Asahi Black (Kuronama)

Reviewed 6/18/2009 (bottle dated 10/2008): Pours a very dark red color body, with an average creamy head, lastingish. Very pilsnery, malty aroma. Malty nutty taste. Some roasted flavor too. Light tasting. Tasty. Sweet, almost fruity. Not bad. Shiner-black like.

Off to a good start with a four-fingered foamy tan head capping a quite dark (but not black) body. Aroma was dark, too, with some nice dark malt notes and probably some hop undertones. Flavour was not really to my liking, being "burnt", and I found the mouthfeel on the light side. So-so finish, maybe a bit sweet. I was disappointed with this beer.

Bottle from Bar Sushi, Odense. Pours dark brown with a small cappuccino coloured head. Aromas of chocolate, lactose sweetness and malt. Flavour of rye bread, lightly roasted malts and chestnuts.

Octostock day 1, Waggamamma, Solihull. £4.05 a bottle. Christ. Cola pour with ruby edges and a thin beige film. (Heavily diluted) liquid Marmite with faint soy, chocolate and cardboard notes. Flimsy schwarz with some watery yeast presence, but refreshing accompaniment to soy-heavy/salty/spicy Japanese snap.

Bottle from a Sashimi sushi bar in Aarhus. Brewed in England. Creamy lightbrown good mostly lasting head. Very dark brown colour. Moderate malty and light hoppy aroma. Light roasted. Moderate bitter flavor. Light roasted and chocolate notes. Average moderate bitter finish. Oily palate. A little thin but ok.

Bottle poured a clear dark brown with a lasting amber head. Aromas of roastiness, baskers cocoa, and light smoke. Palate was light bodied and crisp. Flavors of roastiness, light smoke and a hint of cocoa with a crisp roasty finish.

Deep black/amber color, semi sweet roasted malt aroma. A little more thin than expected, smooth mild flavor of roasted malts and dark fruits. Not worth the pricetag