Arches Brewing Co-Founder Jeff Dake Talks Yurei

We spoke with Arches Brewing Co-Founder Jeff Dake about Yurei.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
The stone fruit that underlies the flavor profile really sets this beer apart. You get a clean apricot aroma and taste, and the bitterness is reminiscent of the sharp bite of the fruit near the pit. The light body makes the sweet fruit flavor so powerful, and it leaves a distinct aftertaste. 

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
The name is Japanese and approximately translates to "ghost." We named the beer as an amalgamation of both the country of origin for the style and the primary hop used (Grungeist, which is German for "Green ghost.")

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
While we only make Yurei as a seasonal release, I could drink this beer all year round.

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Light and dry, with subtle stone fruit and apricot flavor.

BC: Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?
On our original printing of the cans, we described the flavor the Grungeist hops imparted to the beer and how it influenced the name. Despite several brewers proofreading the label, we misspelled the hop as "Grugeist." Figuring that no one would really notice, we went with the labels as is. We were surprised that just as frequently as people sent us messages about how much they loved the beer, they also had to point out that they noticed a typo in our description! It just goes to show that craft beer enthusiasts pay attention to the details.

BC: What's a good food pairing for this beer?
Yurei pairs well with all ramen, especially Tonkatsu where the dry pilsner character can work as a foil to the silky pork bone broth. It's also a great surprise pairing with lychee-based desserts.

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