WINTER 2026 RELEASE

This release is brewed with Maris Otter barley, arguably the most renowned barley variety of the last century. Modern barley breeding moves quickly with new varieties constantly replacing older ones, in pursuit of higher yields and better disease resistance. Because flavor is not the priority for these breeding programs, most modern barleys taste serviceable but simple, pleasant enough, but not particularly memorable. They come and go without much sentiment attached.

Bred in England in the 1960’s, it stood apart immediately. It had character, and a recognizable flavor profile that gave beers a distinct personality. While nearly all of its contemporaries were put out to pasture long ago, Maris Otter was different. It endured, becoming one of the most iconic barley names in brewing worldwide. Despite its popularity, it still represents only a tiny fraction of a percent of global barley acreage, because alas, it doesn’t yield as much and is more finnicky to work with. But, it’s flavor is great.

And for us, flavor is always the priority. Yield and therefore lower cost, sit lower down on this list.    

Maris Otter also played a quiet but pivotal role in the early American craft brewing movement. As pioneering U.S. breweries in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s took inspiration from British brewing traditions, many sourced ingredients from the U.K., and Maris Otter was the standout variety at the time, celebrated for its richness and depth, just as it is today.

We’re honored to brew with this remarkable grain and to help tell its story through beer. We feel a sense of kinship with the generations of brewers around the world who have worked with it over the last 65 years. There’s something beautifully groovy about brewing with a barley that has inspired so many for so long.

So, this beer is a Hanabi Lager interpretation of one of the most famous, yet rarely grown, brewing barley varieties in the world. Traditionally brewed as an ale, we approached it through our lager-brewing lens. The results are recognizable to those who know Maris Otter, while expressing a new stylistic approach to this classic grain. We hope you enjoy it.