Hop Kotan Brewing Reveals April New Releases 'Full Throttle' and 'Ignition'
Hop Kotan Brewing, based in Kami-Furano Town, Hokkaido, introduced two new beers in an Instagram post on April 30. The American IPA 'Full Throttle' and Session IPL 'Ignition' both put hops at center stage, and are limited releases designed even around the time of day they are meant to be enjoyed.
Hop BroHere it is: Hop Kotan Brewing's two new releases from Kami-Furano, Hokkaido. In the April FREEDOMS lineup, American IPA 'Full Throttle' and Session IPL 'Ignition' sit side by side. For hop lovers, that's an irresistible pairing.
MugiWait! A two-beer lineup where hops are the star? Even the names sound like engine noises! Why 'Ignition' and 'Full Throttle'?
Hop BroThat's the interesting part. 'Ignition' is a light, daytime Session IPL, pale gold, 4.5% ABV, 40 IBU. It's like the fuse that gets things going smoothly.
MugiA Session IPL? What is that? An IPL that's light - what kind of personality does it have?
Hop BroIPL stands for India Pale Lager, a style that uses lager yeast crispness while bringing hop aroma to the front. 'Ignition' is made with 100% pilsner malt, and because it's finished with high attenuation and a dry profile, it goes down easily while still delivering a proper hop presence.
MugiOhhh! And with Simcoe and Motueka, grapefruit and pine? It's like citrus is running wild in the middle of a forest!
Hop BroExactly. And by switching between T-90 pellets and concentrated hop products at each stage, they keep the green notes in check while letting the aroma sink in. That's a real aroma-building job, and it shows Hop Kotan's careful touch.
MugiWow, they go that detailed? So 'Full Throttle' is more of a punchy, night-time beer?
Hop BroExactly. 'Full Throttle' is an American IPA that uses Nelson Sauvin as the base and blends in Zaapa, with double dry hopping on top. It has white-grape-like aromas layered with herbal and tropical notes, and the 60 IBU bitterness hits hard.
MugiWhoa, so daytime for 'Ignition' and nighttime for 'Full Throttle' - they're literally designed for different times of day. Beer with a schedule is kind of smart, but also insanely fun!
Hop BroI like how it really captures the hop-growing character of Kami-Furano while drawing a clear line around the flavor. Today I'd start with Ignition to get things going, then go deep with Full Throttle at the end.
MugiAgreed! I'd warm up with the lively Ignition first, then go full throttle with Full Throttle at the end!
Hop Kotan Brewing, based in Kami-Furano Town, Hokkaido, operates the standard `HOP KOTAN ORIGINALS` line and the highly flexible limited series `HOP KOTAN FREEDOMS`. The April FREEDOMS lineup added two new beers: the American IPA `Full Throttle` and the Session IPL `Ignition`.
`Ignition` is a light, pale-gold Session IPL. Built on a simple 100% pilsner malt recipe, it aims for a light body, high attenuation, and a dry finish. It uses Simcoe and Motueka hops, and by switching between regular T-90 pellets and concentrated hop products at different stages of the process, it keeps green, grassy notes in check while still layering in aroma. The beer brings together grapefruit, pine, and lime-like aromas, and comes in at 4.5% ABV and 40 IBU.
`Full Throttle`, meanwhile, arrived as the follow-up to `Ignition`. This American IPA blends Zaapa with a Nelson Sauvin base and brings out its aroma through double dry hopping. White-grape-like notes are layered with herbal and tropical nuances, and it also stands out for a vivid bitterness that matches its 60 IBU rating. ABV is 6.0%. The contrast between the daytime, easygoing `Ignition` and the nighttime, more contemplative `Full Throttle` also shows a design that separates hop character by time of day.
Rooted in Kami-Furano, a hop-growing region, while clearly drawing distinct outlines in flavor, this is classic Hop Kotan Brewing. As new additions to the limited series, these are two beers focused on how to let drinkers enjoy hop aroma and bitterness.
Reference: Full Throttle / Ignition / FREEDOMS list
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHere it is: Hop Kotan Brewing's two new releases from Kami-Furano, Hokkaido. In the April FREEDOMS lineup, American IPA 'Full Throttle' and Session IPL 'Ignition' sit side by side. For hop lovers, that's an irresistible pairing.
MugiWait! A two-beer lineup where hops are the star? Even the names sound like engine noises! Why 'Ignition' and 'Full Throttle'?
Hop BroThat's the interesting part. 'Ignition' is a light, daytime Session IPL, pale gold, 4.5% ABV, 40 IBU. It's like the fuse that gets things going smoothly.
MugiA Session IPL? What is that? An IPL that's light - what kind of personality does it have?
Hop BroIPL stands for India Pale Lager, a style that uses lager yeast crispness while bringing hop aroma to the front. 'Ignition' is made with 100% pilsner malt, and because it's finished with high attenuation and a dry profile, it goes down easily while still delivering a proper hop presence.
MugiOhhh! And with Simcoe and Motueka, grapefruit and pine? It's like citrus is running wild in the middle of a forest!
Hop BroExactly. And by switching between T-90 pellets and concentrated hop products at each stage, they keep the green notes in check while letting the aroma sink in. That's a real aroma-building job, and it shows Hop Kotan's careful touch.
MugiWow, they go that detailed? So 'Full Throttle' is more of a punchy, night-time beer?
Hop BroExactly. 'Full Throttle' is an American IPA that uses Nelson Sauvin as the base and blends in Zaapa, with double dry hopping on top. It has white-grape-like aromas layered with herbal and tropical notes, and the 60 IBU bitterness hits hard.
MugiWhoa, so daytime for 'Ignition' and nighttime for 'Full Throttle' - they're literally designed for different times of day. Beer with a schedule is kind of smart, but also insanely fun!
Hop BroI like how it really captures the hop-growing character of Kami-Furano while drawing a clear line around the flavor. Today I'd start with Ignition to get things going, then go deep with Full Throttle at the end.
MugiAgreed! I'd warm up with the lively Ignition first, then go full throttle with Full Throttle at the end!
