3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
On tap at Kura Kura in Kanda, Tokyo. I had seen this beer highly rated online but never saw it on tap down in Kansai so I was happy to see it on the taplist! It lived up to it’s reputation pouring pitch black with a nice tan head. A classic stout look. A nice malt chocolate aroma with the flavor being sweet, chocolate, caramel and a hint of burnt chocolate. The finish was a little smokey and even had hints of bacon. Excellent. Probably the nicest stout I’ve had that was made in Japan.
3.7 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle at Jiu-jin, Kyoto. Black with a tanned head. Sweet and dry with aromas of roasted malts and some caramel and hints of band aid. Medium bodied. Medium to soft carbonation. Dry and sweet finish.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Bottle. Black with a distinguishing brown head. Black and chocolate malt on the nose. A dry, roasty palate. A dark chocolate, raisiny flavour, along with some woody notes. Warming.
3.4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Bottle.
Coffee aroma, like those small cold coffee shots you get in Japan.
Black black, brown head
Good flavors on this one, licorice chocolate coffee, light chilli
Caramelized sugar
Smooth mouthfeel. Light tar afterwards, smoke retronasal
I like this brewery, worth the money so far.
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Bottle. Black - brown head. Licorice, hard roasted, light burned, coffee, herbal, medium hoppy, light fruity, rubber, oily, grass. Lovely powerfull.
4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Draught at Eni-brau in Osaka.
Burnt, smoky, woody flavor and nose. A relatively complex strong stout, sweet, but balanced, with notes of dark fruit, chocolate, coffee, wine, and hops. A complex stout with a dry, bitter, finish. Great stuff.
3.2 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
This is a full bodied stout, although it leaves something to be desired. Maybe because it was a hot, japanese summer night but this didn’t sit well with me for one reason or another
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle. Pours black with a light brown head. Great espresso and chocolate aromas as well as some vanilla. Bitter chocolate flavours prevail, some alcohol towards the finish. Also lightly roasted malts. A great beer it is.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
A realy good stout. Tastfull and full bodied. A dry and bitter beer really nice. Tasted iin Thrash Zone Yokohama.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
My Bottom Line:
This frothy strong Stout relies on its roasting molasses and black malt bitterness and dryness to pleasure the tastebuds, and its effervescence to lighten the mouthfeel. Not an Imperial Stout at all, it will still satisfy your darkest ale desires for the time of a can.
Further Personal Perceptions:
-A creamy head sits atop the pitch black.
-Vivacious, cola-like carbonation is a little too much to let you enjoy the maltiness in peace.
-The finish is roasty and minty, adding some coffee bean notes as well.
-The tap version was rounder, carbonation wasn’t as aggressive, and the roasting molasses were a little fruitier, making the end product even better than the already very good canned version (3.8 vs. 3.6).
From the can, and on tap at Kura Kura Ji-Beer House.
|
