Ine to Agave and ASTRA FOOD PLAN Jointly Develop and Release Limited Edition Craft Sake "Koshu Kafu Gururiko 2026" Using Upcycled Hops from Yo-Ho Brewing's "Yona Yona Ale"

Key facts

  • Ine to Agave and ASTRA FOOD PLAN Jointly Develop and Release Limited Edition Craft Sake "Koshu Kafu Gururiko 2026" Using Upcycled Hops from Yo-Ho Brewing's "Yona Yona Ale"
  • Ine to Agave Co., Ltd., a craft sake brewery in Akita, and food tech startup ASTRA FOOD PLAN Co., Ltd. have jointly developed and launched "Koshu Kafu Gururiko 2026," a limited edition craft sake. This innovative product upcycles hops used in Yo-Ho Brewing's "Yona Yona Ale" beer production, using ASTRA FOOD PLAN's "JOSEN" drying and sterilization technology. The initiative aims to create new flavors while promoting resource circulation and regional revitalization. Special events and limited-edition labels will be available at Isetan Shinjuku and NEWoMan Takanawa's sakejump takanawa, featuring paid tastings and food pairings.
  • Source: PR Times
  • Date: May 4, 2026

Direct answer

Ine to Agave Co., Ltd., a craft sake brewery in Akita, and food tech startup ASTRA FOOD PLAN Co., Ltd. have jointly developed and launched "Koshu Kafu Gururiko 2026," a limited edition craft sake. This innovative product upcycles hops used in Yo-Ho Brewing's "Yona Yona Ale" beer production, using ASTRA FOOD PLAN's "JOSEN" drying and sterilization technology. The initiative aims to create new flavors while promoting resource circulation and regional revitalization. Special events and limited-edition labels will be available at Isetan Shinjuku and NEWoMan Takanawa's sakejump takanawa, featuring paid tastings and food pairings.

Citation
Ine to Agave and ASTRA FOOD PLAN Jointly Develop and Release Limited Edition Craft Sake "Koshu Kafu Gururiko 2026" Using Upcycled Hops from Yo-Ho Brewing's "Yona Yona Ale" (May 4, 2026), PR Times
Source
PR Times
Date
May 4, 2026
Ine to Agave Co., Ltd., a craft sake brewery in Akita, and food tech startup ASTRA FOOD PLAN Co., Ltd. have jointly developed and launched "Koshu Kafu Gururiko 2026," a limited edition craft sake. This innovative product upcycles hops used in Yo-Ho Brewing's "Yona Yona Ale" beer production, using ASTRA FOOD PLAN's "JOSEN" drying and sterilization technology. The initiative aims to create new flavors while promoting resource circulation and regional revitalization. Special events and limited-edition labels will be available at Isetan Shinjuku and NEWoMan Takanawa's sakejump takanawa, featuring paid tastings and food pairings.
新製品|提携|イベントNQ 0/100出典：PR Times

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  • 📰 Published: May 4, 2026 at 02:00
  • 🔍 Collected: May 3, 2026 at 17:31
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Ine to Agave Co., Ltd. (Oga City, Akita Prefecture; Representative: Shuhei Okazumi; hereinafter "Ine to Agave"), which is engaged in town development centered around a craft sake brewery in Oga City, Akita Prefecture, has started limited sales of "Koshu Kafu Gururiko 2026," a craft sake jointly developed with food tech startup ASTRA FOOD PLAN Co., Ltd. (Fujimino City, Saitama Prefecture; President and CEO: Chihiro Kano; hereinafter "ASTRA FOOD PLAN"). This product is a craft sake that uses "Hop Gururiko," which is produced by upcycling hops used in beer brewing with ASTRA FOOD PLAN's "JOSEN" (superheated steam dryer) drying and sterilization device, as an ingredient in Ine to Agave's "Kafu" series. In conjunction with this, a limited edition original design label in collaboration with Isetan Shinjuku will be available. An in-store sales event will also be held at Isetan Shinjuku from May 6 (Wednesday) to May 12 (Tuesday), 2026. Furthermore, at "sakejump takanawa" in NEWoMan Takanawa, you can enjoy a tasting set with "Kafu Gururiko 2026" and "Grilled Mackerel Rayu Onigiri" made with Gururiko. Since its establishment in 2021, Ine to Agave has been developing town planning centered on brewing in Oga City, Akita Prefecture, with the philosophy of "brewing the climate of Oga." In the brewing of craft sake based on rice and rice koji, they have challenged themselves to create new flavors and circulate food culture by incorporating local agricultural products and auxiliary ingredients that have not been traditionally utilized. This time, a collaboration with ASTRA FOOD PLAN, a food tech company that tackles food upcycling with its unique superheated steam dryer "JOSEN" under the mission of "turning 'mottainai' (waste) into 'oishii!' (delicious!)," has been realized. By utilizing "Hop Gururiko®," which is produced by drying and sterilizing hops used after beer brewing with "JOSEN" and powdering them, a circular craft sake that combines brewing and food tech, bringing together technologies from different fields, has been born. The hops used this time were those utilized in "Yona Yona Ale" from Yo-Ho Brewing, a popular brewery in Nagano Prefecture. This initiative breathes new life into hops that have finished their role in beer making, transforming them into craft sake. About "Koshu Kafu Gururiko 2026" "Kafu" is Ine to Agave's craft sake series where hops used in beer brewing are fermented together with rice and rice koji. This 2026 edition utilizes "Hop Gururiko®" dried with ASTRA FOOD PLAN's "JOSEN," realizing the reuse of hops. The taste is a juicy type with a good balance of acidity and sweetness, and a slight carbonation. The citrusy aroma and pleasant bitterness derived from hops combine to create a refreshing drink reminiscent of grapefruit and lime. Product Name: Koshu Kafu Gururiko 2026 Category: Other brewed liquor Ingredients: Rice, rice koji, Hop Gururiko® Volume: 720ml Sales Price: 2,600 yen (excluding tax) Upcycled Material: Hop Gururiko® Isetan Shinjuku Limited Original Label Offered In conjunction with this sale, Isetan Shinjuku will offer a limited edition original design Kafu Gururiko (Kafu Gururiko ver. Yona Yona Ale Isetan Limited Label) in collaboration with Mitsukoshi Isetan, starting May 6 (Wednesday). A special paid tasting event with Yo-Ho Brewing is also scheduled to be held at Isetan Shinjuku from May 6-12. Detailed dates and contents will be announced on the following Instagram account by the event date: https://www.instagram.com/isetan.shinjuku_sake_beer/ ◼️Sales Locations Isetan Shinjuku Main Building B1F, Japanese Sake Section Business Hours: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Address: 3-14-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022 URL: https://www.mistore.jp/store/shinjuku.html Tasting Set of "Kafu Gururiko 2026" and "Gururiko Onigiri" Offered at NEWoMan Takanawa's "sakejump takanawa" At "sakejump takanawa" within NEWoMan TAKANAWA MIMURE, which opened on March 28, 2026, a plan is being implemented where you can sample and taste a set of "Grilled Mackerel Rayu Onigiri" made with Gururiko and "Koshu Kafu Gururiko 2026." This is a valuable opportunity to enjoy the pairing of craft sake and food made with the same "Gururiko®" at once. ■sakejump takanawa Location: NEWoMan TAKANAWA MIMURE 3rd Floor Opening Date: March 28, 2026 (Saturday) Business Hours: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Specialty of "Grilled Mackerel Rayu Onigiri"

FAQ

What are the key facts in this article?

Ine to Agave Co., Ltd., a craft sake brewery in Akita, and food tech startup ASTRA FOOD PLAN Co., Ltd. have jointly developed and launched "Koshu Kafu Gururiko 2026," a limited edition craft sake. This innovative product upcycles hops used in Yo-Ho Brewing's "Yona Yona Ale" beer production, using ASTRA FOOD PLAN's "JOSEN" drying and sterilization technology. The initiative aims to create new flavors while promoting resource circulation and regional revitalization. Special events and limited-edition labels will be available at Isetan Shinjuku and NEWoMan Takanawa's sakejump takanawa, featuring paid tastings and food pairings.

What is the direct answer?

Ine to Agave Co., Ltd., a craft sake brewery in Akita, and food tech startup ASTRA FOOD PLAN Co., Ltd. have jointly developed and launched "Koshu Kafu Gururiko 2026," a limited edition craft sake. This innovative product upcycles hops used in Yo-Ho Brewing's "Yona Yona Ale" beer production, using ASTRA FOOD PLAN's "JOSEN" drying and sterilization technology. The initiative aims to create new flavors while promoting resource circulation and regional revitalization. Special events and limited-edition labels will be available at Isetan Shinjuku and NEWoMan Takanawa's sakejump takanawa, featuring paid tastings and food pairings.

What is the source and date?

PR Times: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000055.000097044.html | May 4, 2026

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