from the twisted minds of snm
This Sam Adams seasonal is a white ale, pours a cloudy yellow with small head. Definite citrus aroma followed with subtler spices. Clean, crisp, just a little bitterness that doesn’t linger and a nutty aftertaste that creeps in as a late pleasant surprise. Moderate mouth feel. Very drinkable and the spicing quite light, can go with food. That nut finish is the crowning touch that does it for me.
3.5 out 4 seasonal monkeys.
Not a beer we arte new to, but never reviewed for B.I.G. and they had it in a sixer at Foodland. Pours a cloudy yellow with strong head that lasts. Pleasant floral with some citrus acid with a bit of lingering bitter. There’s a medium heavy mouthfeel, but the citrusness contrasts that and keeps it clean. It’s like a Hoegarten without the strong spice, which isn’t surprising since they’re both Weissbiers, whites. I really like this beer.
4 out 4 wheaty monkeys.
Pours a medium dark clear amber leaning toward red, heavy head. Fairly strong hop and bitter hit. Faintest hint of nuttiness, the bitter lingers on for a long time at the back of your mouth. There’s a medium heavy mouthfeel. Whatever spices they’ve used, it is very subtle to the point that I can’t tell. Really I find this beer lacking in much character. While not terrible, I won’t be seeking this one out again.
Ah, there’s the spice. As I got to the last sips and the beer had warmed, the spice comes out in the aroma. Maybe you have to let this beer warm up a bit?
2.5 out of 4 seasonal monkeys.
This thing looks like an oversized prop to make normally sized people look like Hobbits or children. Of course when you see something like this in the convenience store, you have to try it! According to the manufacturer’s website, the 568 calorie “King” versions are almost double the 328 calorie regular version. With the increase in size comes an increase in water to be added, up to half a liter versus the 300 or so needed for the standard. The wait time remains the same. Taste-wise, it’s as good (or as bad, if you will) as the regular version. According to the website, the toppings were supposed to be kanikama (artificial crab) and other fish paste products, squid, cabbage, green onion, and egg. There was flat, white stuff that looked like squid, but I think it was the inner leaves of the kanikama. The only chewy squid-like substance had the purple outer skin of octopus, and I had a piece that I swear had a tentacle sucker. Maybe squid and octopus are lumped together for allergy labeling purposes. The nostalgic thing for me was the foamy dehydrated dried egg that disappeared from the USDM versions of cup noodle to be replaced with corn of the same color in the late 1980’s. The website further states that the soup base is pork, asari, and oyster based. I guess I’m a fan of all ramen, including cup-instant and semi-instant. Of course these aren’t as good as something from a good shop, but they all have their place. Even the nastiest instant ramen will bring back some dirtbag college memory. Nasty this one isn’t. It is one of the better cup ramen that I have had. There was a spicy curry one that I had once that tasted better, but had soup that was unappealingly thick. Go relive your misspent youth and get full at the same time!
Three out of four grunge-monkeys
Recommended
226-yen
More pictures after the break
Darn. Looking through my pictures, I must have forgotten to take pictures of the Suntory Premium Malts Koku no Blend half-and-half I had earlier. Guess I’ll have to drink another!
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The “red can” Yebisu Kohaku is back again, and retains the same wonderfully balanced, full-bodied taste that I enjoyed before. The 100% barley malt has been roasted to a rich, caramel color, yielding a deep honey amber decoction. The hopping is distinct, with a noticeable bitter note at the end, but not as strong as the drier regular Yebisu or the latest iteration of the “blue can” Suntory Malts Premium Pilsener. There is no significant sweetness of floweriness to the hopping. The malt flavor still stands true. The carbonation is more pronounced than other Japanese production beers. It will hold a head a little longer, due to the heavier decoction. Even as the head goes thin, there are still visible bubble trails, and the carbonation blooms in your mouth. This is still one of my favorite JDM production beers.
Three-and-a-half out of four wafuu monkeys
Highly recommended
5.5% ABV
Here’s the review of the 2010 version
More pictures after the break
Continue reading ‘Beer is Good – 2013 Yebisu Kohaku Amber Lager’
Pours medium amber, medium head. Clean, crisp, nice easy nut and roast. Could be the vacation thing, but this is a nice beer.
3 out 4 frosty monkeys.
This years SA Octoberfest offering. Pours a clear medium dark amber, moderate head. I’m thinking this bottle might have gone weird, not much head and it doesn’t taste as wonderfull as I remember the other bottles. I recall a nice nutty finish that made me happy. This one seems pretty weak, some bitter, a touch of sour, not a whole lot of flavor. I’m bummed, I was ready to give it 3.5 when I had the other bottles, but now that I’m using this one for my write-up I’m not so sure.
Guess I’ll have to go with a 3 out of 4 oompah monkeys.
