Sankt Gallen Ltd. (Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture) is releasing a new beer called Nashi no Weizen, made with Japanese pears that are too damaged or blemished for regular retail sale. The beer goes on sale September 16, 2026, in a limited quantity.
More details are available on the product page: https://www.sanktgallenbrewery.com/pear/
An Upcycled Beer Made from "Cosmetically Imperfect" Pears
In recent years, many pear farmers have struggled with a condition called mitsusho, which intensifying summer heat has made more common. Mitsusho causes part of the fruit's flesh to turn water-soaked and semi-translucent. While the resulting sweetness is often prized in apples, in pears it comes at the cost of the fruit's signature texture, making the pears difficult to sell through normal retail channels.
Even with their texture affected, pears with mitsusho remain perfectly fine to eat. After being approached by people connected to Kanagawa's pear industry, Sankt Gallen developed this beer to make use of them.
The brewery also buys up pears that can't be sold as regular produce for other reasons, such as scratches from rubbing against branches in the wind, cracks, or inconsistencies in color, shape, or size.
Beyond pears, Sankt Gallen brews fruit beers with imperfect produce year-round, including Shonan Gold, made with blemished oranges, and Apple Cinnamon Ale, made with blemished apples.
Because Sankt Gallen's fruit beers rely on generous amounts of real fruit rather than flavorings to bring out natural aroma and taste, using less expensive, cosmetically imperfect fruit also helps keep ingredient costs down.
For farmers, selling fruit that would otherwise go unsold provides income, while the brewery gets ingredients at a lower cost than usual, making it a mutually beneficial arrangement. Some of the brewery's fruit beers were even created in response to farmers reaching out about surplus imperfect fruit. Using this produce also helps reduce food loss, contributing to the goals of the SDGs.
Pears Added in Three Forms for a Juicy, Fruity Flavor
The beer is based on weizen, a wheat-based style known for its fruity character. Weizen yeast naturally produces aromas reminiscent of pear and peach, and combining that with real pear results in a juicy, fruity beer.
Diced pear, pear puree, and pear juice are added in three separate stages during production. Each processing method draws out different aromas, sweetness, and juiciness, layering together to recreate the sensation of biting into a fresh pear. Drinkers each year have described picking up what feels like the crisp texture of pear itself, making it a beer that lets fans fully enjoy the character of Japanese pears (nashi).
Nashi no Weizen: Product Details
- Name: Nashi no Weizen (happoshu). This product's malt ratio is 50% or higher, but because the amount of pear used exceeds what Japan's liquor tax law allows for a product to be labeled "beer," it is classified as happoshu.
- Release date: September 16, 2026 (Wed), limited quantity
- Bottle size: 330ml (kegs are also available for restaurants and bars)
- Suggested retail price: ¥539 (tax included)
- Alcohol content: 5.5%
- Where to buy: Sankt Gallen's official online shop (pre-orders open) and select retailers. Full details will be updated on the official website after release.
Enjoy It on Tap at the Taproom and Local Beer Festivals
It's also possible to enjoy the beer on tap at the brewery's taproom or at nearby festivals.
Sankt Gallen Taproom
Located just outside the north exit of Hon-Atsugi Station, the taproom offers around 20 Sankt Gallen beers on tap, from year-round staples to seasonal releases. Pizzas are stretched by hand to order and baked in a stone oven.
- Address: 1F, Hon-Atsugi Mylord 2, 2-2-1 Naka-cho, Atsugi, Kanagawa (just outside Hon-Atsugi Station's north exit)
- Phone: 046-230-7017
- Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM; Friday, Saturday, and the day before a holiday, 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM (last food order one hour before closing, last beer order 30 minutes before closing)
- Instagram: @sanktgallen_taproom
The beer is also scheduled to appear at the following festivals:
- Keyaki Hiroba Autumn Beer Festival 2026 — September 17 (Thu) to 21 (Mon, holiday)
- Atsugi Oktoberfest 2026 — September 18 (Fri) to 27 (Sun)
- Yokohama Oktoberfest 2026 — September 18 (Fri) to October 4 (Sun)
It will also be available at other bars that carry Sankt Gallen beers, with updates posted on the official website as they become available.
