2026.07.31 2026.08.01

UCHU Brewing Review: New Journeys Begin and Uchu DAIGAKU from My Gifu Trip

Yagichan

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Yagichan

On this trip I got my hands on some craft beer from UCHU brewing! It’s rare to come across their beers, so I bought them the moment I saw them. Here I’ll share my honest tasting impressions along with the details of each beer. Every one of them has real character, and they make the perfect travel companion! I hope you find your own favorite flavor!

The shops I stopped at to pick these up were Sakenoito and Mino-Seki Beer.
I’ve written up the details of both shops in this article!

あわせて読みたい

Gifu Stream Fishing: A Gujo Trip to the Kanomizu River and a Craft Beer Detour

UCHU brewing is a craft beer brewery founded in 2018 in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. With its signature fruity flavors—often described as “5th-dimensional fruit”—and a unique space-themed concept, it’s hugely popular among craft beer fans. Because production runs are small, it’s one of those rare labels you can only find at specialty shops and craft beer bars.

Choro-nii

I’ve written about other craft beers too, so go check those out~!

UCHU brewing New Journeys Begin
- New Journeys Begin: Details
- What Is Green Cheek Beer Co.?
UCHU brewing Uchu DAIGAKU
- Uchu DAIGAKU: Details
Wrap-Up

UCHU brewing New Journeys Begin

What I picked up at Sakenoito was New Journeys Begin. It has a really clean, refreshing finish. It’s especially easy-drinking, even for women. (*Note: this was a limited-time release, so it may no longer be available.)

Choron

The sweetness of white grape, mango, and pineapple with the crisp cleanness of lychee and lime!

New Journeys Begin: Details

ABV: 6.5%
Style: DDH California IPA
Volume: 350ml
Origin: Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
Hops: Mosaic, Nectaron, Cryo Krush, Cryo Mosaic, Cryo Nelson Sauvin
ABV: 6.5% / Style: DDH California IPA

This limited-edition IPA was brewed to celebrate UCHU brewing’s 7th anniversary, in collaboration with the popular California brewery Green Cheek Beer Co. Made using the DDH (double dry-hop) method with a generous five varieties of hops, it delivers a complex aroma where white grape, lychee, mango, and pineapple all mingle together. The balance between its crisp finish and fruity character is spot on—the kind of beer that leaves you wanting another sip.

UCHU brewing Official Website

What Is Green Cheek Beer Co.?

A brewery founded in 2017 by two beer-loving friends. Their own words say it best: “There are already so many amazing breweries around the world, so rather than trying to take over the world, we just want to stay true to our beliefs and make the best beer we can.” That conviction alone tells you everything great about this brewery!

A California brewery founded in 2017 by two beer-loving friends. Their approach—not trying to take over the world, but staying true to their beliefs and brewing the best beer they can—has won over beer fans across the globe. Hoppy IPAs and crisp lagers are their signature styles. (Official website)

UCHU brewing ATOM MANGO Tropical Smoothie Sour can

[Arriving Oct 8] [Cold Storage Only] UCHU brewing ATOM MANGO Tropical Smoothie Sour 5% 350ml×1 Best By: Jan 8, 2026

Buy on Rakuten

UCHU brewing Uchu DAIGAKU

This one I picked up at Mino-Seki Beer: Uchu DAIGAKU. The haze and richness are irresistible if you’re a Hazy IPA fan. Thanks to the oat cream, it has a soft, smooth mouthfeel, but the ABV is 8.5%. It tastes so good that you end up gulping it down, so if you’re not careful, one can is enough to get you tipsy. Lol (*Note: this was a limited-time release, so it may no longer be available.)

Choro-nii

Fresh fruit notes like grapefruit and peach bring the aroma to life even more!

Uchu DAIGAKU: Details

ABV: 8.5%
Style: DDH Oat Cream Hazy Double IPA
Volume: 350ml
Origin: Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
HOPS: Citra, Nelson Sauvin, Sabro, Simcoe, Cryo Citra, Cryo Simcoe

A DDH oat cream hazy double IPA (8.5%) brewed with six hop varieties including Citra, Nelson Sauvin, Sabro, and Simcoe. It has a creamy taste layered with grapefruit, peach, lemon, and orange—an easy pick for any Hazy IPA fan. The dangerous part is how easy it is to drink without noticing the ABV; before I knew it, my glass was empty.

UCHU brewing Official Website

UCHU Beer Chef’s Choice Set, 350ml×6 / Yamanashi Prefecture, UCHU brewing

Buy on Rakuten

Where can I buy UCHU brewing beer?: You can buy it directly from the brewery in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, as well as at specialty craft beer shops and online stores. Because production runs are small, it’s usually hard to find at major supermarkets or general liquor stores. If you happen to spot it at a craft beer shop while traveling, grab it on the spot. A small selection is also available on Rakuten Ichiba.

Between New Journeys Begin and DAIGAKU, which one should a first-timer try?: For craft beer beginners, I’d recommend New Journeys Begin. Even though it’s a DDH California IPA, it has a clean, easy-drinking finish, so you can enjoy the fruit character without it being overwhelming. Uchu DAIGAKU, on the other hand, is 8.5% ABV with a much richer flavor, so it’s better suited to people already used to Hazy IPAs.

Does UCHU brewing have any standard, year-round beers?: Yes—they have a standard lineup that includes “UCHU IPA” and “UCHU ALE.” That said, UCHU brewing releases a lot of seasonal and collaboration beers, and limited editions like New Journeys Begin and DAIGAKU featured here are really the heart of their appeal. Since a beer you spot might never come around again, I’d recommend buying it the moment you see it if it catches your eye.

What’s the best way to carry craft beer home as a souvenir?: For canned beer, traveling a few hours at room temperature is fine. That said, vibration can cause the carbonation to break down faster, so it’s a good idea to wrap the cans in newspaper or similar so they don’t roll around in your bag. Once you’re home, refrigerate them right away. Hazy-style beers are at their most aromatic when fresh, so aim to drink them within two to three weeks of buying.

Wrap-Up

That wraps up my introduction to UCHU brewing, the craft beer I discovered on this trip. Finding a new craft beer is one of the true joys of travel. New places, new shops, new people. Why not set off on a trip full of new encounters of your own?

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