Craft Ale Chigira unveils summer Rice IPA Easy Rider Dog
Craft Ale Chigira, based in Kiryu, Gunma, has introduced a new summer beer called Easy Rider Dog. Brewed with locally grown Koshihikari rice and generously hopped with Motueka, the Rice IPA is described as crisp, refreshing, and highly drinkable.
Hop BroA perfect summer beer story just came out of Gunma. Craft Ale Chigira announced a new Rice IPA called "Easy Rider Dog" made with locally grown Kiryu rice.
MugiWait, that sounds like a dog on a motorcycle! Easy Rider Dog is beer, not a movie character, right?
Hop BroRight, and the style is a Rice IPA, so it keeps IPA hop character while using local Koshihikari rice for a lighter, easier finish.
MugiOkay, but when I hear Rice IPA, I picture a bowl of rice cannonballing into a pint glass!
Hop BroNo rice splash disaster here. The rice mainly helps lighten the body, not turn the beer into liquid lunch.
MugiThat helps. But what about the aroma? Motueka hops sounds like a wizard spell.
Hop BroMotueka is known for lemon and lime notes, so you get bright citrus character without making the beer feel heavy.
MugiOhhh, so it is crisp, citrusy, and local too. That Kiryu-grown rice angle is actually really cool.
Hop BroExactly. The brewery sits on the slope of Mt. Akagi and brews American-style ales with Akagi groundwater; it got its license in June 2024 and started selling beer that August.
MugiAnd they already have 0703 IPA, HAZY, IBA, STOUT, and WIPA? Adding a summer seasonal on top of that is just unfair.
Hop BroWith the clean finish, rice-driven lightness, and Motueka aroma, this sounds like hot-weather beer in the best possible way.
MugiI am fully convinced. Somebody hand me a cold glass, because I want a sip right now.
Craft Ale Chigira, a brewery in Nishi-machi Takei, Kiryu City, Gunma, has announced its 2026 summer release, Easy Rider Dog. The beer is a Rice IPA made with Koshihikari rice grown in Kiryu, giving the brewery a chance to highlight local ingredients in a seasonal format.
The beer’s key hop is Motueka, used heavily to build a bright citrus profile. The brewery describes the aroma as evoking lemon and lime, while the palate is shaped to feel clean and brisk, with a refreshing body. In other words, the beer seems designed for easy drinking in warm weather without losing the aromatic lift that hop-forward beer fans look for.
Craft Ale Chigira opened its brewing operation in 2024 and began selling its beers later that summer. The brewery positions itself around American-style ales, using carefully selected malt and hops along with underground water from the Akagi mountain area. Its regular lineup includes styles such as 0703 IPA, 0703 HAZY, 0703 IBA, 0703 STOUT, and 0703 WIPA.
Within that context, Easy Rider Dog fits as a seasonal release that connects the brewery’s hop-driven identity with local grain and a lighter summer profile. For drinkers in Kiryu and beyond, it adds another example of how Craft Ale Chigira blends regional ingredients with an American-inspired brewing approach.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroA perfect summer beer story just came out of Gunma. Craft Ale Chigira announced a new Rice IPA called "Easy Rider Dog" made with locally grown Kiryu rice.
MugiWait, that sounds like a dog on a motorcycle! Easy Rider Dog is beer, not a movie character, right?
Hop BroRight, and the style is a Rice IPA, so it keeps IPA hop character while using local Koshihikari rice for a lighter, easier finish.
MugiOkay, but when I hear Rice IPA, I picture a bowl of rice cannonballing into a pint glass!
Hop BroNo rice splash disaster here. The rice mainly helps lighten the body, not turn the beer into liquid lunch.
MugiThat helps. But what about the aroma? Motueka hops sounds like a wizard spell.
Hop BroMotueka is known for lemon and lime notes, so you get bright citrus character without making the beer feel heavy.
MugiOhhh, so it is crisp, citrusy, and local too. That Kiryu-grown rice angle is actually really cool.
Hop BroExactly. The brewery sits on the slope of Mt. Akagi and brews American-style ales with Akagi groundwater; it got its license in June 2024 and started selling beer that August.
MugiAnd they already have 0703 IPA, HAZY, IBA, STOUT, and WIPA? Adding a summer seasonal on top of that is just unfair.
Hop BroWith the clean finish, rice-driven lightness, and Motueka aroma, this sounds like hot-weather beer in the best possible way.
MugiI am fully convinced. Somebody hand me a cold glass, because I want a sip right now.
