COEDO Brewery: Ozaki Discusses the Brewing Vision Behind "Hazy Gate"
In COEDO Brewery's "MEET THE BREWER" published on January 17, 2026, Mr. Ozaki, who was responsible for the DDH HAZY IPA "Hazy Gate," explains the design concept. The core of this beer is how it balances the use of "sweet potato," which reflects the character of Kawagoe, with juicy hop expression.
Hop BroThe DDH HAZY IPA "Hazy Gate" from COEDO Brewery, and Ozaki's brewing concept, are seriously interesting.
MugiWait, how do you put "Kawagoe-ness" into a hazy IPA? What is that? I want to know!
Hop BroThe key is sweet potato. Instead of going all in on a potato flavor, it uses subtle sweetness and a rounded mouthfeel as the foundation, then layers tropical hop aromas on top.
MugiWhat's DDH!? It sounds like some kind of workout routine!
Hop BroHaha, it stands for Double Dry Hopping. It's a method where you add plenty of hops during fermentation or later in the process to bring out a big aroma without making it too bitter.
MugiOh, I see! So it's juicy and aromatic, but not too heavy. That sounds really easy to drink!
Hop BroAnd on top of that, they aimed for a silky texture in the brew, and there's also the story that they got a clear, beautiful wort. You can really see the design come through in the liquid itself.
MugiThe name "Hazy Gate" is cool too! Does it mean something? It's not just stylish English, right?
Hop BroIt's based on Ozaki's hometown, Kasumigaseki, with HAZY x GATE. It also overlaps with the image of a winter morning mist. It's so COEDO that they pack even the local identity into a single beer.
MugiWow, now that I know the background, I want to drink it even more! I want to experience it together with Kawagoe food and art. Let's toast with "Hazy Gate" right now!
What Ozaki's interview revealed about Hazy Gate's design
According to an article in COEDO Brewery's official journal, the first thing Mr. Ozaki envisioned was a "luxurious pint" that would make people want to share a "local, interesting beer" at gatherings during the year-end and New Year holiday season. The guiding idea behind the flavor design was how to make the regional identity of a brewery born in Kawagoe coexist with the drinking satisfaction of a modern hazy IPA.
The key point was the use of "sweet potato," a crop associated with Kawagoe. The aim was not to push the potato flavor to the forefront, but to use it as a base that adds subtle sweetness and a rounded mouthfeel. By layering tropical hop aromas on top of that foundation, the beer was finished with a bright, fragrant balance that does not feel overly heavy.
The feel of the brew and the sense of place embedded in the name
During brewing, he said it was memorable that, in the process of aiming for a silky texture, they obtained a clear and beautiful wort. The name Hazy Gate comes from an idea connected to Mr. Ozaki's hometown, "Kasumigaseki" (HAZY x GATE), and it also overlaps with the image of a winter morning mist.
COEDO's background and this beer
Based in Kawagoe, Saitama, COEDO Brewery is a brewery that has expanded into craft beer from a foundation of agricultural knowledge. Its history page also highlights its efforts to connect local crops with beer and its philosophy of "Beer Beautiful." Hazy Gate can be seen as a concrete example of that context distilled into a modern DDH HAZY IPA.
The related event, "Hazy Gate Release Event," was held from January 21 to 25, 2026 at COEDO BREWERY THE RESTAURANT in Kawagoe, and on January 22 a Meet The Brewer session with Mr. Ozaki was also held. The fact that it was designed as an experience with food and art exhibitions, rather than just as a standalone beer, is another distinctive feature of this release.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroThe DDH HAZY IPA "Hazy Gate" from COEDO Brewery, and Ozaki's brewing concept, are seriously interesting.
MugiWait, how do you put "Kawagoe-ness" into a hazy IPA? What is that? I want to know!
Hop BroThe key is sweet potato. Instead of going all in on a potato flavor, it uses subtle sweetness and a rounded mouthfeel as the foundation, then layers tropical hop aromas on top.
MugiWhat's DDH!? It sounds like some kind of workout routine!
Hop BroHaha, it stands for Double Dry Hopping. It's a method where you add plenty of hops during fermentation or later in the process to bring out a big aroma without making it too bitter.
MugiOh, I see! So it's juicy and aromatic, but not too heavy. That sounds really easy to drink!
Hop BroAnd on top of that, they aimed for a silky texture in the brew, and there's also the story that they got a clear, beautiful wort. You can really see the design come through in the liquid itself.
MugiThe name "Hazy Gate" is cool too! Does it mean something? It's not just stylish English, right?
Hop BroIt's based on Ozaki's hometown, Kasumigaseki, with HAZY x GATE. It also overlaps with the image of a winter morning mist. It's so COEDO that they pack even the local identity into a single beer.
MugiWow, now that I know the background, I want to drink it even more! I want to experience it together with Kawagoe food and art. Let's toast with "Hazy Gate" right now!
