GROUNDTAP BREWERY Introduces the Hazy IPA "KOHARU" Made with Himekoharu
GROUNDTAP BREWERY in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, introduced its Hazy IPA "KOHARU" on Instagram, brewed with a large amount of Ehime-grown mikan called Himekoharu. It is 7.0% ABV, with restrained hops and a finish that puts the sweetness of citrus front and center.
Hop BroGROUNDTAP BREWERY's new release, KOHARU, is interesting. The brewery in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, has put out a hazy IPA with Himekoharu as the star.
MugiWhat! A hazy IPA usually gives you that big hop hit, so what do you mean Himekoharu is the star?
Hop BroThat's the point. The style is Hazy IPA with Citrus, and the ABV is 7.0%. But this time they've kept the hops restrained and brought the fruit's character to the front.
MugiAren't you kind of breaking the rules of beer by making an IPA with restrained hops? It feels like you're quietly bending the rules!
Hop BroMore than bending them, they're redesigning the approach. Following their previous orange IPA SHITENNOU, GROUNDTAP BREWERY is exploring the potential of citrus.
MugiI see, so it's a citrus series. And Himekoharu is a rare citrus fruit, right?
Hop BroExactly. It's a rare variety grown around Uwajima, a citrus fruit born from crossing Kiyomi and Kogankitsu. Its yellow appearance and distinctive sweetness are obvious from the first sip.
MugiSweetness you can notice in one sip sounds more like a juice temptation than beer. But if there's acidity too, it probably balances freshness as well!
Hop BroThat's right. Instead of pushing with strong bitterness or flashy aroma, they steeped a large amount of Himekoharu to let you enjoy the outline of the fruit.
MugiI'm curious about the label too, and if @studio_yotte handled it, it should look great! It sounds full of local character, so it already seems tasty before drinking it!
Hop BroIt's a bottle packed with GROUNDTAP BREWERY's love for its hometown. Today, I feel like I'd want to drink this while slowly savoring Ehime's citrus.
MugiYeah, I already want to drink it! First, let's toast with KOHARU and see how sweet Himekoharu really is!
What GROUNDTAP BREWERY in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, shared on Instagram was KOHARU. The style is Hazy IPA with Citrus, the ABV is 7.0%, and Himekoharu is listed as the special ingredient.
The brewery positions this beer as a brew that continues from its previous orange IPA SHITENNOU, exploring the "potential of citrus" through its core ingredients. The trigger for brewing it was apparently a recommendation from a regular in the taproom who said there was a citrus fruit with a distinctive and interesting flavor.
Himekoharu is a rare variety grown mainly in Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture, a citrus fruit created by crossing "Kiyomi" and "Kogankitsu." It is known for its yellow appearance and a distinctive sweetness that is immediately recognizable in a single sip. To express that individuality as it is, GROUNDTAP BREWERY intentionally kept the hop usage modest and finished the beer by steeping a large amount of Himekoharu instead.
As a result, unlike a hop-forward hazy IPA, it has become a refreshing fruity hazy IPA with the sweetness of citrus and a touch of acidity taking the lead. Rather than pushing with strong bitterness or flashy aroma, it stands out as a beer that lets you enjoy the outline of the fruit itself.
GROUNDTAP BREWERY, as a brewery in Saijo, Ehime, appears to be carefully pursuing how to express local ingredients through beer. The label design was handled by @studio_yotte, making this a release that strongly highlights local character, from the choice of ingredients to the presentation.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroGROUNDTAP BREWERY's new release, KOHARU, is interesting. The brewery in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, has put out a hazy IPA with Himekoharu as the star.
MugiWhat! A hazy IPA usually gives you that big hop hit, so what do you mean Himekoharu is the star?
Hop BroThat's the point. The style is Hazy IPA with Citrus, and the ABV is 7.0%. But this time they've kept the hops restrained and brought the fruit's character to the front.
MugiAren't you kind of breaking the rules of beer by making an IPA with restrained hops? It feels like you're quietly bending the rules!
Hop BroMore than bending them, they're redesigning the approach. Following their previous orange IPA SHITENNOU, GROUNDTAP BREWERY is exploring the potential of citrus.
MugiI see, so it's a citrus series. And Himekoharu is a rare citrus fruit, right?
Hop BroExactly. It's a rare variety grown around Uwajima, a citrus fruit born from crossing Kiyomi and Kogankitsu. Its yellow appearance and distinctive sweetness are obvious from the first sip.
MugiSweetness you can notice in one sip sounds more like a juice temptation than beer. But if there's acidity too, it probably balances freshness as well!
Hop BroThat's right. Instead of pushing with strong bitterness or flashy aroma, they steeped a large amount of Himekoharu to let you enjoy the outline of the fruit.
MugiI'm curious about the label too, and if @studio_yotte handled it, it should look great! It sounds full of local character, so it already seems tasty before drinking it!
Hop BroIt's a bottle packed with GROUNDTAP BREWERY's love for its hometown. Today, I feel like I'd want to drink this while slowly savoring Ehime's citrus.
MugiYeah, I already want to drink it! First, let's toast with KOHARU and see how sweet Himekoharu really is!
