Good Hops and Spring Valley Brewery Launch Limited-Edition Product Featuring Rare Hop "Murakami Seven"
GOOD HOPS in Tono, Iwate Prefecture, will roll out limited-edition products using the rare hop "Murakami Seven" in April as a special collaboration with Spring Valley Brewery. GOOD HOPS will sell two types, LAGER and IPA, while SVB Tokyo and Kyoto will offer limited items made with lupulin powder.
Hop BroGOOD HOPS in Iwate is teaming up with Spring Valley Brewery for a limited April release. And the star is the rare hop "Murakami Seven."
MugiWow, even the name "Murakami Seven" sounds powerful! Is a rare hop really that hard to get?
Hop BroIt is. This variety was developed by GOOD HOPS brew master Atsushi Murakami back when he was at Kirin Brewery, and its defining feature is a soft, Japanese citrus aroma that spreads through the beer.
MugiJapanese citrus, muscat, and figs? That's a lot of information! Isn't the aroma all jammed together?
Hop BroNot jammed together, but carefully layered. GOOD HOPS is brewing two styles, LAGER and IPA, so you can enjoy how the same hop shows a different expression in each.
MugiHuh, I thought LAGER was light and IPA was bitter! Does the style difference really change that much?
Hop BroIt does. Roughly speaking, LAGER is crisp, while IPA makes the hop character stand out more. On top of that, GOOD HOPS is using its own processed lupulin powder, which really gives it that material-driven feel.
MugiLupulin powder? What is that, some kind of science experiment? Is it like the inside of the hop?
Hop BroPretty close. It's a form that concentrates and makes the hop's aroma and bitterness sources easier to handle, and SVB Tokyo and Kyoto will each offer one store-exclusive product using it.
MugiThat sounds fun! And there's even an event on April 16. If you can drink while listening to the talk, I might never want to leave!
Hop BroExactly. At SVB Tokyo's 11th anniversary event, "Megumi JAPAN ~TOHOKU Soul x 11 (Good) Years Meat Festival~," Murakami and Tamura will also appear. This is definitely a must-compare tasting.
MugiYeah, hearing about Tono's hops just makes me want to drink even more! I'm in the mood for a glass right now!
Tono-born hop collaboration moves in April
GOOD HOPS in Tono, Iwate Prefecture, announced that it will release two limited-edition products using the rare hop "Murakami Seven" in April 2026 as part of a special collaboration with Spring Valley Brewery. Based in Tono, GOOD HOPS is a brewery that works on hop cultivation, research, and brewing as an integrated effort, and it aims to expand the possibilities of Japanese-grown hops.
At the center of this collaboration is "Murakami Seven," a new variety developed by GOOD HOPS brew master Atsushi Murakami during his previous role at Kirin Brewery. It is characterized by aromas reminiscent of Japanese citrus, muscat grapes, and figs, and because production volumes are limited, it has been used mainly by Spring Valley Brewery until now. This collaboration has been realized in a special form that also aligns with SVB's renewal of "JAPAN ALE <Koh>." and allows GOOD HOPS to use it as well.
On the GOOD HOPS side, the brewery plans to brew and sell two varieties, LAGER and IPA, both using Murakami Seven. In addition, Spring Valley Brewery Tokyo and Kyoto will each sell one limited-edition item in-store using lupulin powder processed with GOOD HOPS' proprietary technology. It is a materials-driven project typical of GOOD HOPS, which is particular about how to draw out the aroma and bitterness that hops provide.
An event where customers can enjoy these collaboration products will also be held on April 16. The venue is Spring Valley Brewery Tokyo's 11th anniversary event, "Megumi JAPAN ~TOHOKU Soul x 11 (Good) Years Meat Festival~." On the day, Atsushi Murakami and GOOD HOPS representative Junichi Tamura will participate, and a talk session will also be held with Kousuke Higashibashi, head brewer at SVB Tokyo.
For GOOD HOPS, which focuses on hops grown in Tono and handles everything from developing new varieties to processing technology, this announcement clearly showcases the company's strengths. What kind of flavor has been created from a special hop available only in limited quantities? Attention is also focused on the lineup at launch.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroGOOD HOPS in Iwate is teaming up with Spring Valley Brewery for a limited April release. And the star is the rare hop "Murakami Seven."
MugiWow, even the name "Murakami Seven" sounds powerful! Is a rare hop really that hard to get?
Hop BroIt is. This variety was developed by GOOD HOPS brew master Atsushi Murakami back when he was at Kirin Brewery, and its defining feature is a soft, Japanese citrus aroma that spreads through the beer.
MugiJapanese citrus, muscat, and figs? That's a lot of information! Isn't the aroma all jammed together?
Hop BroNot jammed together, but carefully layered. GOOD HOPS is brewing two styles, LAGER and IPA, so you can enjoy how the same hop shows a different expression in each.
MugiHuh, I thought LAGER was light and IPA was bitter! Does the style difference really change that much?
Hop BroIt does. Roughly speaking, LAGER is crisp, while IPA makes the hop character stand out more. On top of that, GOOD HOPS is using its own processed lupulin powder, which really gives it that material-driven feel.
MugiLupulin powder? What is that, some kind of science experiment? Is it like the inside of the hop?
Hop BroPretty close. It's a form that concentrates and makes the hop's aroma and bitterness sources easier to handle, and SVB Tokyo and Kyoto will each offer one store-exclusive product using it.
MugiThat sounds fun! And there's even an event on April 16. If you can drink while listening to the talk, I might never want to leave!
Hop BroExactly. At SVB Tokyo's 11th anniversary event, "Megumi JAPAN ~TOHOKU Soul x 11 (Good) Years Meat Festival~," Murakami and Tamura will also appear. This is definitely a must-compare tasting.
MugiYeah, hearing about Tono's hops just makes me want to drink even more! I'm in the mood for a glass right now!
