Hop Kotan Brewing unveils its seasonal Harvest Brew
Hop Kotan Brewing shared an Instagram post titled “HOP KOTAN'S HARVEST BREW!!,” highlighting its seasonal beer series tied to hop harvest time in Kamifurano, Hokkaido.
Hop BroI want to talk about HOP KOTAN Brewing's HARVEST BREW today. It's a once-a-year seasonal beer made with freshly picked hops from Kamifurano.
MugiWait, once a year only? That's basically the beer version of limited festival merch!
Hop BroExactly. The harvest window is only about two weeks from late August to early September, and the star is a big fresh-hop addition.
MugiWhoa, but what is a fresh-hop addition? Aren't hops usually the dry crunchy ones?
Hop BroThis is what's called wet-hop brewing. They use the hops before drying them, so you get that vivid, green, just-picked character.
MugiWhat is that! So it's basically a freshness speedrun from the field to the brewhouse?
Hop BroPretty much. HOP KOTAN Brewing is right near the hop fields, so they can pack Kamifurano's season straight into the beer.
MugiAnd they do pale ale, saison, and pilsner too, right? A style showdown with the same fresh hops sounds amazing!
Hop BroThat's the fun part. In pale ale, saison, pilsner, the fresh hops should express themselves differently: bright, spicy, crisp, and still super juicy.
MugiI'm already thirsty just imagining it. That FULL OF HOPPINESS caption suddenly feels very accurate.
Hop BroYeah, drinking the harvest at its peak is a real luxury. If I see it on a menu, it's an instant order.
MugiDeal. I'm taking one huge sniff before the first sip. I need this now!
Hop Kotan Brewing, based in Kamifurano, Hokkaido, has shared an Instagram post titled “HOP KOTAN'S HARVEST BREW!!” with the caption “FULL OF HOPPINESS.” The post serves as a clear reminder of the brewery’s annual seasonal release centered on fresh harvest hops.
According to the brewery’s official site, HARVEST BREW is made during the brief hop harvest window in Kamifurano, which runs from late August to early September and lasts for only about two weeks. Because freshly picked hops lose quality quickly, they are usually dried soon after harvest. Hop Kotan’s approach is different: it uses plenty of fresh hops during that short period, making the most of what is essentially a once-a-year opportunity.
The brewery’s location close to the hop fields is central to this project. Hop Kotan describes HARVEST BREW as a special annual offering that captures the freshness of the harvest season. Its lineup page also presents styles such as pale ale, saison, and pilsner, showing how the brewery explores different ways to express the character of newly harvested hops.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroI want to talk about HOP KOTAN Brewing's HARVEST BREW today. It's a once-a-year seasonal beer made with freshly picked hops from Kamifurano.
MugiWait, once a year only? That's basically the beer version of limited festival merch!
Hop BroExactly. The harvest window is only about two weeks from late August to early September, and the star is a big fresh-hop addition.
MugiWhoa, but what is a fresh-hop addition? Aren't hops usually the dry crunchy ones?
Hop BroThis is what's called wet-hop brewing. They use the hops before drying them, so you get that vivid, green, just-picked character.
MugiWhat is that! So it's basically a freshness speedrun from the field to the brewhouse?
Hop BroPretty much. HOP KOTAN Brewing is right near the hop fields, so they can pack Kamifurano's season straight into the beer.
MugiAnd they do pale ale, saison, and pilsner too, right? A style showdown with the same fresh hops sounds amazing!
Hop BroThat's the fun part. In pale ale, saison, pilsner, the fresh hops should express themselves differently: bright, spicy, crisp, and still super juicy.
MugiI'm already thirsty just imagining it. That FULL OF HOPPINESS caption suddenly feels very accurate.
Hop BroYeah, drinking the harvest at its peak is a real luxury. If I see it on a menu, it's an instant order.
MugiDeal. I'm taking one huge sniff before the first sip. I need this now!
