Hop Kotan Brewing releases "Iho" in its FREEDOMS series
Hop Kotan Brewing, based in Kamifurano, Hokkaido, released "Iho" on August 13 as a new beer in its limited HOP KOTAN FREEDOMS line. The beer is a Midwest IPA with 6.5% ABV and 75 IBU, and it continues the brewery’s more free-form, limited-release approach.
Hop BroThis one is worth talking about today. HOP KOTAN Brewing in Kamifurano just released new beer Iho on August 13 through its limited HOP KOTAN FREEDOMS line.
MugiWait, that name already sounds intense! HOP KOTAN Brewing is the brewery known for local hops, right?
Hop BroExactly. Kamifurano is known as the only town in Hokkaido with commercial hop farming, and their ORIGINALS line highlights 100% Kamifurano hops to show the local character.
MugiWhoa, nice. So if this one is in the limited line, what changes here compared with the usual beers?
Hop BroFREEDOMS is the series where they loosen the rules on origin and style, then build one-off recipes around the brewer's imagination. It's basically a free-form series.
MugiThat sounds fun, but the second you said Midwest IPA, it turned into beer homework for me!
Hop BroFair reaction. A Midwest IPA usually keeps some crisp hop bite, but it also brings a fuller malt base, so it lands more like a balanced IPA style.
MugiOhhh, so it's not just all sharp bitterness. And ABV 6.5% with IBU 75 is pretty bold stuff!
Hop BroRight. The ingredients are simply malt and hops, but the real point is how they shape that into something expressive. It sounds like a freedom-driven pint.
MugiThe title means outsider, but the beer sounds super inviting. Now I want to compare the core line and the limited line to taste today's HOP KOTAN.
Hop BroThat's what makes it interesting. A brewery rooted in local hop culture stepping outside the usual frame makes this an adventurous IPA worth chasing.
MugiThen it's settled. I want the bitterness, the story, and the first sip of cheers right now.
Release overview
Hop Kotan Brewing of Kamifurano, Hokkaido, released "Iho" on August 13 as the latest beer in its limited HOP KOTAN FREEDOMS series. In its Instagram post, the brewery listed the style as Midwest IPA, with malt (overseas malt) and hops, alongside 6.5% ABV and 75 IBU.
What FREEDOMS stands for
HOP KOTAN FREEDOMS is the brewery’s limited line designed to present the breadth of craft beer through a colorful range of one-off recipes. Rather than sticking to ingredient origins, the series is built on the brewer’s freedom of expression, making it distinct from the more place-focused ORIGINALS range.
The brewery behind it
Hop Kotan Brewing is rooted in Kamifurano, a town known as the only place in Hokkaido where hops are commercially cultivated. The brewery’s core theme is brewing with local hops, and its ORIGINALS beers have long highlighted 100% Kamifurano-grown hops.
Why this release matters
"Iho" fits into that balance between local identity and creative flexibility. With ORIGINALS anchoring the brewery’s sense of place and FREEDOMS opening the door to broader ideas, the release offers a clear snapshot of how Hop Kotan Brewing continues to expand its range without losing its roots.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroThis one is worth talking about today. HOP KOTAN Brewing in Kamifurano just released new beer Iho on August 13 through its limited HOP KOTAN FREEDOMS line.
MugiWait, that name already sounds intense! HOP KOTAN Brewing is the brewery known for local hops, right?
Hop BroExactly. Kamifurano is known as the only town in Hokkaido with commercial hop farming, and their ORIGINALS line highlights 100% Kamifurano hops to show the local character.
MugiWhoa, nice. So if this one is in the limited line, what changes here compared with the usual beers?
Hop BroFREEDOMS is the series where they loosen the rules on origin and style, then build one-off recipes around the brewer's imagination. It's basically a free-form series.
MugiThat sounds fun, but the second you said Midwest IPA, it turned into beer homework for me!
Hop BroFair reaction. A Midwest IPA usually keeps some crisp hop bite, but it also brings a fuller malt base, so it lands more like a balanced IPA style.
MugiOhhh, so it's not just all sharp bitterness. And ABV 6.5% with IBU 75 is pretty bold stuff!
Hop BroRight. The ingredients are simply malt and hops, but the real point is how they shape that into something expressive. It sounds like a freedom-driven pint.
MugiThe title means outsider, but the beer sounds super inviting. Now I want to compare the core line and the limited line to taste today's HOP KOTAN.
Hop BroThat's what makes it interesting. A brewery rooted in local hop culture stepping outside the usual frame makes this an adventurous IPA worth chasing.
MugiThen it's settled. I want the bitterness, the story, and the first sip of cheers right now.
