Hop Kotan Muho Chitai is a 12% Belgian Quadrupel beer from Hop Kotan Brewing, based in Kamifurano, in Hokkaido, Japan. It’s part of their Freedom range of beers, so it’s either a limited edition or seasonal beer, though that it is unknown at the time of writing. Hop Kotan Muho Chitai can be found in both bottles and on draught and is also the highest alcohol beer that Hop Kotan Brewing have produced thanks to the brown sugar that is used during the brewing process; however, it has a finishing gravity around that of a pilsner.
Hop Kotan Muho Chitai : At A Glance
Basics
- Alcohol : 12%
- Style : Belgian Quadrupel
- Hops : Unknown
- IBU : 35
Sale Information
- Availability : Unknown
- On Sale : From January 2022
- Size : 330 ml
- Price : From 800 yen
Aroma & Taste
- Notable Aromas : Dried fruits of raisin and plum with deep caramel malts. Slight pear-like aroma with some alcohol heat.
- Notable Tastes : Light bodied with strong raisin and plum. Malts bring caramel and some pear phenols from the yeast. Alcohol heat when warm.
Hop Kotan Muho Chitai : Aroma & Taste
A 12% Belgian quadrupel has been a long time coming in Japan – there are very beers, if any, like this besides the barleywines that perennially come out. I do love my Belgian beers – a nice Belgian Tripel in front of a heater, or outside in the cold is my idea of a good winter’s evening. So when Hop Kotan Muho Chitai came out – which roughly means “lawless zone” in English, an instant purchase for me.
Hop Kotan Muho Chitai poured out a deep brown colour with a thin amount of off-white head on top that had the appearance of a light tan colour. Unsurprisingly, the head didn’t last long, leaving some streaks down the side of the glass. The aroma was pretty pungent with a strong dried fruit aroma – think of raisins and plums with some figs and you’re on the right track. The malt brown a rich caramel aroma to the beer, and the yeast brought some pear-like phenols to proceedings, though the alcohol present itself more and more as Hop Kotan Muho Chitai warmed up. Not a surprise really though as at 12%, it would have been hard to hide it.
The body to Hop Kotan Muho Chitai was a complete and utter surprise – for something this high in alcohol, the body was much thinner and lighter than the colour let on. The flavours were of no surprise though – lots of dried fruits and caramel going on. The most interesting thing about the beer was the pear-like flavour coming from the yeast – different enough to cut through the other flavours. Hop Kotan Muho Chitai also had some of the alcohol heat that came through when chilled, but the light body meant the booziness was fast and fleeting.
Hop Kotan Muho Chitai : The Bottom Line
Hop Kotan Muho Chitai is Belgian Quadrupel-lite beer – while the flavours were nice, I would have liked some more body to support everything.
Hop Kotan Muho Chitai : Where To Buy
Hop Kotan Muho Chitai can be bought online at the following places:
