Asahi Black (Kuronama)

Bottle (EBF2008)
Coca-cola aroma. Lively carbonation. Rich malty burnt body, but some cardboard too. A hint of chocolate later. A tad sweet, but not out of the bounds of Schwartz sweetness. (Oh, the comment in my Iki review was a troll, by the way.)

Bottle at EBF 2008. Clear orange brown coloured with a medium sized off white head. Sweet and malty aroma of dried fruits and brewmash. Swet flavour of caramel and brewmash with notes of dried fruits. Too sweet.

Bottle. Low and quickly disappearing off-white creamy head. Very dark red brown body. Wallnut cocoa aroma on the bases of roasted malt. Heavily carbonated slightly sour coffee berries flavor. Long aftertaste.

33 cL bottle. Pours slight cloudy deep brown towards black with light amber glare and a lacing tan head. Roast amlty and mil fruity aroma of a classic schwartz bier. Flavour is dry and light bodied with a distinct acidic roasted note and mild fruity accent.

[1636-20080829] 350mL can. Sweet malt aroma releases more chocolate notes as it warms. Black brown body with a medium-lasting foamy off-white head. More sweet malt in the flavour with some wood and chocolate coffee notes. Medium-full body is a little rough. Surprisingly refreshing and drinkable and pairs well with a sushi silver lunch boat.
(@ Tako Sushi; North York, ON)

Bottle from Brewery Creek, Vancouver, B.C. Poured with a nice, light tan head, but not very much carbonation. A clear, dark ruby color in the light. Low, roasted malt aroma with a hint of caramel. Moderate roasted malt flavor with bitter-chocolate and a medium-low bitterness. Slow, dry aftertaste that lingers with a subtle roastiness. A clean black lager that, in spite of it being Japanese, would pair well with blackened Cajun food, Mexican mole, cold cuts on black rye bread, or chargrilled steaks.

Dark brown, clear, moderate tan cap. Rich burnt malt aroma. Very roasty, surprisingly malty palate, hints of scorched coffee beans. Medium mouthfeel, dry finish. A pleasant surprise!

Bottled. Ruby colour, mediumsized beige head. Aroma is metal, roasted malts and some hints of metal. Flavour is roasted malts, some dark riped fruits and some hints of rice. Not very exciting.