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Kirin Ichiban Toretate Hop

Kirin Brewery
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🌍 Japan · Pale Lager · One of 103 Pale Lagers in hopIQ

Kirin Ichiban Toretate Hop is an autumn Ichiban brewed each year with hops harvested that summer in Tono, Iwate Prefecture, where Kirin has worked with contract hop growers since 1963. Instead of being dried, the cones are frozen within a day of picking and crushed, a patented process that keeps their moisture. Recent editions use the Japanese variety IBUKI. Over the bready all-malt base the aroma turns fresh and green, with citrus peel, cut grass and floral notes, and the finish stays light and clean.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4

AWARDS

World's Best International Lager · 2025
World Beer Awards
International Lager
World's Best International Lager — World Beer Awards (International Lager)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

A sharp texture drives the beer — a clean, direct pour with room for the palate to fill in.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Pale Lager.
Hop character
citrusy
floral
grassy
Malt character
bready
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kirin Ichiban Toretate Hop

Appearance

Pale golden color with excellent clarity and a bright, translucent quality that speaks to the beer's clean brewing. The head forms quickly and holds with fine, persistent lacing that clings to the glass walls. Carbonation is visible and lively, maintaining steady streams throughout the pour.

pale goldenbright clarityfine lacing

Aroma

The nose opens with fresh, green hop character—cut grass and herbaceous notes dominate, supported by citrus peel brightness that leans toward yuzu and lime. Beneath this lies a subtle, bready malt foundation that provides gentle sweetness without competing. The frozen-hop process preserves a distinctive moisture-driven freshness, presenting as mineral-clean green notes that feel alive rather than dried.

fresh green hopscitrus peelcut grassbready malt base

Taste

Entry is light and crisp, with grassy, herbal hop flavors taking the lead and a soft floral undertone that recalls jasmine or honeysuckle. The mid-palate builds a modest malty sweetness—bready and cereal-driven—that balances the green hop character without heaviness. Bitterness remains restrained and clean, allowing the hop's fresh character to shine rather than asserting resinous punch.

light crisp bodygrassy-floral balancegentle malt sweetness

Finish

The finish exits cleanly and quickly, leaving a dry, grassy aftertaste with lingering citrus peel notes. No astringency or harshness—the impression is one of refreshing simplicity.

dry cleancitrus faderefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
76
Appearance
80
Finish
74
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Kirin Ichiban Toretate Hop

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C. Carbonation and crispness are the main event — cold preserves both.

Stein
Recommended for this style

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

Store cold and drink fresh. Lagers are at their crispest within 3–4 months.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Kirin Ichiban Toretate Hop

About Pale Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pale Lager?

Euro Pale Lagers are clean, refreshing lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 10–25. Soft malt sweetness, light hop bitterness and high carbonation make them supremely drinkable.

Finding a similar Pale Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same bready, clean, light character as Kirin Ichiban Toretate Hop will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Pale Lagers in hopIQ

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