi and citrus acidity in this dish. The cream cheese is combined with ponzu and bonito flakes to leave a lingering dashi aftertaste. The satisfaction of fried potatoes alternates with the richness and lightness of the dashi cream cheese underneath, creating a flavor that doesn't become heavy even as you continue eating. The beer's acidity and citrus aroma harmonize with the ingredients' sweetness, allowing the dish and beer to enhance each other as a "Japanese-style snack."
Preparation Method
① Preparation
Cut potatoes into bite-sized pieces with skin on.
Do not rinse with water; use as is.
② Fry the Potatoes
Fry potatoes in oil at approximately 170°C.
Remove when the surface is lightly colored and cooked through.
③ Bonito Flakes Processing
Spread bonito flakes on a heat-resistant plate and heat in the microwave (600W) for about 1 minute. After cooling, rub with fingers to create a fine powder.
④ Make Japanese Dashi Cream Cheese
Mix room-temperature cream cheese with ponzu. Add the powdered bonito flakes from ③ and blend until smooth. ※The ideal balance has dashi umami taking precedence without excessive acidity.
⑤ Plating
Spread dashi cream cheese at the bottom of a dish and arrange freshly fried potatoes on top in a three-dimensional presentation. Finish by sprinkling with powdered cheese, black pepper, and topping with chopped shiso leaves.
Recipe Ingredients (Serves 2)
Fried Potatoes
Potatoes: 2
Frying oil: As needed
Salt: As needed
Japanese Dashi Cream Cheese
Cream cheese: 50g
Ponzu (not Aji-pon): 1 teaspoon
Bonito flakes: 1g
Salt: A pinch
Finishing Touches
Powdered cheese (Parmigiano, etc.): Small amount
Black pepper: Small amount
Shiso leaves: 2 to 3 (chopped)
