Hop Kotan Brewing unveils 'Totonou' Session Pale Ale
On June 4, Hop Kotan Brewing announced a new Session Pale Ale called 'Totonou' on Instagram. The beer is 4.0% ABV and 25 IBU, built for a light, easy-drinking profile with peach- and stone-fruit-like aromas and a smooth texture. It is slated to reach retailers and the brewery taproom as early as the coming weekend.
Hop BroI want to talk about Totonou, the new release from Hoppokotan Brewing in Kamifurano, Hokkaido. It's a Session Pale Ale built to drink easy.
MugiWhat! The name already sounds like post-sauna bliss! What kind of brewery is Hoppokotan Brewing?
Hop BroThey're based in Kamifurano, and their whole thing is brewing with local hops. Being in Hokkaido's hop-growing town is a real advantage.
MugiWow! But when people say Session Pale Ale, I always want to nod along even though I have no clue.
Hop BroBasically, it's a pale ale that's lower in alcohol but still satisfying. This one is just 4.0% ABV, so it's light without feeling thin.
Mugi4.0% sounds almost too friendly... am I allowed to say that? And also, 25 IBU sounds like a locker code.
Hop BroThat's the bitterness scale. At 25, it'll lean gentle, and you'll probably get white peach and stone fruit up front.
MugiStone fruit, okay. But then you say dry hopping and suddenly we're in chemistry class!
Hop BroIt means adding hops after fermentation to boost aroma. Then they layer in oats and wheat for a smoother texture, so it doesn't drink watery.
MugiOkay, so it's the kind of low-ABV beer that still feels complete. If it lands this weekend, first glass material for sure, and maybe with food too!
Hop BroLooks like it could hit bars, bottle shops, and their taproom as early as the weekend. As a post-sauna pint, this could be dangerously good.
MugiThat's it, I'm in. A peachy, easygoing 4.0% crusher sounds exactly like how I want to get totally relaxed!
New release: `Totonou`
On June 4, Hop Kotan Brewing in Kamifurano, Hokkaido, introduced a new beer called `Totonou` on Instagram. It is a Session Pale Ale with 4.0% ABV and 25 IBU, designed to be light and approachable while still delivering enough structure to feel satisfying.
Aroma and mouthfeel
According to the brewer's note, the recipe combines American and New Zealand hops to build peach and stone-fruit character. Dry hopping pushes the fruit-forward aroma further, while oats and wheat help create a soft, smooth mouthfeel so the beer does not come across as thin despite its low alcohol content.
The meaning behind the name
The name `Totonou` refers to the Japanese sauna term for the refreshed, deeply relaxed state reached after cycles of heat, cold water, and rest. Here, the brewery uses that idea to describe a beer that can deliver a similar reset without relying on high alcohol. The result is a beer that should work well as a first pint, a meal-time beer, or a final drink of the evening.
About Hop Kotan Brewing
Hop Kotan Brewing is based in Kamifurano, a town known as the only place in Hokkaido where hops are commercially grown. The brewery has built its identity around the idea of brewing with local hops and exploring a wide range of beer styles. `Totonou` fits that approach: a straightforward pale ale with a clear flavor idea and a sessionable strength. In the post, the brewery said the beer should be available from retailers and the taproom as early as the coming weekend.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroI want to talk about Totonou, the new release from Hoppokotan Brewing in Kamifurano, Hokkaido. It's a Session Pale Ale built to drink easy.
MugiWhat! The name already sounds like post-sauna bliss! What kind of brewery is Hoppokotan Brewing?
Hop BroThey're based in Kamifurano, and their whole thing is brewing with local hops. Being in Hokkaido's hop-growing town is a real advantage.
MugiWow! But when people say Session Pale Ale, I always want to nod along even though I have no clue.
Hop BroBasically, it's a pale ale that's lower in alcohol but still satisfying. This one is just 4.0% ABV, so it's light without feeling thin.
Mugi4.0% sounds almost too friendly... am I allowed to say that? And also, 25 IBU sounds like a locker code.
Hop BroThat's the bitterness scale. At 25, it'll lean gentle, and you'll probably get white peach and stone fruit up front.
MugiStone fruit, okay. But then you say dry hopping and suddenly we're in chemistry class!
Hop BroIt means adding hops after fermentation to boost aroma. Then they layer in oats and wheat for a smoother texture, so it doesn't drink watery.
MugiOkay, so it's the kind of low-ABV beer that still feels complete. If it lands this weekend, first glass material for sure, and maybe with food too!
Hop BroLooks like it could hit bars, bottle shops, and their taproom as early as the weekend. As a post-sauna pint, this could be dangerously good.
MugiThat's it, I'm in. A peachy, easygoing 4.0% crusher sounds exactly like how I want to get totally relaxed!
