3.1 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
On tap at the brewpub. Hazy redcopper with a creamy tan head. Fruity and earthy aroma, hints of moss. Some toffee and earthy bitterness. A bit flat and watery. Does not quite reach its aspirations.
3 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
Draught at the brewery, 2007.
Darkest of the beers yet. Medium dark brown. Very cloudy, with a fine, foamy head. Very fruity aroma with lots of hops, lightly roasted amber malts, chocolate, a bit of nuts. Inviting, if not “fragrant.” Good malt and hops balance. Rich malt flavor, sweeter than expected. Good roasting with caramel, chocolate, nuts and a bit of fruit. Hops are there in the background. Medium to full body. Rich and creamy, yeasty. Rather sweet, rich and yeasty for an English style, but interesting enough. Like a strange, hoppier mild. Good, but not great. Too sweet—too much like soda pop.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
My Bottom Line:
A pleasant interplay of toasted earth and fruity caramel makes up most of the language habits of this volubile, non-denominational malty ale.
Further Personal Perceptions:
-A veil of foam shields the clear copper.
-Body is suave and carbonation fluffy enough to let the maltiness express itself.
-This is not really balanced, but its nicely extracted and clean nonetheless.
On tap at the brewery restaurant.
2.8 AROMA 4/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
UPDATED: MAY 10, 2006 Draught at the brewpub. Pours a reddish brown with a bit of head. Fairly weak aroma of mostly malt. Flavor is a bit stronger, also mostly of malt, although with just a small hint of hops in the distance. Also a bit roasty, with a very minor coffee flavor. As a microbrewer, Hakodate Beer isn’t anything exceptional, and is a bit pricey, but it’s light-years ahead of what you’ll usually find in Japan (Sapporo, Asahi, and Kirin). Their ale is one of their better beers.
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