Shimanami Brewery, based in Onomichi, Hiroshima, has launched the "Shimanami Cho-Hassaku Sour" as of March 12, 2026. The new product joins the brewery's "Cho-Sour" (Ultra Sour) series, which applies craft brewing techniques to create a unique sour-flavored sparkling brew.
A Hard Seltzer Born from Craft Brewing Know-How
Unlike a typical hassaku sour—which combines distilled spirits with carbonated water and hassaku juice—the Shimanami Cho-Hassaku Sour is a sparkling brew (hard seltzer) made using craft beer fermentation methods. The base is a clear craft beer crafted through extensive trial and error to bring out a gentle fermentation aroma and natural sweetness characteristic of brewed beverages. An generous amount of Setouchi-grown hassaku citrus juice is then blended in, along with lemon juice for added brightness.
The result is a rich, layered drink with the refreshing acidity of citrus, the juicy flavor of hassaku, and the variety's signature hint of pleasant bitterness. Because so much hassaku juice is used, the alcohol content is kept at a low 3.0%.
The Taste Changes with or without Ice
Served over ice, the drink is crisp and refreshing. Without ice, it gradually warms, the acidity mellows, and the natural sweetness and yeast aroma of the brewed base come through more distinctly—two distinct drinking experiences from a single can.
"We've created something new with a pleasant acidity, a mild bitterness, and plenty of hassaku juiciness. We think you'll love it!" — Brewer's Comment
The "Cho-Lemon Sour" in the Same Series Won a Good Design Award
The "Shimanami Cho-Lemon Sour," which shares the same concept, received the 2025 Good Design Award (organized by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion) on October 15. It is the first craft beer produced by a domestic microbrewery to receive the award.
Product Details
- Style: Cho-Hassaku Sour
- Alcohol: 3.0%
- Volume: 350 ml
- Ingredients: Hassaku juice (domestic), lemon juice, sugars, malt (less than 25% malt content)
- Best Before: 6 months
- Storage: Refrigerated (below 10°C / 50°F)
- Price: Open price
Available for purchase on the Shimanami Brewery official website.
About Shimanami Brewery's Craft Beer
Shimanami Brewery's craft beers are known for their clean, pure flavor—achieved through the brewer's expertise and meticulous temperature control. Many drinkers find the beer so smooth that the glass seems to empty before they notice.
Flagship Lineup
The brewery's flagship beers are the "Strike Pilsner"—conceived as the definitive center-of-the-plate lager—and the "First Lager," designed as the ideal first drink of the night. Both pilsners distill everything brewer Kazato Matsuoka has learned throughout his career. The names draw from baseball terminology, a nod to the owner's love of the Hiroshima Carp.
The malts used in both flagship beers are a blend of German and Canadian varieties—the German malt for robust grain flavor, the Canadian malt for enzymatic power and a clean finish—combined in proportions refined through years of experience.
Strike Pilsner Wins Country Winner at World Beer Awards Two Years Running
The "Strike Pilsner" claimed the Country Winner (Japan's highest honor) in the Classic Pilsner category at both the World Beer Awards 2024 and World Beer Awards 2025, making it two consecutive years at the top of domestic recognition in its category.
