The Classic, the Centerpiece, and the Curveball of Heiwa Shuzō’s “HEIWA CRAFT
From the Same Water, Three Faces — The Classic, the Centerpiece, and the Curveball of Heiwa Shuzō’s “HEIWA CRAFT”
“Craft beer is supposed to be bitter.” A conventional view that often confines a selection to a single, predictable offering on the shelf. Yet line up three bottles of “HEIWA CRAFT,” brewed by Heiwa Shuzō in Wakayama, and that assumption quietly begins to come undone. The same brewery produces beers with entirely different personalities.
Heiwa Shuzō is also known for its internationally acclaimed sake, “KID.” Its name is inspired by “the joy of being able to brew sake in an age of peace,” and its label features a single dove. The brewing water comes from the underflow of the Kishigawa River, whose source lies at World Heritage-listed Mount Kōya. This soft water keeps the bitterness of the hops from becoming sharp and provides the foundation for a clean finish. Let us look, one by one, at the three faces born from the same water.
Classic, Centerpiece, Curveball
The Pale Ale (5% ABV), a classic expression composed solely of malt and hops, carries the inherent softness of the brewery’s water source, leading to a crisp, understated finish. It is a light, easygoing beer naturally suited to the opening of a meal.
Then, the IPA (6% ABV). Made with more malt than usual and a generous amount of hops, this is a beer where bitterness and body take center stage. Aromas reminiscent of citrus and tropical fruit, together with a rounded bitterness, allow it to stand up to richly flavored dishes. It is a liquid that has quietly commanded attention on international stages, bringing home both domestic and global accolades.
Finally, the Sansho Golden Ale (5% ABV)—the true curveball, and perhaps the most intriguing narrative of the trio.
Numbness Is Not Spiciness
The mention of “sansho beer” might conjure images of sharp, aggressive heat. Yet here, the expression shifts entirely.
The brew incorporates Wakayama’s native budō sansho. Rather than the piercing heat associated with Sichuan pepper, it offers a bright aroma reminiscent of white grapes and an elegant, gentle tingling that spreads across the tongue. It does not cover up the flavor of food; instead, it refreshes the palate. Placed between dishes, it does not interfere with the contours of the next plate. For that reason, it has also found its place in fine dining settings that serve delicate course meals, where it plays the role of cleansing and resetting the mouth.
It does not assert itself through heat. It enhances food through aroma and tingling sensation. A Japanese ingredient takes on an unexpectedly fitting role within the vessel of beer.
Three Beers, One Continuous Line
The three beers have very different characters, but they share the same origin. They are brewed with water from the same source flowing from Mount Kōya, and beneath each beer runs the brewery’s long-cultivated expertise in fermentation, temperature control, and hygiene, developed through years of sake brewing. That is why all three beers remain clear in character, never losing their shape through to the finish. Brewing is overseen by a small, dedicated team led by Kanako Takagi, with each label meticulously applied by hand.
From the light Pale Ale to the bitter, full-bodied IPA, and then to the sansho curveball, lining up these three bottles reveals just how broad a single brewery’s range can be. The sake “KID,” the plum wine “Tsuru-Ume,” and now this beer. These three forms of alcohol, all set against the backdrop of the same water source, are not separate products, but one continuous line through which to understand a single brewery.
This article is intended solely to explore the brewing craft and cultural heritage of Heiwa Shuzo and the HEIWA CRAFT brand, and does not aim to promote or encourage the consumption of alcohol. / บทความนี้จัดทำขึ้นเพื่อนำเสนอข้อมูลเกี่ยวกับฝีมือการผลิตเบียร์และมรดกทางวัฒนธรรมของ Heiwa Shuzo และแบรนด์ HEIWA CRAFT เท่านั้น มิได้มีเจตนาเพื่อส่งเสริมหรือโฆษณาเครื่องดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ สำหรับผู้มีอายุ 20 ปีขึ้นไป โปรดดื่มอย่างรับผิดชอบ
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“Dissolving the Boundaries of a Sake Maker” / “Yuzu Gose, Sansho Wit, Shiitake Porter” / “Brewing Sake in an Era of Peace” / “Heiwa Brewery New Challenge: The Heiwa Doburoku”
Related Product(s)
HEIWA CRAFT Pale Ale / HEIWA CRAFT IPA / HEIWA CRAFT Sansho Golden Ale