Kyoto Yosano Homecoming is a 5.5% saison from Kyoto Brewing Company, based in Kyoto, Japan. It’s part of their autumnal lineup, and can be found in both bottles and on tap at various places across Japan. Kyoto Brewing Company is brewed using locally grown Chinook hops from the Yosano area, and Kyoto Brewing Company have been doing this for the last five years at the time of writing.
Kyoto Brewing Company Aroma and Taste
Japan isn’t really known for it’s domestic hops – Shinshuwase and Sorachi Ace being the two main ones, but neither being very good in my personal opinion – so it’s a little surprising to see Chinook being grown domestically. Kyoto Yosano Homecoming poured out a slightly hazy golden colour with a plump white head on top that clung to the side of the glass throughout drinking. Kyoto Yosano Homecoming had a faint yeasty nose to it, with a phenol aroma being the most noticeable, and then a faint peppery note to it. In terms of hops – just a mild fruity peach aroma and only developed once the beer had been given some time to warm up.
The first sip of Kyoto Yosano Homecoming had a spicy, peppery bite to, I guess coming from the specialty malt of spelt having been used during the brewing of the beer. There wasn’t a massive amount of bitterness in the beer – surprising as Chinook tends to be a hop that is used in American IPAs to bring the bitterness up, but the body, like the aroma, had a faint peach-like quality to it. The phenols from the yeast were noticeable more and more as Kyoto Yosano Homecoming warmed up, but they were a welcome addition to the beer. It finished off with the peach-like flavour just lingering on in the body enough to be noticed but not enough to takeaway from the pepperiness of the beer.
Kyoto Yosano Homecoming The Bottom Line
Kyoto Yosano Homecoming is a solid beer, but takeaway the fresh hop aspect and it would still be nice.
Where to Buy Kyoto Yosano Homecoming
Kyoto Yosano Homecoming can be bought online at the following places:
