3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
My Bottom Line:
A floral and citrusy hop perfume leans towards a wooden character once it hits the tastebuds, as all is balanced by straw-like crisp pale maltiness. Not quite a Belgian Ale or an English Golden Ale, but it’s a Hakusekikan, and that should be reason enough to try it.
Further Personal Perceptions:
-A ring of foam circles the golden gown.
-The large bubbling remains peaceful and doesn’t hinder drinkability.
-The fun finish is wooden and leafy (Fuggles, I’m told).
-The lean body proffers some cracking hay.
-All flavors are balanced and aim at drinkability.
-Aroma hops are Styrian Goldings, a hop the brewer seems to really like!
Bottle and sample from fermenter at the brewery.
1.9 AROMA 3/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 3/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 9/20
Bottle. This one is a contract beer for Hakurei Shuzo (Kyoto-fu), labeled as Amanohashidate Beer Golden Ale. Stale, candy, chemical sweetness. Cloudy , sick-looking, yellowish color. Very light, sweet and almost no evident hopping. Slight carbonation tingle. Unpleasant sweetish aftertaste. Light, sticky body. Really unpalatable stuff. Drain pour. Hakusekikan should be ashamed to have their name on this one.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20
UPDATED: OCT 1, 2008 Bottled. Clear golden, rich airy head. Generous grassy nose. Dry and slim with soft, rounded mouthfeel. Bready and grassy, pilsnerish and refreshing with a resh hoppiness and good bitterness.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Medium golden color, medium head.
Aroma: lemon and citrus, strong hops, very fruity. Flavor: very hoppy, with Citrus and other fruits; lots of lemon. Medium malt but good. Dry overall. Spicy and citrus bigtime. Great hops. Finish: big hops and citrus, sour, light and dry. Great. Very refreshing and light, with decent malt and great hop and fruit. Light body, medium plus carbonation.
2.9 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 12/20
Golden color with apples, pears and a mildly syrupy nose. Smooth mouth, a bit unbalanced with apples and pears coming out somewhat. Dry lackluster, boring finish.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20
Tap. Bright golden, slightly bubbly, small head. Very crisp, some sweet maltiness and some well-defined Saaz hops. I liked this a lot on the first sip, but as it warmed one sees that it is a bit unbalanced toward the sugary side. Still not a bad beer, particularly for something with the word "golden" in the name.
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