Open Air Minatoyama Brewery Releases Second Batch of JBC 2026 Silver-Winning "hopful mind"
Open Air Minatoyama Brewery in Kobe has released the second batch of 'hopful mind,' a Hazy IPA that won silver in the Hazy category at Japan Brewers Cup 2026. The beer is described as juicy, soft on the palate, and layered with tropical aromatics.
Hop BroI’ve got a fresh update from Open Air Minatoyama Brewery in Kobe: their silver-winning Hazy IPA hopful mind is back with a 2nd batch.
MugiWhat! So this is like a sequel beer? A 2nd batch release sounds like the kind of news that makes fans clap while opening the fridge!
Hop BroThat’s pretty much it. In February 2026, it took silver in Hazy at the Japan Brewers Cup, and this batch was brewed again after that award.
MugiWhoa! But my understanding of Hazy IPA stops at cloudy IPA style ... professor, I need remedial class!
Hop BroFair. A Hazy IPA is less about sharp bitterness and more about a juicy soft texture with layered aroma. hopful mind shines with citrus that opens into tropical notes.
MugiOkay, that already sounds like a tropical vacation. But I saw flaked oats in the ingredients and immediately pictured the cereal aisle!
Hop BroThat reaction is valid. Flaked oats help create a soft hazy body and that smooth, creamy feel. Think of 2-row malt as the frame, and oats as the cheeks.
MugiThe cheeks part is weirdly adorable! Then what’s the deal with Citra, Mosaic, Galaxy, and Cryo Krush ? That sounds like a finishing move.
Hop BroIt absolutely sounds like one. Cryo Krush is a hop product that helps drive aroma hard, and with British yeast in the mix, you get a tropical aroma burst floating right up.
MugiAnd this year’s JBC had 123 entries total in the Hazy category, right? Winning silver there means this beer is the real deal!
Hop BroExactly. Open Air Minatoyama Brewery keeps putting out seasonal beers, and bringing back this 6.5% beer as a refined second recipe makes it even more compelling. I want a glass already.
MugiSame here, I’m fully ready now! I want to drink it right this minute and taste Kobe in the same sip!
Open Air Minatoyama Brewery is based in Kobe's Hyogo Ward. On its official site, open air presents itself as a brewery built around beers that let people enjoy the changing seasons together, with a lineup that goes beyond standard IPAs and continues to explore seasonal hops and herbs.
'hopful mind' won silver in the Hazy category at Japan Brewers Cup 2026, and the beer now being released is the second batch brewed after that award. It is a Hazy IPA at 6.5% ABV, brewed with 2-row and flaked oats, and hopped with Citra, Mosaic, Cryo Krush, and Galaxy, using British yeast.
According to the brewery's notes, 123 beers entered this year's Hazy category, making the competition even more intense despite the division only being introduced last year. Earning recognition in that field is a strong signal of how well the beer landed with judges.
The brewery describes the beer as juicy, soft-textured, and aromatic from citrus through tropical fruit. Rather than a simple re-release, this second batch looks like a refined follow-up to a recipe that already proved itself in competition. It fits neatly into Open Air's ongoing approach: brewing in Kobe with a clear focus on seasonal, hop-driven beers that stay drinkable as well as expressive.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroI’ve got a fresh update from Open Air Minatoyama Brewery in Kobe: their silver-winning Hazy IPA hopful mind is back with a 2nd batch.
MugiWhat! So this is like a sequel beer? A 2nd batch release sounds like the kind of news that makes fans clap while opening the fridge!
Hop BroThat’s pretty much it. In February 2026, it took silver in Hazy at the Japan Brewers Cup, and this batch was brewed again after that award.
MugiWhoa! But my understanding of Hazy IPA stops at cloudy IPA style ... professor, I need remedial class!
Hop BroFair. A Hazy IPA is less about sharp bitterness and more about a juicy soft texture with layered aroma. hopful mind shines with citrus that opens into tropical notes.
MugiOkay, that already sounds like a tropical vacation. But I saw flaked oats in the ingredients and immediately pictured the cereal aisle!
Hop BroThat reaction is valid. Flaked oats help create a soft hazy body and that smooth, creamy feel. Think of 2-row malt as the frame, and oats as the cheeks.
MugiThe cheeks part is weirdly adorable! Then what’s the deal with Citra, Mosaic, Galaxy, and Cryo Krush ? That sounds like a finishing move.
Hop BroIt absolutely sounds like one. Cryo Krush is a hop product that helps drive aroma hard, and with British yeast in the mix, you get a tropical aroma burst floating right up.
MugiAnd this year’s JBC had 123 entries total in the Hazy category, right? Winning silver there means this beer is the real deal!
Hop BroExactly. Open Air Minatoyama Brewery keeps putting out seasonal beers, and bringing back this 6.5% beer as a refined second recipe makes it even more compelling. I want a glass already.
MugiSame here, I’m fully ready now! I want to drink it right this minute and taste Kobe in the same sip!
