GOOD HOPS to Release Two Canned Products Featuring Rare Hop "Murakami Seven" on April 8
GOOD HOPS in Tono, Iwate, will release canned LAGER and IPA products made with the rare hop "Murakami Seven" on April 8. General sales begin at 5:00 p.m., and these limited-edition beers were designed and brewed by head brewer Atsushi Murakami.
Hop BroGOOD HOPS in Tono is releasing two Murakami Seven canned beers on April 8. A LAGER and an IPA to compare side by side is pretty exciting for hop fans, honestly.
MugiWhoa! The name Murakami Seven already sounds strong! What kind of hop is it?
Hop BroIt’s a rare new hop variety owned by Kirin Brewery, and it’s been grown under contract in Tono too. There still isn’t much of it, so until now it had mainly been used by Spring Valley Brewery.
MugiI see! But what’s so different about a new hop variety? Aren’t hops just bitter?
Hop BroNot at all. Hops aren’t just about bitterness; they’re also a blueprint for aroma. This time, the key point is that GOOD HOPS’ Atsushi Murakami handled everything from recipe design to brewing.
MugiWait, the person who developed it is brewing it themselves!? A limited edition designed by the person who made it sounds incredibly convincing!
Hop BroFirst, the LAGER is a 4.5% lager made by pairing Murakami Seven with Saaz. The fresh, green aroma is layered with a bright, Japanese-citrus-like freshness, and the way it changes with temperature is part of the fun.
MugiNice! Changing with temperature sounds kind of advanced and fun! So the IPA should be even more aromatic, right?
Hop BroExactly. The IPA is a 6.0% IPA, and it also includes Tono-grown IBUKI. Japanese citrus aromas are joined by a soft, fruit-like sweetness, giving it a more distinct outline than the LAGER.
MugiWow, that makes perfect sense if you taste them side by side! Feeling the difference in the same hop really feels like craft beer!
Hop BroAnd the online shop starts selling them at 3:00 p.m. for business customers and 5:00 p.m. for general customers. This direct-from-the-source beer is packed with Tono’s accumulated know-how, and it makes you want to drink tonight.
MugiYeah, my head is already full of beer! Tasting Tono’s present moment sounds stylish in its own way, and I want to toast soon too!
The Character of Tono-Grown Hops in a Can
GOOD HOPS in Tono, Iwate, is rolling out a limited collaboration with Spring Valley Brewery featuring the rare hop "Murakami Seven." The lineup includes two products, `MURAKAMI SEVEN LAGER` and `MURAKAMI SEVEN IPA`, with canned products going on sale from April 8. They will be available through the online shop, with business customers able to purchase from 3:00 p.m. and general customers from 5:00 p.m.
Murakami Seven is a new hop variety owned by Kirin Brewery and has been grown under contract in Tono for several years. However, production volumes are still limited, and until now it had been used only by Spring Valley Brewery. This special collaboration was made possible alongside the renewal of the hop-based "JAPAN ALE <Aroma>," allowing GOOD HOPS to use it specially as well.
The hop was handled by Atsushi Murakami, head brewer at GOOD HOPS. A variety he helped develop during his time at Kirin Brewery was brought to life here through both recipe design and brewing, making this release especially notable.
`MURAKAMI SEVEN LAGER` is a 4.5% lager that combines Tono-grown Murakami Seven with Saaz. Fresh citrus notes reminiscent of Japanese citrus fruits are layered over a green, verdant aroma, and the profile is designed to shift in aroma and flavor as the temperature changes. By contrast, `MURAKAMI SEVEN IPA` is a 6.0% IPA made with the addition of Tono-grown IBUKI, bringing together Japanese citrus aromas and a soft, fruit-like sweetness. Tasting the two side by side makes it easy to appreciate how the same hop can express different characters.
With the accumulated knowledge of Tono as a hop-growing region behind it, GOOD HOPS continues to explore the potential of hops through new varieties and limited brews. These canned products, bringing rare ingredients directly from the source, deserve attention as a beer that shows where Tono craft beer stands today.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroGOOD HOPS in Tono is releasing two Murakami Seven canned beers on April 8. A LAGER and an IPA to compare side by side is pretty exciting for hop fans, honestly.
MugiWhoa! The name Murakami Seven already sounds strong! What kind of hop is it?
Hop BroIt’s a rare new hop variety owned by Kirin Brewery, and it’s been grown under contract in Tono too. There still isn’t much of it, so until now it had mainly been used by Spring Valley Brewery.
MugiI see! But what’s so different about a new hop variety? Aren’t hops just bitter?
Hop BroNot at all. Hops aren’t just about bitterness; they’re also a blueprint for aroma. This time, the key point is that GOOD HOPS’ Atsushi Murakami handled everything from recipe design to brewing.
MugiWait, the person who developed it is brewing it themselves!? A limited edition designed by the person who made it sounds incredibly convincing!
Hop BroFirst, the LAGER is a 4.5% lager made by pairing Murakami Seven with Saaz. The fresh, green aroma is layered with a bright, Japanese-citrus-like freshness, and the way it changes with temperature is part of the fun.
MugiNice! Changing with temperature sounds kind of advanced and fun! So the IPA should be even more aromatic, right?
Hop BroExactly. The IPA is a 6.0% IPA, and it also includes Tono-grown IBUKI. Japanese citrus aromas are joined by a soft, fruit-like sweetness, giving it a more distinct outline than the LAGER.
MugiWow, that makes perfect sense if you taste them side by side! Feeling the difference in the same hop really feels like craft beer!
Hop BroAnd the online shop starts selling them at 3:00 p.m. for business customers and 5:00 p.m. for general customers. This direct-from-the-source beer is packed with Tono’s accumulated know-how, and it makes you want to drink tonight.
MugiYeah, my head is already full of beer! Tasting Tono’s present moment sounds stylish in its own way, and I want to toast soon too!
