OGA BREWING unveils "Envol (Keg)," an amber saison with restrained bitterness
OGA BREWING COMPANY in Mitaka, Tokyo, is rolling out "Envol (Keg)" as the 2026 edition of its annual spring "graduation beer." Built around a malty profile, it layers wheat sweetness with a clean acidity to create an amber saison with restrained bitterness.
Hop BroSpring news is here, OGA's new Envol has been unveiled. It's the 2026 edition of Mitaka's OGA BREWING COMPANY "graduation beer"!
MugiWait, a graduation beer? And just the name amber saison already sounds way too stylish!
Hop BroThe style is amber saison, with ABV 5.0%, IBU 14, and a 350 ml volume. In other words, it's designed to keep the bitterness nice and low so it's easy to drink.
MugiIBU 14 doesn't mean much to me! How bitter is that on the bitterness scale?
Hop BroRoughly speaking, it's much gentler than a punchy bitter IPA. It's the kind of soft bitterness you can sip while talking.
MugiOhhh! And the article mentioned a ton of malt stuff! Maris Otter and all that sound like magic spells!
Hop BroThat's the fun part. Maris Otter, wheat, Munich, and Carahell build the sweetness and body of the grain, while the hops are kept to a solo Cascade to shape the aroma.
MugiSolo? That sounds like a samurai warrior, haha! So basically it's a balanced saison that's neither too heavy nor too light, right?
Hop BroExactly. OGA cares about making "a beer that surprises people the first time they drink craft beer and makes them like it," and this Envol is a beer that even thinks through the design of the drinking experience.
MugiI'm already in spring mode! Tonight let's raise a toast slowly while chatting over an easy-going amber with mellow bitterness!
OGA BREWING COMPANY in Mitaka, Tokyo, has released product information for its new beer, "Envol (Keg)." On the sales page, it is listed as a keg item in the trade-only menu, with a displayed price of 0 yen. The style is amber saison, with an ABV of 5.0%, IBU 14, and a 350 ml volume.
This "Envol" is the 2026 edition of the brewery's annual spring "graduation beer." According to the description, it was brewed around the theme of "a beer that could become another regular for OGA," by Team ICU, who favor malty flavors. The recipe uses a malt bill of Maris Otter, wheat, Munich, and Carahell, with Cascade hops. Its defining feature is a design that wraps two core elements, wheat sweetness and clean acidity, in a roasty aroma.
In terms of flavor direction, this is not the kind of beer that pushes hard with strong hop bitterness. Instead, it is a balanced beer that lets you enjoy changes in character, almost in step with the rhythm of a conversation. The choice of an amber saison also suggests an intention to balance a light drinking feel with the depth of malt.
Behind it is OGA BREWING's stance of "brewing beers that surprise first-time craft beer drinkers and make them fall in love." Like a brewery rooted in a residential neighborhood of Mitaka and focused on the context of the town and human communication, this beer also reflects a philosophy of designing the drinking experience itself. The inclusion of the short short story "Retour" on the product page also clearly shows the company's style of moving back and forth between story and taste.
For anyone looking for a saison with modest bitterness, or for a beer that keeps a malty character without feeling heavy, "Envol (Keg)" is a new release worth checking out.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroSpring news is here, OGA's new Envol has been unveiled. It's the 2026 edition of Mitaka's OGA BREWING COMPANY "graduation beer"!
MugiWait, a graduation beer? And just the name amber saison already sounds way too stylish!
Hop BroThe style is amber saison, with ABV 5.0%, IBU 14, and a 350 ml volume. In other words, it's designed to keep the bitterness nice and low so it's easy to drink.
MugiIBU 14 doesn't mean much to me! How bitter is that on the bitterness scale?
Hop BroRoughly speaking, it's much gentler than a punchy bitter IPA. It's the kind of soft bitterness you can sip while talking.
MugiOhhh! And the article mentioned a ton of malt stuff! Maris Otter and all that sound like magic spells!
Hop BroThat's the fun part. Maris Otter, wheat, Munich, and Carahell build the sweetness and body of the grain, while the hops are kept to a solo Cascade to shape the aroma.
MugiSolo? That sounds like a samurai warrior, haha! So basically it's a balanced saison that's neither too heavy nor too light, right?
Hop BroExactly. OGA cares about making "a beer that surprises people the first time they drink craft beer and makes them like it," and this Envol is a beer that even thinks through the design of the drinking experience.
MugiI'm already in spring mode! Tonight let's raise a toast slowly while chatting over an easy-going amber with mellow bitterness!
