Baird Rising Sun Pale Ale

Brewed by Baird Brewing Co.
Style: American Pale Ale
Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan

Hazy orange color with a huge beige head. Mild floral/citrus aroma. Flavor of citrus/grapefruit hops.

Bottle thanks to Bu11zeye. Pours a cloudy orange color that has a bit of yellow and brown hues in it as well. Kinda odd. Nose is celery and the inside of a sweaty acrylic gym bag. Taste is almost nothing, some citrus fruits, honey and water. I can’t hardly get anything.

Bottle thanks to bu11zeye. Pours with a white head and a hazy yellow hued body. Aroma is floral with caramel and some tang and pepper. Taste is fruity with tangarines, nectarines and honey. Slightly fizzy mouthfeel.

This orange ale poured with a massive off-white head that subsided in a couple minutes. There is a floral aroma and a caramel malt flavor with some nice balancing hop bitterness and a slightly soapy finish.

Crisp copper coloured body with an orange highlight and a dense tan head - very thick. Tons of bubbles rise from the side in a large and obtrusive way. Aroma of fresh hops, metal, coins, blood and a bit of fresh apricots. Medium-bodied; Strong assertive metallic hoppiness with a good amount of malt packed along. Aftertaste shows some mild fruits, a little sugars and more hops. Overall, an assertive APA, a bit too metallic and bloody for a great beer - but very nice to try this style coming from Japan! I sampled this twelve ounce bottle purchased from Merchant’s in Dearborn, Michigan on 03-August-2008, sampled at home in Washington on 23-September-2008.

Bottle (also had draught at Popeye, Tokyo in April, scored a 3.8). Head is initially large, frothy, off-white, fully lasting. Body is hazy medium amber, bottle conditioned. Aroma is lightly to moderately malty (cookie, toasted grain), lightly to moderately hoppy (flowers, apricot, orange), lightly to moderately yeasty (cobwebs), with notes of dried mango/papaya, dusty cedar, honey, Juicy Fruit gum. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, watery/velvety texture, lively carbonation. If you prefer your pale ales simple and hop-forward, this one won’t wow you. If on the other hand you are a fan of elemental balance and aromatic nuances galore (as with Hitachino Nest’s amazing Japanese Classic Ale), this will rock your socks off. Amazing depth in the aroma (and sooooo enticing right from the very first whiff), excellent balance with nice yeasty tartness in the background and assertive (but not abrasive) bitterness. Better from bottle than draught, obviously thanks to the benefits of bottle conditioning (on both appearance and aroma). A beautiful beer that is low-alcohol and well-balanced enough for quaffing but aromatically engaging enough to sip. Amazing brew doomed to forever be underrated here.

Golden orange color, moderate to large head with good lacing and retention. Aroma is grass, toast, honey, light citrus, some bread, somewhat floral. Medium bodied, moderate to low bitterness. Different, but didn’t do it for me.

Better than I expected it to be. Good hop aroma and flavor. It seems very fresh. Grapefruit and citrus flavors, and a medium palate. Good hop bitterness.