Hare no Kuni Brewery to Release First Canned Beer, "Ichi-geki," with Sales Starting February 20
Hare no Kuni Brewery in Waki Town, Okayama, will begin selling its first house-brewed canned beer. The first release is a West Coast IPA, "Ichi-geki." Kegging and canning are planned for February 16, and the first sale will be on Friday, February 20, 2026. Due to adjustments in the canning process, quantities are expected to be limited.
Hop BroHare no Kuni Brewery in Waki Town, Okayama, is releasing its first canned beer! The first one is the West Coast IPA "Ichi-geki," going on sale on Friday, February 20, 2026, right?
MugiWhoa! Their first can and it's called "Ichi-geki"!? That already sounds fierce!
Hop BroWhat's inside is fierce too: ABV 7.5% and IBU 75. It's designed to go straight after the classic bitter-and-delicious IPA style.
MugiWhat does that even mean! I've heard of ABV, but how bitter is IBU 75?! Is my tongue supposed to sit seiza?
Hop BroThat's a good comparison. ABV is alcohol by volume, and IBU is a bitterness indicator. Seventy-five is definitely bitter, but it's the kind that works with the aroma instead of just being bitter for bitterness's sake.
MugiOhhh! What kind of aroma does it have? If the name is Ichi-geki, does it punch your nose too?
Hop BroAbsolutely. The hops are Simcoe, Citra, and Mosaic. Tropical aromas come first, then a dank character follows, with bitterness landing both on the tip of the tongue and deeper in the mouth.
MugiDank? That's suddenly final-boss terminology! Also, what happened to the Azacca hop?
Hop BroDank means that resinous, deep kind of "hop-like intensity." They couldn't get Azacca this time, so it was left out, but they plan to add it in the future if they can source it. They're also scheduled to keg and can it on February 16, but process adjustments in canning are expected to cause losses, so the first batch is ultra-limited.
MugiYou can really feel the small-batch, careful approach, which makes me want to cheer them on! I'm looking forward to the future too, with other labels starting in early March and five core beers by the end of March. I already want to toast to "Ichi-geki" right now!
Hare no Kuni Brewery announced in its "Notice on Canned Beer Sales" published on February 14, 2026, that it will start selling its house-brewed beer in cans. The first release is the West Coast IPA "Ichi-geki". Specs are ABV 7.5% / IBU 75, designed to deliver a firm bitterness.
The hops used are Simcoe, Citra, and Mosaic. Azacca, which had originally been planned, could not be sourced and was left out, but the brewery said it intends to add it in the future if it becomes available. According to the brewery, the aroma starts with tropical notes followed by a dank character, while the bitterness can be felt both at the tip of the tongue and deeper in the palate. It sounds like a classic bitter-but-delicious IPA.
Meanwhile, the canning process is still being adjusted and may increase losses, so the total number of cans is expected to be lower than initially anticipated. The official announcement also describes it as "ultra-limited," so it seems wise to move quickly for the first lot. Sales begin on Friday, February 20, 2026, after which the brewery plans to roll out other labels sequentially from early March and have five core varieties in place by the end of March.
The brewery is based in Waki Town, Okayama Prefecture. Run by a brewer born in Waki and his wife, it is a small brewery that emphasizes a "dry drinking profile" suited to a region with long hours of sunshine. Their approach, balancing locally grown grains and fruit with modern hop aroma while preserving local character, also comes through in this "Ichi-geki." Its first canned release looks likely to be a proving ground for the brewery's future.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHare no Kuni Brewery in Waki Town, Okayama, is releasing its first canned beer! The first one is the West Coast IPA "Ichi-geki," going on sale on Friday, February 20, 2026, right?
MugiWhoa! Their first can and it's called "Ichi-geki"!? That already sounds fierce!
Hop BroWhat's inside is fierce too: ABV 7.5% and IBU 75. It's designed to go straight after the classic bitter-and-delicious IPA style.
MugiWhat does that even mean! I've heard of ABV, but how bitter is IBU 75?! Is my tongue supposed to sit seiza?
Hop BroThat's a good comparison. ABV is alcohol by volume, and IBU is a bitterness indicator. Seventy-five is definitely bitter, but it's the kind that works with the aroma instead of just being bitter for bitterness's sake.
MugiOhhh! What kind of aroma does it have? If the name is Ichi-geki, does it punch your nose too?
Hop BroAbsolutely. The hops are Simcoe, Citra, and Mosaic. Tropical aromas come first, then a dank character follows, with bitterness landing both on the tip of the tongue and deeper in the mouth.
MugiDank? That's suddenly final-boss terminology! Also, what happened to the Azacca hop?
Hop BroDank means that resinous, deep kind of "hop-like intensity." They couldn't get Azacca this time, so it was left out, but they plan to add it in the future if they can source it. They're also scheduled to keg and can it on February 16, but process adjustments in canning are expected to cause losses, so the first batch is ultra-limited.
MugiYou can really feel the small-batch, careful approach, which makes me want to cheer them on! I'm looking forward to the future too, with other labels starting in early March and five core beers by the end of March. I already want to toast to "Ichi-geki" right now!
