Kobushi Hana Grand Cru

Brewed by Hanyu Brewery / Hana No Kobushi
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Hanyu-shi, Saitama Prefecture, Japan

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Bottle bought at Tanaka-ya in Tokyo. Deep honey gold with a touch of orange and a huge Belgian-style head. Clear, surprisingly. Very fragrant, with plums, citrus, cherries, caramel malt, yeast, hops. Sweet and fruity and luscious. Light bodied, lighter than expected carbonation. Flavor of plums, cherries, grass, caramel, alcohol. Very complex; sweet but well-balanced by hop and alcohol. Dry, bitter, hop and alcohol finish. One of the best Belgian-style beers made in Japan.

My Bottom Line:
Doughy yeast and citrusy tropical fruit mesh into the delicate herbal hop finale of this understated Belgian-style Ale.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A sheet of foam lies atop the blond mist.
-Buried iodine is perceived in the nose only, surely not a good sign of things to come with this bottle-conditioned batch.
-The aroma is rather timid for the style.
-Base malts offer a lean body and few flavors.
-This is neither good, neither bad, just a frank attempt at a style which isn’t tried very often by Japanese brewers.

Bottle.

Lightly hazy golden color with minmal head. Spices, yeast, and fruit are in the aroma. Flavor is a bit muted. Spices, yeast, fruits, and some alcohol. Medium body with a finishing bite. It’ alright, nothing spectacular.

Golden color, light fruity nose. Rich mouth, fruity, full bodied, mildly bitter finish.