Capitol City Brewing Co. is celebrating this region's springtime tradition with a special brew blended with cherries.

Kristi Griner, Capitol City’s new director of brewing operations, created the exclusive Sakura Cherry Wheat Ale "to honor the spectacular gift of cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan," according to a news release.

The 101st annual Cherry Blossom Festival began Wednesday and runs through April 14. The festival marks Japan's gift of 3,020 cherry trees to Washington in 1912. Many of the trees were planted around the Tidal Basin, East Potomac Park and on the White House property.

"Sakura" is the Japanese word for cherry blossom. Capital City's ale by that name is brewed with white wheat and honey malts, fermented on Ardennes yeast and aged on blended sweet and tart cherries.

The Sakura Cherry Wheat Ale contains 5.3 percent alcohol by volume and is now available on tap at Capitol City's locations in Shirlington Village and in the district.

Cold weather in March prompted the National Park Service to change this year's estimated peak bloom dates to April 3 through 6.

The peak dates for Washington Tidal Basin cherry blossoms are when 70 percent of the blossoms are expected to be open.

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