Hakodate Shacho No Yoku Nomu Biiru

I struggled with this one. It just was a big, sweet malty mess, though the alcohol was really well hidden. No balance or real direction in the beer. I hope the President doesn’t drink this too often it might kill his palate.

My Bottom Line:
French toast whiffs and diluted caramel whip up a portly body where alcohol generously flows. This Barley Wine with Malt Liquor leanings remains classy enough to warrant serious sipping, but its lack of depth and worrisome future are soon revealed. This cannot be an allegory for any presidency, right?

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A veil of foam sits atop the glowing hazy amber.
-The finish is severely underhopped, even though this bottle is very young for the style.
-Carbonation is quite smooth, which serves the round maltiness quite well.
-It’s cleanly brewed and well rounded, but it ultimately disappoints as the brewery’s "luxury" product.
-I believe the malt liquor component will develop even more as it ages; in any case, it doesn’t have enough substance to age into anything pleasant.
-A lot of brewer’s sugar seems to be used...or some other added sugar.

Bottled on July 7th, 2007.