Setouchi Brewery Begins Selling "HOP HOPPING ROOM002," a West Coast IPA with Chinook as the Star
Setouchi Brewery in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, is rolling out the second release in its new series, "HOP HOPPING," which spotlights the distinct character of hops. The KEY HOP is Chinook, and this West Coast IPA is aimed at sharp bitterness, citrus reminiscent of grapefruit, and piney resin notes.
Hop BroToday, it’s about Setouchi Brewery’s new release, HOP HOPPING ROOM002. It’s the second in the series, and I’m already excited by how it puts the hop character front and center.
MugiWait, it’s the second one in the series? HOP HOPPING ROOM002 sounds intense just from the name, but what kind of beer is it?
Hop BroThis time it’s a Chinook-led West Coast IPA. It’s designed with sharp bitterness, citrus like grapefruit, and then a piney, resinous finish.
MugiHold on, hold on, what even is a West Coast IPA? Does sharp bitterness mean it tastes kind of edgy?
Hop BroYeah, roughly speaking, it’s an IPA with crisp, well-defined edges. Rather than smoothing things out with sweetness, it really brings out the bitterness and aroma, so the instant you drink it, you feel like, "The hops are here!"
MugiI get it, it sounds like it hits you with aroma first! And hearing grapefruit notes suddenly makes it sound pretty drinkable.
Hop BroThe brewing is interesting too. In their Instagram post, they say they worked on extracting the aromatic compounds. They also blended Chinook made with different methods to balance aroma and flavor, which really hits the sweet spot for beer nerds.
MugiOh wow! The previous release had a softer mouthfeel, but this one is more sharply defined, right? It’s fun when the series changes personality like that!
Hop BroExactly. And it’s a 6.5% IPA priced at 890 yen. You can buy it at Riverside 351, the brewery’s attached shop, or online, so it’s easy to compare side by side.
MugiA six-can set online too? That’s almost unfair! If you line it up with ROOM001, the regular IPA, and LAGER, the differences would be a blast to talk about!
Hop BroAnd I like that they run everything in-house at the Takamatsu brewery, from planning all the way to shipping. You can enjoy it together with the Seto Inland Sea scenery, so it makes you want to have a drink in ferry-travel mode.
MugiYeah, reading it makes me want to drink it already! I want to find out what that pine-resin finish is like as soon as possible!
The second release in HOP HOPPING
Setouchi Brewery in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, is selling the second installment of its new series, "HOP HOPPING," which puts hop character at the center: "HOP HOPPING ROOM002." This time, Chinook is used as the KEY HOP, and it is finished as a West Coast IPA. It has an alcohol content of 6.5% and costs 890 yen.
Chinook is known for its classic aroma reminiscent of pine resin and citrus. The brewery says it aimed for an IPA that lets you experience those hop qualities head-on. The drinking experience is designed so that sharp, crisp bitterness hits first, followed by grapefruit-like citrus and then a lingering pine-resin finish.
Brewing touches
In an Instagram post, the brewery also explained that it used a special method to extract the aromatic components contained in hops. It also said it blended Chinook made with different production methods to balance aroma and flavor. Compared with the previous release, which used oats to create a softer mouthfeel, ROOM002 seems to aim for a more clearly defined flavor.
Where to buy
HOP HOPPING ROOM002 is sold at Riverside 351, the bottle shop attached to the brewery, and in the online store. The online store also offers a six-can set that lets you compare ROOM001 with the standard IPA and LAGER.
As a Takamatsu brewery surrounded by the natural beauty of the Seto Inland Sea, Setouchi Brewery handles everything in-house from planning to brewing to shipping. In addition to making beers that make use of local character, its approach of digging into each series' hop personality is clearly reflected in this new release as well.
The photos for the post were taken aboard the ferry Shodoshima Maru heading to Shodoshima. Against the backdrop of a boat trip from Takamatsu Port to Tonosho Port, the new release is introduced alongside a scene of movement typical of the Seto Inland Sea. The composition conveys not only the beer's character but also the atmosphere of the place, and it is a distinctly Setouchi Brewery touch.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday, it’s about Setouchi Brewery’s new release, HOP HOPPING ROOM002. It’s the second in the series, and I’m already excited by how it puts the hop character front and center.
MugiWait, it’s the second one in the series? HOP HOPPING ROOM002 sounds intense just from the name, but what kind of beer is it?
Hop BroThis time it’s a Chinook-led West Coast IPA. It’s designed with sharp bitterness, citrus like grapefruit, and then a piney, resinous finish.
MugiHold on, hold on, what even is a West Coast IPA? Does sharp bitterness mean it tastes kind of edgy?
Hop BroYeah, roughly speaking, it’s an IPA with crisp, well-defined edges. Rather than smoothing things out with sweetness, it really brings out the bitterness and aroma, so the instant you drink it, you feel like, "The hops are here!"
MugiI get it, it sounds like it hits you with aroma first! And hearing grapefruit notes suddenly makes it sound pretty drinkable.
Hop BroThe brewing is interesting too. In their Instagram post, they say they worked on extracting the aromatic compounds. They also blended Chinook made with different methods to balance aroma and flavor, which really hits the sweet spot for beer nerds.
MugiOh wow! The previous release had a softer mouthfeel, but this one is more sharply defined, right? It’s fun when the series changes personality like that!
Hop BroExactly. And it’s a 6.5% IPA priced at 890 yen. You can buy it at Riverside 351, the brewery’s attached shop, or online, so it’s easy to compare side by side.
MugiA six-can set online too? That’s almost unfair! If you line it up with ROOM001, the regular IPA, and LAGER, the differences would be a blast to talk about!
Hop BroAnd I like that they run everything in-house at the Takamatsu brewery, from planning all the way to shipping. You can enjoy it together with the Seto Inland Sea scenery, so it makes you want to have a drink in ferry-travel mode.
MugiYeah, reading it makes me want to drink it already! I want to find out what that pine-resin finish is like as soon as possible!
