Kugayama’s Mountain River Brewery releases NZ-hop IPAs Raki and Tonga
Mountain River Brewery in Kugayama, Tokyo, has released two IPA variants, Raki and Tonga, both brewed with New Zealand hops. The post also teases a future Multiply version and a three-beer comparison.
Hop BroToday's story is Mountain River Brewery in Kugayama. They just dropped two NZ-hop IPAs, Raki and Tonga, at the same time.
MugiWhat, a simultaneous release? So they're like twin IPAs? Even the names sound like they're on an adventure map!
Hop BroAnd both are 6.0% ABV, with a single-hop setup for each one. Using just one hop per beer makes the differences really easy to taste.
MugiWait, single-hop design sounds like a science class just started. What do I actually get from that?
Hop BroBasically, it's easy to compare. Raki uses Motueka, so you get bright lime and lemon notes with a soft herbal touch.
MugiOoh, and if it goes with white fish and porchetta, I can already picture dinner. So this one's the crisp food buddy.
Hop BroExactly, and Tonga uses Superdelic. That brings mango, berry, citrus, and tropical fruit aromas, with juicy flavor and a clean, pleasant bitterness.
MugiSuperdelic sounds like a superhero hop! I haven't even opened a glass and somehow a Southern Hemisphere festival has started.
Hop BroAnd this was their first NZ hop release. Raki means north and Tonga means south in Maori, and a Motueka x Superdelic version of Multiply is coming soon.
MugiSo a three-beer comparison is basically in my future? It's already on draft at Beer shop Llma in Mitaka, and P2B in Kichijoji is next, so my route is set.
Hop BroThat lands squarely in the tonight's beer plan category. Start fresh with Raki, go tropical with Tonga, then wait for Multiply so we can finish the full tasting mission together.
Two new IPAs
Mountain River Brewery in Kugayama, Tokyo, introduced two IPA releases in a June 24 post, both built around New Zealand hops. Each beer is 6.0% ABV and uses a simple single-hop approach, making the hop character easy to compare side by side.
`Raki`
Brewed with Motueka, Raki leans into bright lime and lemon-like citrus with a subtle herbal edge. It sounds light, easy to drink, and well suited to food such as white fish saute, fried dishes, salsiccia, or porchetta.
`Tonga`
Brewed with Superdelic, Tonga brings a vivid aroma of mango, berries, citrus, and tropical fruit. The beer is described as juicy with a pleasant bitterness, making it an easy choice for warm weather drinking.
The brewery also notes that these are its first beers using New Zealand hops. The names come from Maori words for north, `Raki`, and south, `Tonga`, which gives the pair a clear geographic and cultural frame.
A future `Multiply` release using Motueka x Superdelic is also mentioned, along with a suggestion to taste all three beers together. The post further notes draft service at Beer shop Llma in Mitaka, with plans for P2B in Kichijoji as well.
For readers following hop-driven releases, this is a straightforward but interesting move from a local Tokyo brewery that is putting the hop profile front and center.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday's story is Mountain River Brewery in Kugayama. They just dropped two NZ-hop IPAs, Raki and Tonga, at the same time.
MugiWhat, a simultaneous release? So they're like twin IPAs? Even the names sound like they're on an adventure map!
Hop BroAnd both are 6.0% ABV, with a single-hop setup for each one. Using just one hop per beer makes the differences really easy to taste.
MugiWait, single-hop design sounds like a science class just started. What do I actually get from that?
Hop BroBasically, it's easy to compare. Raki uses Motueka, so you get bright lime and lemon notes with a soft herbal touch.
MugiOoh, and if it goes with white fish and porchetta, I can already picture dinner. So this one's the crisp food buddy.
Hop BroExactly, and Tonga uses Superdelic. That brings mango, berry, citrus, and tropical fruit aromas, with juicy flavor and a clean, pleasant bitterness.
MugiSuperdelic sounds like a superhero hop! I haven't even opened a glass and somehow a Southern Hemisphere festival has started.
Hop BroAnd this was their first NZ hop release. Raki means north and Tonga means south in Maori, and a Motueka x Superdelic version of Multiply is coming soon.
MugiSo a three-beer comparison is basically in my future? It's already on draft at Beer shop Llma in Mitaka, and P2B in Kichijoji is next, so my route is set.
Hop BroThat lands squarely in the tonight's beer plan category. Start fresh with Raki, go tropical with Tonga, then wait for Multiply so we can finish the full tasting mission together.
