Summer nights. The taste of a cold beer at the end of the day is exceptional. This time, Kimura, a tea concierge at Senchado Tokyo and a beer enthusiast, will create powdered green tea beer using four craft beers from Yoho Brewing and compare them. Which craft beer will harmonize best with the powdered green tea?
The Charm of Yoho Brewing is in the "Aroma"
Yoho Brewing was founded in 1997 in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture. With the mission "Flavor to Beer, Happiness to Life!", it's a brewery specializing in ale production. Their passion and playfulness in beer-making have created numerous enthusiastic fans nationwide, and I'm one of them. The first Yoho Brewing beer I tried was "Wednesday's Cat". About 2-3 years ago, I picked it up at a convenience store after work, thinking "I want to try a different beer today!" The charm is undoubtedly in the "aroma". The diverse aromas unique to each beer style are addictive once you try them.
How to Make Powdered Green Tea Beer
＜Ingredients＞...for 1 serving
・1 stick of mild Japanese powdered green tea (3.5g)
・1 can of beer (350ml)
・Your favorite glass
・Tea strainer
The Recipe is Simple. The Key is to "Pour Slowly"
This time, we're adding powdered green tea to already delicious beers for a playful twist. We'll be making craft powdered green tea beer with four different beer styles.
The recipe is very simple. First, dissolve one packet of powdered green tea (3.5g) in beer (30ml) and mix well with a muddler.
Pour the beer mixed with powdered green tea into your favorite glass through a tea strainer. Use a spoon to clean off any remaining green tea powder from the strainer to use it all.
And here's the crucial part. To create fine foam, pour the beer very slowly. The key is to tilt the glass and gently pour along its side. Be careful not to pour from a height as it will create large bubbles or fail to foam properly.
Tasting 4 Types of Craft Powdered Green Tea Beer
The fluffy foam and the beautiful gradient of green tea and beer colors are stunning. Now, let's taste them. We'll start with my favorite, "Wednesday's Cat".
"Wednesday's Cat" Powdered Green Tea Beer
Wednesday's Cat on its own is characterized by the aroma of orange peel and a less bitter aftertaste. Adding powdered green tea creates a complex aroma where the fresh scent of tea mixes with the beer's citrus notes. The beer's crisp, fruit-like aftertaste is followed by the young leaf-like aroma of the tea, adding depth to the finish. It has a refreshing taste reminiscent of freshly picked green tangerines or oranges, evoking early summer scenery.
"Yona Yona Ale" Powdered Green Tea Beer
Next is "Yona Yona Ale", known for its fresh hop aroma and gentle malt sweetness. The mild fragrances of hops and malt blend with the soft aroma of tea, creating a mellow scent. It seems like their similar aromatic characteristics resonate well together. The bitterness of the tea is also smoothed out by Yona Yona Ale. Its easy-to-drink taste without any peculiarities shows the inclusiveness typical of Yona Yona Ale. This combination is recommended for beginners in powdered green tea beer.
However, both are of unexpectedly high quality. My friends often tease me saying, "You furrow your brow when you drink something delicious." This time was no exception, and I even got a green mustache (laughs). Now, I'm curious about the remaining two types.
"Tokyo Black" Powdered Green Tea Beer
On its own, "Tokyo Black" has an aroma reminiscent of coffee or cocoa from roasted malt. When powdered green tea is added, the moment you take a sip, your mouth is filled with the roasted flavor and the fresh green leaf aroma of tea. The gradient of the beer's roasted fragrance and the lingering fresh green aroma is irresistible. The bitterness of the beer and tea seem to neutralize each other, making it taste less bitter than when drunk separately. It's recommended even for those who aren't fond of black beer's bitterness.
"Indo no Aooni" Powdered Green Tea Beer
Lastly, we have "Indo no Aooni" (Blue Demon of India), known for its grapefruit-like aroma and bitterness. When mixed with powdered green tea, the refreshing beer aroma and tea scent combine to transform into an elegant fragrance reminiscent of neroli. While the tea's bitterness is emphasized, there's a great balance between umami and bitterness, with a refreshing aftertaste. This could become addictive. Personally, this combination is my favorite. It turned out to be a bitter and rich blend that would probably pair well with sweet desserts.
Why not try craft powdered green tea beer yourself? Just adding a playful twist and powdered green tea to your usual beer can brighten up your dining table. It's sure to make time with family, friends, and loved ones even more enjoyable.
Yoho Brewing
Flavor to Beer, Happiness to Life! With this catchphrase, Yoho Brewing aims to bring variety to the Japanese beer market, which previously only had uniform tastes, create a new beer culture, and deliver small happiness to beer fans. Official website: https://yonasato.com/
