Ise Kadoya Happy Hop IPA is a 6% American IPA from Ise Kadoya, based in Mie, Japan. It’s part of their autumn seasonal lineup and can be found in both bottles and on tap across Japan. It’s brewed with a variety different kind of hops, with Simcoe and Citra being two traditional IPA hops used, along with the two “new” hops of Polaris and Wakatu as well to give Ise Kadoya Happy Hop IPA an overall IBU of 45 units. It was first brewed with the idea of it being an IPA for a wedding party – make of that what you will.
Are you a happy hopper, or simply hop happy?
Ise Kadoya Happy Hop IPA Aroma and Taste
Ise Kadoya Happy Hop IPA poured out a hazy golden orange colour with a minimal amount of head that not even the special IPA glass could liven up. It had a strong fruity aroma, with passion fruit, peach, and grapefruit coming through first, followed by mango and some resiny notes as well – maybe too much vitamin C for me in this beer. Being an American IPA, there was the faintest of hints of caramel malt going on and that was a fleeting aroma.
The fruity flavour carried on through to the body with a strong level of bitterness that belied the IBUs of 45. Perhaps someone had miscalculated the numbers there? Ise Kadoya Happy Hop IPA was just as crisp as it was dry, with only a faint hint of caramel sweetness being found in the body when chilled and warmed up. It felt quite clean and refreshing and would have been welcome on a hot summer’s day, though drinking it when it was 4c outside left me wanting more. The bitterness faded quickly in the aftertaste, with the fruity flavours residing just a bit longer.
Ise Kadoya Happy Hop IPA The Bottom Line
Ise Kadoya Happy Hop IPA is a nice fruit change to the resiny and citrusy IPAs.
Where to Buy Ise Kadoya Happy Hop IPA
Ise Kadoya Happy Hop IPA can be bought online at the following places:
