GROUNDTAP BREWERY taps "KOHARU," launching Himekoharu Hazy IPA
GROUNDTAP BREWERY in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, Iyo-Saijo, has announced the release of its new beer, "KOHARU (Koharu)." This Hazy IPA uses Himekoharu, a rare citrus fruit from Ehime, with PREP ROOM sales starting on March 26 and the ONLINE SHOP rollout beginning on March 27.
Hop BroGROUNDTAP BREWERY has a new release coming in. This time the star is KOHARU, a bottle packed with the feeling of Ehime’s seasons.
MugiWhoa! Even the name is cute! I can’t imagine what it’ll taste like with Himekoharu in it.
Hop BroThe style is Hazy IPA with Citrus, and the ABV is 7.0%. And the neat part is that it uses Himekoharu, the citrus sometimes called a "phantom citrus."
MugiHuh? But Hazy IPA is the juicy hop-forward kind, right? If they cut back on the hops, what happens instead?
Hop BroThat’s the interesting part. This time they didn’t push the hops too hard, so the design leans mainly on fruit aroma, letting Himekoharu’s sweetness and citrus character come through directly.
MugiI get it! So instead of something aggressively bitter, it’s more of a soft, bright style. I love the yellow appearance too, it already feels like spring just from the look!
Hop BroExactly. The post also said its highlights are the fresh aroma and a sweetness you feel even more than you expect from the look. If you drink it at the Saijo base, it feels like the local air is coming through with it too.
MugiI want to drink it! But when can I go!? I heard it starts on March 26, but where can I try it?
Hop BroFirst, it goes on sale at PREP ROOM. TAP ROOM is already serving it ON TAP. Online sales start on March 27, and you can track it as MIXSET2603, so you can enjoy it both on site and at home.
MugiThat’s amazing! If it comes in both 350 ml cans and 15 L kegs, I can really go all in. I want to toast to this spring beer right now!
According to the release information published by GROUNDTAP BREWERY, the new beer is "KOHARU (Koharu)." The style is Hazy IPA with Citrus, and the ABV is 7.0%. As a secondary ingredient, it uses Himekoharu, a mandarin from Ehime Prefecture also known as a "phantom citrus." The post highlights its yellow appearance, refreshing aroma, and a sweetness that comes through more strongly than its looks might suggest.
On the recipe side, the beer was designed with reduced hop usage so that the character of Himekoharu could be expressed directly. Unlike a typical Hazy IPA that puts hops front and center, this one is intended to showcase fruit-derived nuances. It is a beer worth paying attention to, not only for its juiciness but also for its balance of citrus sweetness and aroma.
The sales schedule is as follows.
- PREP ROOM: from 3/26 (Thu)
- TAP ROOM: ON TAP (now being served)
- ONLINE SHOP: from 3/27 (Fri) - (MIXSET2603)
It is also on sale through the business customer EC site, with cans (350 ml) and kegs (15 L) announced as available formats. This is a release that feels true to a brewery making the most of local Ehime ingredients, and the key point is that you can enjoy it not only as a local experience at the Saijo base, but also online. This is a harvest ale for early spring, capturing the season in a glass.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroGROUNDTAP BREWERY has a new release coming in. This time the star is KOHARU, a bottle packed with the feeling of Ehime’s seasons.
MugiWhoa! Even the name is cute! I can’t imagine what it’ll taste like with Himekoharu in it.
Hop BroThe style is Hazy IPA with Citrus, and the ABV is 7.0%. And the neat part is that it uses Himekoharu, the citrus sometimes called a "phantom citrus."
MugiHuh? But Hazy IPA is the juicy hop-forward kind, right? If they cut back on the hops, what happens instead?
Hop BroThat’s the interesting part. This time they didn’t push the hops too hard, so the design leans mainly on fruit aroma, letting Himekoharu’s sweetness and citrus character come through directly.
MugiI get it! So instead of something aggressively bitter, it’s more of a soft, bright style. I love the yellow appearance too, it already feels like spring just from the look!
Hop BroExactly. The post also said its highlights are the fresh aroma and a sweetness you feel even more than you expect from the look. If you drink it at the Saijo base, it feels like the local air is coming through with it too.
MugiI want to drink it! But when can I go!? I heard it starts on March 26, but where can I try it?
Hop BroFirst, it goes on sale at PREP ROOM. TAP ROOM is already serving it ON TAP. Online sales start on March 27, and you can track it as MIXSET2603, so you can enjoy it both on site and at home.
MugiThat’s amazing! If it comes in both 350 ml cans and 15 L kegs, I can really go all in. I want to toast to this spring beer right now!
