2.8 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 13/20
Pours an amber color with an off-white head. Grainy aroma with some sweet caramel notes. Not much else, very little hops. Flavor is pretty much the same with a slight hint of citrus hops and a little bitterness on the finish. Not much of a pale ale.
3.1 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
Draught at the flower parade, Hirsohima. Hazy reddish brown, small creamy head. Light grapefruit aroma. Caramelly with some molasses. Fair amounts of grapefruity hops and a slight citric backdrop. Cean rounded mouthfeel and quite significant bitterness.
3 AROMA 4/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 12/20
Another Japanese beer being labeled as an "American IPA" which falls very short based on that selling point. However, if that were not printed in bold letters on the bottle, then things could have been a little bit different in this drinking experience. Poured from the bottle one night after the bath. Was expecting a strong citrus hoppy nose, but instead was treated to a (not unpleasant) bitter caramel aroma from the attractive tan head. Mouthfeel was a bit tawny and syrupy with a prevalent sense of fruit in the taste. Cherries and sweet potatoes, a malty cereal-like feel...kinda weird. There was some slight hop bitterness in the finish, but it seemed more like an afterthought...left me rather confused. Not a bad effort, but by no means an American IPA.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Draught at GJBF, Osaka 2008.
Huge fruit: cherries, dark fruit. Caramel and decent malt, rather sweet. Decent hops but not really strong. Very nice and interesting, one of the most fruity beers I have tried, yet well balanced.
3.3 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Billed as an American IPA at 7.5%. Great looking beer, orange and red hues. Could be a lipstick. Decent tanned head but seems a little lifeless. Some respectable lacing though. Very fruity nose, southern comfort and boiled sweets. Smooth with barley overtures.
The colours suggest autumn but this was the summer special. All round good beer, would make a decent edition to the Daisen G collection but I guess this is a one off thing.
There is an initial bitterness, mellowing out to a fruity concoction. There is something missing in the middle taste. There’s no kick to back up the promise of all that fruitiness.
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