Ginga Kogen Weizen

Brewed by Ginga Kogen Beer Company
Style: German Hefeweizen
Nasu, Japan

Bottle. The silver bottle, except it says imported. Validated on the GK website. Medium plus body with decent carbonation. Flavors of wheat, citrus and light banana. A very good hefe.

Bottled at pre-RBJG festivities in Kyoto. Cloudy yellow. Less estery and phenolic than th Ko Mugi/Silver bottle. Sweet wheat malt eased out by spritzy carbonation. Less flavour than the ko Mugi, but possibly also more of a refreshing summer drink.

300ml bottle labeled as "Ginga Kogen Beer". Pours a hazy, light golden straw color. A small, fizzy, white head fades quickly, leaving wet lace that mostly rejoins the glass. The nose is pretty standard for a hefe, notes of lighty sweet, fresh wheat grain accompanied by banana, clove, and hints of lemony esters. Floral hops lend a perfumy scent. Flavors are fresh and crisp, with mild banana and clove again showing atop clean grain, with a light citrus blossom hopping. Relatively light bodied, crisp, and refreshing. Nice enough for the style. Well made.

Bottle from case and keg. pours a cloudy yellow/gold color with a big bright white head. Aroma is yeasty as hell, malty and full of coriander, orange and some banana bubblegum. Flavor is smooth and nice with cloves, bananas, gum, yeast, orange, malt and a spicy hint of pepper. This is surprising considering it comes from Japan. Pretty damn nice and underrated.

Pours a murky light straw mixed with orange and has a thin white head. Huge banana aroma and flavor. Hints of orange juice and and a light pineapple flavor.

Bottle just says "Ginga Kogen Beer," but after much investigation (and smelling of said beer) I have decided it is this one. Pour is unfiltered, with a small head, and a few drops of yeast sludge from the bottom of the bottle. Unquestionably a wheat beer in aroma, but a very basic, mild one, just some banana, lemon, flour, a touch of black pepper. Flavor is a touch sweet, mild, with great carbonation and body, easy drinking but a little thin. Nothing too exciting here but still a fairly solid effort, would be good for Blue Moon drinkers as a small step up.

Not sure if I have the right beer, but it tastes like a German hefeweizen, so best guess. Blue bottle, blue and white label says Premium Unfiltered Beer. Aroma of yeast. Cloudy straw. Full bodied, grapefruit and bubblegum. Nice enough.
Earlier Rating: 1/3/2009 Total Score: 3.2
Not sure if I have the right beer, but it tastes like a German hefeweizen, so best guess. Blue bottle, blue and white label says Premium Unfiltered Beer. Aroma of yeast. Cloudy straw. Full bodied, grapefruit and bubblegum. Nice enough.

Bottle. This beer must be refrigerated, so it must be unpasteurized. I wonder if that is the only difference with the Silver bottle? Light golden color, slightly less glowing yellow than the other. Aroma of wheat malt and banana and clove, less fruity, little sour. Slightly deeper in malt than the silver. Rich, rather sweet wheat malt flavor. No citrus, little sour taste at all. Lots of banana and clove. Somewhat cake-like, but not over-bearing. Rich, with a reasonably full palate and medium carbonation. A fuller, more contemplative weizen than the Silver bottle. Better in the cold weather.