Beer brand collaboration between Calgary Chef and Restaurateur Darren MacLean and brewery Ol’ Beautiful expands to Alberta liquor retailers.

Calgary, AB, DECEMBER 11, 2019:  The world-first formula of beer infused with sake kasu -- Okami Kasu -- was the brainchild of Calgary Chef and Restaurateur Darren MacLean when seeking the perfect beer pairing with his acclaimed Japanese cuisine served at his restaurant Shokunin Izakaya.

The crew at Ol’ Beautiful answered the call, produced the beer in 2017 and a throng of loyalists started to rally behind the unique brew featuring a special ingredient -- sake kasu - from the mash or grains of sake production. Until now the beer was only available at Shokunin Izakaya and Ol’ Beautiful in limited quantities. 

“We are excited to announce that Okami Kasu now comes in a can for enjoyment at home,” says MacLean. “As of today, 10 liquor stores in Calgary have become stockists and more retail outlets will be featuring this unique, all-Canadian beer on their shelves throughout the province in the weeks ahead. It’s the perfect pairing for Japanese food.”

Okami Kasu is a clean, crisp, filtered beer that lands a step above Asian-style lager for its full-bodied, subtle, creamy finish which goes well with Japanese cuisine. 

“We are huge fans of Darren’s food,” says Ol’ Beautiful sales and marketing head Chris Carroll. “So to collaborate on this initiative in his restaurant was one thing...to take it a step further is something else! People know this brew is unique. What they may not know is what makes it so special. Its large portion of rice gives it a unique, silky mouth-feel.”

The most noteworthy part of this Canadian made beer is the inclusion of sake kasu, the rice leftover from sake production, which contributes a boozy, creamy, uptown funk to the beer’s finish.

Stockists:
5 Vines Keynote and Mahogany locations
The Brewer’s Apprentice
Collective Craft Beer Shop
J Webb Wine Merchant in Glenmore
Market Wines
Oak and Vine
Sundance Wine Market
Vine Arts 17th and 1st locations

About Chef Darren MacLean (chefdarrenmaclean.com)
Chef Darren MacLean is one of Canada’s most acclaimed and outspoken chefs, restaurateurs and environmental advocates. Seeking to showcase Canada’s culinary scene to international audiences, MacLean is passionate about sustainability and the food building community. While he regularly participates in events as an educator, speaker and culinary judge in Canada and abroad, he is happiest in his kitchens.

MacLean’s Japanese izakaya-style restaurant Shokunin, in his home city of Calgary, has been voted one of the country’s top 50 restaurants for three years in a row. Its predecessor Downtownfood was also listed as one of Canada’s top restaurants. In September 2019, he opened Greenfish, North America’s first fully sustainable sushi eatery, take-away and delivery.  

In 2020, MacLean opens Nupo located in Calgary’s East Village Alt Hotel. This plant-forward restaurant, which focuses its offer on vegetarian, sushi, and large-format fish dishes, features a specialized dry-aging chamber for fish. Furthermore, at the same location a private and discreet, eight-seat, high-dining restaurant opens where tasting menus focus on MacLean’s unique philosophy of true Canadian cuisine.

Inspired by its ethnic mosaic, MacLean believes this forms the foundation of what defines Canada’s national food culture. His appreciation for diversity leads him to travel extensively, further developing his unique perspective on food and the culinary experience. MacLean spent extensive time traveling in Japan studying the cuisine of the country that inspires him. Believing in the power of food to bridge cultures, he welcomes global chefs to his country and kitchen and travels often -- from Tokyo to Mexico City -- to collaborate with others.

About Ol’ Beautiful (olbeautiful.com)
A culmination of our storied past and promising future, Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Co. represents an appreciation for the old ways of doing things and a reverence for the beauty in imperfection. Our beer is a thoughtful nod to the past, brewed by hardworking individuals who are passionate about the revival of the craft spirit. Time-worn and well-loved, our taproom is a casual, inclusive space that welcomes all in the heart of Inglewood, Calgary.

Media Contact
Heather Kirk heather@immediapr.com or 403 910 8910