3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
First rating of this beer on RB! 12 ounce bottle bought last year over goodbeer.jp. Pours out a very nice dark red/brown hue with a large white head that goes down to nothing pretty quick. A sweet nose of strawberries, toffee, caramel, rich maltiness. A warm full beer with loads of flavor; brown sugar, earthy berries, toffee, prunes. something akin to HOTD Matt without the barrels. An unusual BW in some ways. Certainly not hoppy but also not super sweet either. A very thin palate. Overall, I think this beer would have a good reception if it made its way into the US or Europe where people would rate it. A sipper but quite nice.
3.2 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
Bottle. Reddish brown with lace. Fruity, estery caramel-driven nose. Super sweet, with plum and tons of raisin and toffee. Estery, hot, and cloying. Not very good at all, and nothing like the well-aged, integrated old 14% Super Vintage. Might be good in a few years, but as Jonno said, a crime to release this so young.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Thanks Mike for this fine brew! Pours dark brown with a tinge of red. Toffee, a hint of cherry, booze, caramel and chocolate on the nose. Toffee, chocolate, over ripe cherries, this has a serious malt profile, some booze and licorice complete the taste. This is thick on the palate and finishes with toffee and booze.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
I guess I was disappointed in this because the super vintage is usually such an amazing beast. But when I sat down with HopJuice he added some good insight - for a straight barley wine this is still a very good offering, especially for Japan. I have to agree. Certainly not rich and complex like a 8 year old super vintage this is brash, coarse and under developed. BUT it is quite tasty and has a lot of potential that will develop in to something special. Almost a crime to release it this young though!
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