Shiga Kogen Pale Ale

I agree with buzzoven below that this is one of the better pale ales made in Japan. But I feel if you a just visiting here and taking this back as a present for someone they won’t be so blown away by it as it taste like most micro pale ales you can find all over the USA. Anyways. It tastes almost like it’s been poured right out of the tap. Good sweet taste but wouldn’t drink two in a row. Maybe it had to do with some light sediment at the bottom? This was the second time I had it. The first time was up in Nagano snowboarding and it was a treasure to find this for sale in some store next to the mountain I was on but after bringing a few back home to the city of Tokyo and trying them out.. Eh.. The magic is gone. But I won’t doubt his brewery for quality beers. They are all very good!

Shiga Kgen beers are produced by a sake brewer in Nagano, Japan who just started making beer within the past 4-6 years. Apparently, they grow their own hops and have a knack for releasing quality brews year round. Their pale ale is one of the best in Japan. Smooth, malty character with a nice medium-bodied mouthfeel. Nice lingering bitter finish exemplifies the perfect balance. Superb in every way.

Bottled. Somewhere between pale amber and deep golden, small head. Light citric hoppy nose. Dry and light bodied with fragile malt character half covered in a thin blanket of grapefruity hops. Crisp and drinkable, but just too careful and painted in too thin layers of flavour.

Bottled, shared by the Nippon fraction of OMH. Dark golden with a small white foam. Crisp and dry aroma of flowers, orange-peels and grass. Medium to light-bodied with dryish notes of grapefruit and orange-peels with sweeter undertones of cookies. Crispy and hoppy finish of wet grass and orange-peels.

Clear orange with nearly no head. Hoppy aroma, earth, pine, some citrus, along with some sweet malt. Flavor is very earth, grass oriented. Some pine, caramel malts. The earth/grass is overpowering. Smooth, full bodied. If the grass was toned down I would have enjoyed this more, as it is it’s a decent pale ale.