HAZY LABO Taps "Whole Lotta Hops V2" - 8.5% Hazy IPA Loaded with 7 Hop Varieties
HAZY LABO, the brewery in Shin-Sayama, Saitama, has tapped its new release, "Whole Lotta Hops V2/8.5%." Brewed with seven hops including Loral, Krush, and Citra, this hazy IPA was aged for about half a year before release, and it will also appear at off-site events.
Hop BroAt HAZY LABO in Shin-Sayama, Whole Lotta Hops V2 is on tap. It is a pretty aggressive beer, packed with seven hop varieties including Loral, Citra, and Mosaic.
MugiWhoa! If you put in that many hops, it's basically a hop theme park! And an 8.5% hazy IPA? The name alone makes me feel drunk!
Hop BroExactly. They also used T90 pellets, designing it to make use of whatever hops were left over. The goal is an aroma with an element of chance, which is interesting because the expression changes a little each time.
MugiAn element of chance? So basically the people making it are a little nervous too? It suddenly feels like a beer made in a laboratory!
Hop BroExactly. The yeast is WHC's Mango Madness, which brings out tropical aromas. On top of that, sweetness and a tropical feel add body, giving it the thick texture you expect from a hazy.
MugiI see! But what does hop burn in the article mean? Burn, as in your throat catches fire?
Hop BroRight, roughly speaking, it's when hop-derived harshness comes through too strongly. This time they aged it longer to calm that down, along with the sulfur note, and that's the key point.
MugiSix months of aging!? So it's basically the beer world's long-term sleeper. Can hazies really stay lively after sitting that long?
Hop BroLess lively than settled and rounded, I'd say. The bitterness isn't too strong, and herbal and earthy notes come forward, with a Columbus-like character lingering gently.
MugiWow, I want to try that! And HAZY LABO is a shop where you can see the brewing equipment, right? Drinking while watching them make it is basically cheating!
Hop BroExactly. They also seem set to show up at Otonari Beer Market 2026 on April 11 and the Shin-Sayama Market on April 12, so it's a beer you'll want to follow both at the shop and at events.
MugiAlright, decision made! I'll chase it both at the event and at the shop, and first I want to hear Hop Bro's breakdown with a tropical pint in hand!
At HAZY LABO (Hazy Labo) in Shin-Sayama, Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture, a new tap announcement has been posted. This time's star is "Whole Lotta Hops V2/8.5%." The post introduces it as a beer brewed around the concept of loading in large amounts of a wide variety of hops.
The hops used are Loral, Krush, Superdelic, Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Columbus - seven varieties in total. All of them are T90 pellet hops, and by gathering together small leftover amounts of hops and using them all at once, the recipe is designed to aim for an aroma and flavor with an element of chance. The yeast used is WHC's Mango Madness. It was brewed on October 26, 2025, and because hop burn and sulfur notes appeared, the beer was only released after being aged longer so that flavor and aroma could take priority.
The taste is characterized by a balance of sweetness, tropical flavor, and a distinctive herbal note. Bitterness is not too strong, and the beer is described as a calm finish in which herbal, earthy character that seems to come from Columbus stands out as its defining trait. Although the ABV is a high 8.5%, about six months of conditioning at room temperature have brought the drinkability together so it doesn't come across as overly sharp.
As its name suggests, HAZY LABO is a brewery specializing in hazy beers. Being able to track down this kind of experimental hazy IPA at the Shin-Sayama shop is a major draw. The space also lets you see the brewing equipment through the glass, so you can drink while imagining the brewer's intent, which is unique to this place. It is a beer for people who want to enjoy the background behind the beer as well.
The post also announced plans to appear at "Otonari Beer Market 2026" on April 11 at Kawagoe Kurazukuri and "Shin-Sayama Market" on April 12. It looks like there will be more chances to encounter HAZY LABO's beer not only in the shop but also at event venues.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroAt HAZY LABO in Shin-Sayama, Whole Lotta Hops V2 is on tap. It is a pretty aggressive beer, packed with seven hop varieties including Loral, Citra, and Mosaic.
MugiWhoa! If you put in that many hops, it's basically a hop theme park! And an 8.5% hazy IPA? The name alone makes me feel drunk!
Hop BroExactly. They also used T90 pellets, designing it to make use of whatever hops were left over. The goal is an aroma with an element of chance, which is interesting because the expression changes a little each time.
MugiAn element of chance? So basically the people making it are a little nervous too? It suddenly feels like a beer made in a laboratory!
Hop BroExactly. The yeast is WHC's Mango Madness, which brings out tropical aromas. On top of that, sweetness and a tropical feel add body, giving it the thick texture you expect from a hazy.
MugiI see! But what does hop burn in the article mean? Burn, as in your throat catches fire?
Hop BroRight, roughly speaking, it's when hop-derived harshness comes through too strongly. This time they aged it longer to calm that down, along with the sulfur note, and that's the key point.
MugiSix months of aging!? So it's basically the beer world's long-term sleeper. Can hazies really stay lively after sitting that long?
Hop BroLess lively than settled and rounded, I'd say. The bitterness isn't too strong, and herbal and earthy notes come forward, with a Columbus-like character lingering gently.
MugiWow, I want to try that! And HAZY LABO is a shop where you can see the brewing equipment, right? Drinking while watching them make it is basically cheating!
Hop BroExactly. They also seem set to show up at Otonari Beer Market 2026 on April 11 and the Shin-Sayama Market on April 12, so it's a beer you'll want to follow both at the shop and at events.
MugiAlright, decision made! I'll chase it both at the event and at the shop, and first I want to hear Hop Bro's breakdown with a tropical pint in hand!
