A sip of serenity: Studio Brewing teams up with Nikkei for a springtime beer

Spring is in the air—and if you’re looking for a way to welcome the warmer weather, Studio Brewing has just the idea.

The Royal Oak-area brewery has teamed up with another Burnaby institution, Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre, to create a new beer that’s perfect for springtime.

Front-of-house manager Morgan Miller-Sutton said the Genki Clear is a light, pale lager, brewed with rice and yuzu peels and juice.

It’s crisp and refreshing, with floral notes alongside the sweet, citrusy flavour of the yuzu.

“Rice and yuzu were chosen as a team effort between us and the Nikkei team. The name Genki Clear ([which] means serenity), was chosen from a list of names myself and the Nikkei Centre put on Instagram for their followers to pick. Wabi Sabi was a close second, but Genki Clear won,” Miller-Sutton told the Beacon.

“... We thought making a Japanese-inspired beer, or just a Nikkei-inspired beer, would be fun. They said ‘heck yeah, and maybe it could be ready in time for the O-Hanami, their spring festival?’ And lagers take about double the time, so it was tight, but we canned off … just in time for their Saturday, April 1 festival.”

Miller-Sutton said the team at Studio is good friends with the folks at Nikkei Centre. The brewery attends the museum’s farmers market every second Sunday during the summers, and the centre has lent chairs and supplies to the brewery for its own events as well.

Nikkei Centre, which has operated in Burnaby since 2000, aims to “honour, preserve, and share the history and heritage of Japanese Canadians and Japanese culture in Canada.”

Their spring festival last Saturday featured Japanese cultural activities like tea ceremonies, kimono dressing, and live performances.

If you missed O-Hanami, there’s nothing to worry about.

Miller-Sutton said Studio is hosting its own launch party to celebrate Genki Clear. You can head down to the tasting room at 5792 Beresford St. on April 8 to taste the beer, alongside Studio’s regular offerings. There will be a DJ on site, and food truck Nonna’s Cucina will serve up authentic Italian sandwiches.