Nagahama Roman Beer, a craft beer brewery founded in 1996 in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, announces the release of "Barrel Aged Wee Heavy," a limited-edition beer aged in whisky barrels. The beer will begin shipping on January 27, 2026 (Tuesday).
Located in Nagahama, where the rich natural environment is nurtured by snowmelt water from Mt. Ibuki, Nagahama Roman Beer operates a brewery and restaurant in a historic townscape. Since its founding, the company has maintained the beloved flavors of its standard beers while continuously challenging itself with new limited-edition brews.
Barrel Aged Beer Initiative
Since launching its whisky business in 2016, the company has developed barrel-aged beer as a project to create new product value for the beer division. With access to and management of whisky barrels relatively easy thanks to the whisky operations, this barrel-aged beer initiative combines the passion of both the beer and whisky divisions—aging beer in barrels previously used to mature the company's own whisky. This release marks the third installment of this collaborative effort.
About Wee Heavy
The base beer for this release, "Wee Heavy," is a traditional strong ale originating from Scotland with distinctive characteristics. Its exceptionally rich and nutritious flavor once earned it the nickname "liquid bread," making it a valuable source of energy for surviving harsh winters.
The style's defining feature is its overwhelming "malt character." By boiling the wort for an extended period, sugars are caramelized (Maillard reaction), concentrating flavors reminiscent of toffee, dried fruits, or baked goods. With hop bitterness minimized, the rich sweetness and body of the malt take center stage, creating a truly luxurious liquid. The warmth (alcohol warmth) from its high alcohol content gently fills the throat with each sip. This is a full-bodied beer meant for savoring aroma and aftertaste, distinct from beers focused on refreshment.
Product Specifications
- Product Name: Barrel Aged Wee Heavy
- Category: Beer
- Beer Style: Barrel Aged Beer
- Alcohol Content: 10%
- Ingredients: Malt (produced in UK and Germany), hops
- Volume: 350ml
- Best Before: 360 days from production date
- Storage: Refrigeration required
- Suggested Retail Price: ¥900 (excluding tax)
Head Brewer Futoshi Okumura's Comment
In 2025, we released the base beer for this "Barrel Aged Wee Heavy" as "Wee Heavy" in collaboration with CRAFTBROS BREWING. Customers who experienced it at beer festivals were amazed by the rich, full-bodied aroma derived from malt, and appreciated the "warming sense of fulfillment" created by the 10% alcohol content. We take pride in proposing a new way to enjoy beer beyond just refreshment.
This time, we aged that "Wee Heavy" for one year in bourbon barrels from Nagahama Distillery. Through long-term aging, the alcohol's edges have been smoothed, and the flavor has gained greater maturity. Wrapped in complex barrel-derived aromas, each sip delivers a rich mouthfeel and long finish reminiscent of whisky. To maximize this profound flavor, enjoy it at a slightly warmer temperature (around 12°C to 15°C), slowly savoring how the aromas open up. For food pairings, it complements slow-cooked beef cheeks in red wine, smoky blue cheese, or rich sweets like chocolate gateau after dinner. Enjoy this exceptional glass where the boundaries between beer and whisky dissolve.
★ Main sales locations: Liquor Mountain stores, Nagahama Roman Beer retail shop, and Nagahama Roman Beer online shop.
Nagahama Roman Beer Online Shop: https://shop.romanbeer.com/
Nagahama Roman Beer Official Website: http://www.romanbeer.com/
