Satsuma Shuzo, Satsuma Black, Sweet Potato Happoshu, 4.5%, 330ml
Pre-order: due to arrive in the UK in late October 2026
A black sweet potato brew with roasted aroma and a gold medal to its name.
Sold only to customers aged 18 or over.
Satsuma Black is a dark beer-style happoshu from Satsuma Shuzo in Kagoshima, brewed from selected sweet potatoes, malt and hops by the maker's own method. The maker describes refreshing bitterness, a roasted aroma and a full, rich flavour. It won a gold medal at the International Beer Cup 2014 in the Freestyle Lager category. 4.5% ABV, 330ml.
Why Chefs Choose This
- Award-winning: gold medal, International Beer Cup 2014, Freestyle Lager
- Roasted and rich: a dark brew with body, not a thin lager
- Sweet potato brewed: made with sweet potato alongside malt and hops
- Kyushu-only in Japan: the maker sells the range only in Kyushu
How to Use
- Well chilled: straight from the fridge into a glass
- With Japanese food: karaage, yakitori, gyoza and grilled fish
- With spice: cuts through chilli and rich, salty snacks
- As a talking point: a beer style most UK drinkers have not tried
Happoshu (発泡酒) is a Japanese tax category for beer-style drinks that fall outside the legal definition of beer, for example because they use ingredients other than malt, hops and water. Satsuma Shuzo (薩摩酒造), a shochu maker in Kagoshima, uses that freedom to brew with sweet potato, the crop southern Kyushu is known for, alongside malt and hops. In Japan the Satsuma range is sold only in Kyushu.
What does Satsuma Black taste like?
Satsuma Shuzo describes refreshing bitterness with a roasted, toasty aroma and a full, rich flavour. Expect a dark beer that drinks cleanly at 4.5%, with roast to the fore.
Product Details
| Type | Happoshu (発泡酒), sweet potato beer-style drink |
| Style | Dark, black beer-type |
| Maker | Satsuma Shuzo (薩摩酒造), Kagoshima, Japan |
| Alcohol | 4.5% vol |
| Volume | 330ml bottle |
| Recognition | Gold medal, International Beer Cup 2014 (Freestyle Lager) |
| Ingredients and Allergens | To follow. Always check the bottle label |
| Age Restriction | Sold only to customers aged 18 or over |
What is happoshu?
Happoshu is a Japanese tax category rather than a style. It covers beer-like drinks that do not meet the legal definition of beer in Japan, often because of their ingredients. Satsuma's use sweet potato alongside malt and hops, which is why the maker classes them as happoshu.
Is it a stout?
No. The maker describes it as a black beer-type happoshu, and its gold medal came in a lager category, Freestyle Lager. Expect a dark colour and roasted aroma at a light 4.5%.
When will my pre-order arrive?
This line is due to arrive in the UK in late October 2026. Pre-orders are dispatched once the stock has landed and been checked in at our warehouse. Anything still marked "To follow" on this page will be added when the stock is in.
SKU : X5015