Hop Kotan Brewing has added kunne (クンネ), its fourth label in the regular lineup, HOP KOTAN ORIGINALS. The official announcement date was June 26, 2025. The series began in January 2020 and has featured upopo, nonno, and haskap; with kunne, it enters a new chapter.

Style: Schwarz, aiming for harmony rather than flashiness


kunne's style is Schwarz, a bottom-fermented black beer of German origin. It offers roasty malt aromas with cacao- and coffee-like nuances, while the finish is light and the bitterness restrained. Officially, it is described as a comforting, healing-oriented beer designed to accompany both body and mind.

The biggest feature is the little-known proprietary hop, "HKB001"


The key point this time is the hop change. Instead of the Kamifurano-grown Cascade used in previous ORIGINALS releases, it uses HKB001, an original variety developed by Hop Kotan Brewing. Rather than tropical or citrus notes, its aroma is said to center on earthiness that evokes soil and forest, pine- and cedar-like impressions, and a subtle coconut-like scent.

HKB001 was born from a development project launched in 2016 together with contracted hop growers. From roughly 70 crossbred candidates, the variety was narrowed down through repeated evaluation of yield, lupulin content, and sensory testing.

In the brewery's context, this addition feels inevitable


Based in Kamifurano, Hokkaido, Hop Kotan Brewing was established in 2017 and began operations in 2018. Under the banner of "brewing with local hops," it has refined its beers around hops grown in Kamifurano. In a region where commercial hop cultivation is carried out within Hokkaido, the brewery has consistently made the most of its proximity to the hop-growing area.

kunne is more than just a new product; it is one answer to the brewery's ongoing question of how to express local ingredients. It deserves attention as a beer that redefines the appeal of black beer, which is not all about flashiness, through a local hop from Hokkaido.