Baird Natsumikan Summer Ale

Brewed by Baird Brewing Co.
Style: Fruit Beer
Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan

Serve in Flute, Shaker

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750 ml bottle shared with Doodler and company poured a clear yellow with a lasting white head. Aromas of wheat, straw, citrus and light spice. Palate was light bodied and smooth with a dry finish. Flavors of wheat, straw, light spice and a hint of citrus with a smooth dry finish.

Bottle with Doodler and Co. Thanks everyone! A touch hazy, golden orange appearance with a fluffy, off-white head. A touch floral, orange citrusy, slightly tart aroma. Floral, somewhat tangy, citrusy, tart flavor. Ok.

Bottle. Head is initially large, frothy, off-white, fully lasting. Body is hazy dark yellow, bottle conditioned. Aroma is lightly malty (toasted grain), lightly to moderately hoppy (flowers, apricot), with notes of orange/lime juice. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Medium body, velvety/creamy texture, lively carbonation, lightly alcoholic. Nicer aromatically than the regular mikan brew, and better balanced too. More obviously fruit juicy in the nose, soft orangey-limey kinda thing, more floral. Better mouthfeel, more creamy. Alas, it’s still ultimately a novelty beer and doesn’t really rise above that level (whereas, say, Hitachino Nest’s ginger beer is jaw-droppingly amazing in the realm of novelty brews, because the depth behind the ginger is insane). Pleasant and...grimace...refreshing, but ultimately forgettable.

AROMA: fruity but not distinct, yeasty; APPEARANCE: misty cider brown, minimal head and almost no lacing TASTE: slightly bitter and sour fruit rather like a light lambic PALATE: not much carbonation, quick finish. OVERALL: Not their best effort but a nice change up in the middle of a heavy session.

Bottle shared by Butters at Butters Slutfest 2.0, Richmond, VA, 4.23.11. Pours a hazy peach color with a huge offwhite head. Good head retention and lacing. Aroma of fruity citrus, tropical, honey. The taste is citrus, apple, honey, tropical notes and an earthy/musty note. Medium bodied. Nice beer.

Fresh and summery mandarin, orange and grapefruit juice over a light and zesty wheat backbone. Spritzy carbonation highlights the citrus zing. It all wraps up with a light, somewhat tart finish. Very unique and enjoyable beer.

less fruity than the mikan ale and more bitter. pours micro-carbonated, nice lacing, orange-amber colour, sharp orange bitterness, almost bitter-melon-like bitter with a hint of saltiness. Refreshing when ice cold, but a little astringent when as it rises in temp. Definitely more of the mikan peels coming through than the mikan ale. The mikan is better imo.

Hope I’ve got the right beet here? Was sold out in at the Baird Taphouses but on tap at Tadg’s in Kyoto. Golden Ale to my thinking (at least it looks that way) with a decent layer of spice. Flavours of orange juice (with subtle citrus) are very pronounced, almost to the extent you could be excused for thinking you are drinking fizzy orange juice. Points for the flavour intent but it doesn’t really hit my mark.

Bottle. Thanks Jon! I liked this more and more as it got a warmer. The tart fruit flavor is much more evident as the beer breathes and warms up a little bit. Kind of grainy and cardboard-like at first, but this again, improves with each sip. Lightly bitter and very drinkable.

Bottle at Butters’ Slutfest: Orange blossom and lemon aroma, reminiscent of sorachi hops. Hazy amber, with floaties, medium yellow head. Orange peel flavor from beginning to end, but finishes tart like a cumquat, but not as sour. Refreshing and tasty. Very unique.