Tsuyu – Wild Workshop (Garage Project)

Elegant. Barrel-Aged. Cross-Cultural.

Beer Overview

Tsuyu from Wild Workshop is a bold and beautifully layered reinterpretation of the Saison style, inspired by the Japanese plum rain season that arrives as the ume harvest ripens.

Originally brewed in Japan in collaboration with Coedo Brewery and US craft pioneers Stone Brewing, Tsuyu brings together brewing traditions and ingredients from across the world. Barrel aged in freshly emptied New Zealand Chardonnay barrels and infused with ume plum and red shiso leaf, it delivers a striking balance of fruit, spice, acidity and herbal complexity.

At 11.4%, Tsuyu is powerful yet refined—a contemplative mixed fermentation beer that blurs the boundaries between saison, wild ale and wine.

Flavour Profile

Taste: Tart plum, white grape and citrus layered with herbal shiso, subtle oak and saison spice.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, softly textured and vinous.
Finish: Dry, warming and complex with lingering fruit and herbal notes.

Aroma

Lifted aromas of stone fruit, white wine, fresh herbs and delicate spice combine with subtle oak and wild fermentation character.

Brewing Process & Uniqueness

Tsuyu is brewed using a carefully selected blend of Motueka, Simcoe and Hallertau Blanc hops, creating bright citrus, tropical and white grape notes that complement the beer’s mixed fermentation profile.

Following fermentation, the beer is matured in freshly emptied New Zealand Chardonnay barrels, allowing the oak and residual wine character to integrate into the beer over time. It is then infused with fresh ume plums and red shiso leaf (perilla), ingredients central to Japanese cuisine and traditional drinks.

The ume contributes tart stone fruit depth and gentle acidity, while the shiso leaf adds an aromatic herbal freshness unlike anything found in traditional saison. The result is a complex fusion of East, West and South—part farmhouse ale, part barrel-aged wild beer, part vinous expression.

Serving & Food Pairing

Serve at: 10–12°C in a wine glass or tulip.

Perfect with:

• Sushi and sashimi
• Soft cheeses
• Roast duck or pork
• Fermented and pickled dishes
• As an after-dinner sipper

About Wild Workshop (Garage Project)

Wild Workshop is the mixed fermentation and barrel-ageing project from Garage Project, dedicated to exploring spontaneous fermentation, wild yeast and long-term maturation.

Operating separately from the main brewery, Wild Workshop focuses on beers inspired by traditional lambic and farmhouse methods, using time, wood and natural fermentation to build complexity and character. Each release is shaped by its environment, with an emphasis on terroir, blending and patience.

The result is a range of beers that blur the line between beer and wine—complex, evolving and deeply expressive.

About Garage Project

Garage Project is one of the most innovative and boundary-pushing breweries in the global craft beer scene. Founded in 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand, the brewery began in a small garage in Aro Valley—living up to its name both literally and philosophically. What started as a tiny, experimental setup quickly evolved into one of the most influential craft breweries in the Southern Hemisphere.

From the outset, Garage Project built its reputation on a simple idea: “try something new.” This ethos led to their now-famous 24/24 project, where they brewed 24 different beers in 24 weeks. The project showcased their creativity, technical ability and willingness to explore new styles, ingredients and brewing techniques—laying the foundation for everything that followed.

Today, Garage Project produces an incredibly diverse range of beers, from hop-forward hazy IPAs and pale ales to mixed fermentation beers, barrel-aged releases, lagers and experimental one-offs. Their brewing is driven by curiosity and innovation, often incorporating unusual ingredients, modern hop products and cutting-edge fermentation methods.

The brewery is particularly known for its use of New Zealand hops, including varieties such as Nelson Sauvin, Motueka and Nectaron, which deliver distinctive flavours of tropical fruit, citrus and white grape. Garage Project has also played a key role in advancing hop innovation through projects like Hāpi Research, a collaborative initiative focused on developing new hop varieties and flavour profiles.

Beyond the beer itself, Garage Project is instantly recognisable for its bold, artistic branding. Each release features unique label artwork created in collaboration with artists and designers, reflecting the brewery’s strong connection to Wellington’s creative culture.

Despite its global reach and reputation, Garage Project remains fiercely independent and rooted in its origins. With multiple sites including their original Aro Valley brewery and dedicated mixed fermentation facilities, they continue to push the boundaries of what beer can be—combining technical skill, creativity and a relentless drive to innovate.

From experimental one-offs to world-class IPAs, Garage Project represents modern craft brewing at its most imaginative and exciting.

All beer from Indie Beer Fridge is individually selected from the finest breweries, we work closely with the breweries to bring you beer and brewing knowledge, be sure to check out our YouTube channel for exclusive content about many of the breweries we select.

All beer is cold stored to ensure you get the best quality beer delivered to you and so you get to enjoy the beer as the brewer intended.

Product is one single item of can or bottle, unless otherwise stated, no glassware or additional cans or bottles are included which may feature in the photo image.