Xyauyù Kioke is an ambitious project by Teo Musso and Birra Baladin from Piozzo, Italy. This Barleywine combines two craft traditions: after 18 months of fermentation and maturation, the beer is open-air aged in a new Kioke barrel, a traditional Japanese wooden vessel never before used for soy fermentation.

The colour is deep ruby and clear. The nose reveals subtle notes of berries, dates and caramel, with a hint of incense. The palate is herbal and bitter, with savoury undertones that echo the umami character from the Kioke wood. The finish is dry and herbaceous, with assertive bitterness and lingering complexity.

This beer bridges two worlds: English barleywine tradition and Japanese woodcraft.