Hop Kotan Brewing Launches New Session IPL "Ignition", Crisp and Refreshing with Simcoe and Motueka
Hokkaido-based Hop Kotan Brewing in Kamifurano has released Session IPL "Ignition." At 4.5% ABV and 40 IBU, this easy-drinking beer features Simcoe and Motueka hops for a citrusy character and a dry finish.
Hop BroSpring is starting with a new release from Hop Kotan Brewing in Hokkaido’s Kamifurano. The Session IPL "Ignition" already sounds like it’s about to spark up.
MugiWait, what even is a Session IPL? IPL sounds like some kind of mysterious spell, but is it beer!?
Hop BroIPL stands for India Pale Lager. Because it’s brewed with lager yeast, it can balance a clean fermentation with hop aroma really well.
MugiOhhh! So "Ignition" is a lager with hops in the spotlight? And at 4.5% ABV, it sounds pretty easy to drink!
Hop BroExactly. And the malt bill is kept simple with 100% Pilsner malt, so the base is really clean.
MugiWow, simple but cool! But the hop names, Simcoe and Motueka, suddenly feel very international.
Hop BroThat’s what makes it fun. Simcoe tends to bring grapefruit and pine, while Motueka gives off lime notes, so the citrus profile really stands out.
MugiThat sounds delicious! But when they say "concentrated hops," it suddenly feels like a science experiment...!
Hop BroThey’re using a type with less leaf material to suppress grassy hop notes while letting the aroma blend in beautifully. The bitterness is also kept sharp at IBU 40.
MugiI see! So the finish is lime-like and crisp, but it still leaves a refreshing bitterness behind. Sounds like something I could drink even in the morning!
Hop BroExactly. It’s a beer that really shows the land of Kamifurano and the character of its hops, so it makes you want to drink it this weekend.
MugiI can’t take it anymore, my throat is already reacting just from reading this! If I can drink it at the brewery shop too, I want to toast right now!
New Release "Ignition" for the Start of Spring
Hop Kotan Brewing, based in Kamifurano, Hokkaido, has announced its new Session IPL, "Ignition." True to the brewery’s commitment to brewing with local hops, this is a beer that keeps hop character firmly in focus while finishing light and easy to drink.
The recipe is built on a simple malt bill of 100% Pilsner malt. It combines American Simcoe and New Zealand Motueka hops. ABV is 4.5%, and IBU is 40. With its pale gold color, high attenuation, and dry finish, it is designed to be highly drinkable in the session style.
The post explains that by using both standard T-90 pellets and concentrated hops with less leaf material, the brewery restrained grassy hop notes while letting the aroma blend cleanly into the beer. Simcoe brings grapefruit and pine-like aromas, while Motueka adds lime. On the palate, the beer opens with citrus peel-like gentle bitterness and a crisp, clean bitter finish.
Clean fermentation with lager yeast also helps define the beer’s shape. A refreshing citrus note like lime lingers in the finish, then quickly fades. It leaves no heaviness behind, yet still delivers plenty of hop character, making this a brisk new release that feels like something you’d want to drink from the morning.
Hop Kotan Brewing has continued making beer that reflects the local character of hops, with its brewery located in Kamifurano Town, the only place in Hokkaido where hops are commercially cultivated. Among its broad lineup of standard and limited beers, `Ignition` is a new release that clearly showcases that strength. The post says it may begin arriving at restaurants and liquor retailers nationwide as early as this weekend, and it will also be available at the brewery’s direct sales shop.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroSpring is starting with a new release from Hop Kotan Brewing in Hokkaido’s Kamifurano. The Session IPL "Ignition" already sounds like it’s about to spark up.
MugiWait, what even is a Session IPL? IPL sounds like some kind of mysterious spell, but is it beer!?
Hop BroIPL stands for India Pale Lager. Because it’s brewed with lager yeast, it can balance a clean fermentation with hop aroma really well.
MugiOhhh! So "Ignition" is a lager with hops in the spotlight? And at 4.5% ABV, it sounds pretty easy to drink!
Hop BroExactly. And the malt bill is kept simple with 100% Pilsner malt, so the base is really clean.
MugiWow, simple but cool! But the hop names, Simcoe and Motueka, suddenly feel very international.
Hop BroThat’s what makes it fun. Simcoe tends to bring grapefruit and pine, while Motueka gives off lime notes, so the citrus profile really stands out.
MugiThat sounds delicious! But when they say "concentrated hops," it suddenly feels like a science experiment...!
Hop BroThey’re using a type with less leaf material to suppress grassy hop notes while letting the aroma blend in beautifully. The bitterness is also kept sharp at IBU 40.
MugiI see! So the finish is lime-like and crisp, but it still leaves a refreshing bitterness behind. Sounds like something I could drink even in the morning!
Hop BroExactly. It’s a beer that really shows the land of Kamifurano and the character of its hops, so it makes you want to drink it this weekend.
MugiI can’t take it anymore, my throat is already reacting just from reading this! If I can drink it at the brewery shop too, I want to toast right now!
