Shimanami Brewery, based in Onomichi, Hiroshima, has launched the "Shimanami Cho-Iyokan Sour" as of September 16, 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 sour—which combines distilled spirits with carbonated water and fruit juice—the Shimanami Cho-Iyokan Sour is a sour-flavored sparkling brew made using craft beer fermentation methods. The base is a clear craft beer (a hard seltzer—an alcoholic sparkling water) crafted through extensive trial and error to bring out a gentle fermentation aroma and natural sweetness characteristic of brewed beverages. A generous amount of Ehime-grown iyokan citrus juice is then blended in to finish the drink.
The result is a refreshing iyokan aroma with a juicy citrus flavor and solid sweetness. Lemon juice is also added to bring a pleasant acidity to the iyokan's sweetness, balancing sweet and sour for a crisp, easy-drinking finish. The alcohol content is kept at 3.0%, letting the flavor of iyokan citrus shine through.
The Taste Changes with or without Ice
Served over ice, the Shimanami Cho-Sour series takes on a crisp, refreshing drinking experience. Without ice, the flavor mellows as the temperature rises, losing some of its acidity for a smoother taste, while letting the natural sweetness and yeast aroma of the brewed base come through.
"This time it's iyokan! We've brought out the juicy citrus flavor and sweetness of iyokan to the fore." — Brewer's Comment
Product Details
- Style: Cho-Iyokan Sour
- Alcohol: 3.0%
- Volume: 350 ml
- Ingredients: Iyokan juice (domestic), lemon juice, sugars, malt
- Best Before: 6 months
- Storage: Refrigerated
- 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. Conceived under the concept of being "the definitive center-of-the-plate lager," the Strike Pilsner has truly become "the delicious center of the plate" with this recognition.
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, 2025. It is the first craft beer produced by a domestic microbrewery to receive the award.
