HOJO Brewing & Stays Releases Online-Only Special Edition Saison Featuring a Single New Zealand Hop
HOJO Brewing & Stays in Matsuyama, Ehime, has released an online-shop-only special edition of its regular saison, "New Zealand Saison." This sparkling beer is finished with a single hop from New Zealand, Nelson Sauvin, and is sold as a 6-bottle set for 4,200 yen including tax. At the time of publication, the product page was shown as sold out.
Hop BroToday's article is a really good one. HOJO Brewing & Stays in Ehime's Matsuyama released a special edition saison, "New Zealand Saison," as an online-only item.
MugiWhoa! The name alone already sounds so international! What kind of beer is it?
Hop BroIt's a Saison, with an ABV of 5.5%. A 6-bottle set costs 4,200 yen including tax. And the fact that it's a specially designed version of their regular saison is what makes it exciting.
MugiSpecially designed? What's that supposed to mean? Is there a blueprint or something?
Hop BroThis is about the hop design. The regular version uses three European hop varieties, but this time it's a single-hop beer made with just one New Zealand hop, Nelson Sauvin. It has a white-grape-like nuance, which is one of its defining traits.
MugiHuh, so does "single-hop" really still feel satisfying with just one variety?
Hop BroAbsolutely. If anything, the character comes through more clearly. This one has a gentler spice character and a rustic, easy-drinking profile that doesn't tire you out. It's a beer where the differences from the regular version are easy to notice.
MugiWait, it said they don't do dry hopping. Isn't that just cutting corners?
Hop BroThat's a common misunderstanding. Dry hopping is the step where aroma is added later, but this was intentionally left out to aim for a classic saison profile. In other words, they prioritized balance over flashiness.
MugiI see... it feels like a quiet kind of powerhouse! And being a brewery that's "the closest to the sea in Japan," with a taproom on the first floor and a guesthouse on the second, that's pretty romantic.
Hop BroThat said, the product page was sold out at the time of publication. Since it's online-only, it's worth checking for restocks regularly.
MugiUgh, now I want to drink it even more! If it gets restocked, I'll buy it right away and do a side-by-side tasting with the regular saison!
On January 23, 2026, HOJO Brewing & Stays announced an online-shop-only item, "[6 Bottles] New Zealand Saison." The style is Saison, the ABV is 5.5%, and the price is 4,200 yen including tax for a 6-bottle set.
The key point this time is that, while it is based on the brewery's standard saison, the hop design has been clearly changed. The regular version uses three European hop varieties to build spicy, floral, and herbal impressions, whereas the special edition uses only New Zealand Nelson Sauvin in a single-hop setup. The description highlights sweet white-grape-like nuances, a milder spiciness than the regular version, and a rustic, easy-to-drink profile that is said to be less tiring to drink.
It is also explicitly stated that no dry hopping is used, and that the beer is designed to aim for a classic saison character rather than a so-called hop-forward direction. Because the finish emphasizes balance over flashiness, it seems like a beer that makes it easy to pick up the differences in hop varieties when tasted side by side with the regular saison.
HOJO Brewing & Stays is a brewery based in the Hojo area of Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture (Monchhichi Beach). According to its official announcement, it operates a brewery billed as "the closest to the sea in Japan," with a taproom on the first floor and a guesthouse on the second. The brand also stands out for balancing on-site experiential value with distribution to customers outside the prefecture through online sales.
As of the time of confirmation, the product page was marked "sold out." For restocks or returns to stock, it is worth continuing to check the company's online shop for updates.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday's article is a really good one. HOJO Brewing & Stays in Ehime's Matsuyama released a special edition saison, "New Zealand Saison," as an online-only item.
MugiWhoa! The name alone already sounds so international! What kind of beer is it?
Hop BroIt's a Saison, with an ABV of 5.5%. A 6-bottle set costs 4,200 yen including tax. And the fact that it's a specially designed version of their regular saison is what makes it exciting.
MugiSpecially designed? What's that supposed to mean? Is there a blueprint or something?
Hop BroThis is about the hop design. The regular version uses three European hop varieties, but this time it's a single-hop beer made with just one New Zealand hop, Nelson Sauvin. It has a white-grape-like nuance, which is one of its defining traits.
MugiHuh, so does "single-hop" really still feel satisfying with just one variety?
Hop BroAbsolutely. If anything, the character comes through more clearly. This one has a gentler spice character and a rustic, easy-drinking profile that doesn't tire you out. It's a beer where the differences from the regular version are easy to notice.
MugiWait, it said they don't do dry hopping. Isn't that just cutting corners?
Hop BroThat's a common misunderstanding. Dry hopping is the step where aroma is added later, but this was intentionally left out to aim for a classic saison profile. In other words, they prioritized balance over flashiness.
MugiI see... it feels like a quiet kind of powerhouse! And being a brewery that's "the closest to the sea in Japan," with a taproom on the first floor and a guesthouse on the second, that's pretty romantic.
Hop BroThat said, the product page was sold out at the time of publication. Since it's online-only, it's worth checking for restocks regularly.
MugiUgh, now I want to drink it even more! If it gets restocked, I'll buy it right away and do a side-by-side tasting with the regular saison!
