The dark version of Suntory’s premium Malts lager, this dunkel arrives with the same high quality ingredients and solid taste foundation. If given the choice between all the standard offerings from the major Japanese mega-breweries, I’ll usually reach for a Suntory Malts above all others. The moderate hoppyness and full malt flavor makes it my favorite. This dark version has a slightly different flavor than the regular Malts. The obvious difference is the smoky flavor imparted by the darkly roasted malt, but there is a hint of a sweet note, perhaps from a stronger decoction resulting in a less complete attenuation: I’m not convinced that the sweetness is from something different in the hopping, and the mouthfeel does feel a little thicker than regular Malts.  This dark is an interesting change from the regular Malts, so if you see one, give it a try! Continue reading ‘Beer is Good – Suntory Malts Kuro lager’
Archive for the 'Review' Category
Page 36 of 60
Next up in the variety pack is the Pale Ale. approached with some trepidation as I don’t like IPAs, but it seems that is a different beast. Pours medium amber with a medium head if poured aggressively that dissipates fairly quickly but carbonation stays. Pretty bright and dry, with a bitter that stays for a bit. But no strong flowery or weed taste. Not my fave of the bunch, but drinkable. 2.5 pale monkeys.
When in Canada, drink Canadian, since it’s domestic & Bud is an import. Yes, the name worries me, but it’s part of their Craft Variety Pack that we haven’t had. Pours pale amber, light head, light carbonation. Yes, strong hop taste, as Derek put it, it tastes like what someone smoking out some weed smells like. Astringent feel and lingering bitter, no smokyness, the bitter is all hops. I can’t say I enjoy this, but I’ll finish drinking it. So have to give one skunky monkey since it’ll function for beertherapy at its 5.2% ABV.
I don’t have a can of the “blue letter” Sapporo Classic to do a side-by-side taste test, but this limited edition brew from Sapporo Breweries is definitely a winner. Like the standard Sapporo Classic, this “green letter” variety is supposedly only available in Hokkaido. The color, mouthfeel, and structure is essentially the same as the generic Sapporo Black Label lager available worldwide, but the flavor is distinct. Typical of most Japanese dry lagers, this one is well attenuated with no unconverted sugars available to taste. A good hit of bittering hops makes sure the “dry” point is driven home. The initial bitter is followed by a good, rich maltiness that fades smoothly to a clean finish. Just a little more bitter, and they will be approaching Wernesgruener territory! This one is up there with the “gold can” Sapporo brewed with 100% Hokkaido barley and hops. As this is a limited edition both for time and sales territory, give it a try if you have the chance! Continue reading ‘Beer is Good – Sapporo Classic 2010 Vintage Lager’
Went by the theaters in Sapporo Factory last night to see The Expendables. People in The USA can’t complain about ticket prices hitting the $10 USD, as admission in Japan is 1800-yen! That’s over $21.50 USD at today’s exchange rate! F me running! I don’t know if being able to get a Sapporo Classic draft beer for 600-yen, or a large size for 800-yen makes up for it. Being able to hit Taj Mahal afterwards for some Brinjal Bharta and Chana Masala did though!
Just noticed this – the material used for IR glint patches cracks when flexed in cold weather. I’m not sure what the threshold temperature is, but so far they’ve been exposed to a couple degrees below zero Celsius at most (least?) so far. Run your embroidered patches in cold temperatures if the cracks bother you.
This Yebisu varietal is available year round, unlike the Kohaku and Silk seasonals, along with the standard Yebisu Premium lager and “The Hop” Pilsener. A dark lager, The Black pours slightly thicker than standard Yebisu or the Kohaku amber. The decoction seems to be slightly heavier, and as a result, the attenuation is lower which lends a slight sweetness – not quite a molasses sweetness as found in some darks, but more of a hint of kuromitsu or brown sugar. The color is very dark, even darker than coffee. The initial flavor is dominated by the smoky overtones of the dark roasted malt and the bitter of the hops, but the malt flavor comes forth in the middle followed by an even finish. There is no significant sweetness or floweryness from the hopping.  The head comes on strong at the outset, but disappears quickly. The carbonation didn’t seem particularly strong. Although I wouldn’t say this is my “go to beer” in the Yebisu lineup (that honor would go th the Kohaku and Silk in that order), it makes for a good change from the norm. Give one a try if you encounter the choice. Continue reading ‘Beer is Good – Yebisu Premium “The Black” Dark Lager’
Wow! This mass-produced beer encroaches on the flavor territory of many good Japanese jibiiru.  As the name “Kohaku” implies, this amber lager is distinct from its pale lager forbear. Released on 10 November 2010, this limited seasonal variety from Sapporo Beer’s more upscale division brings a warmer, richer malt flavor to the table. The pour, head, and mouthfeel is in line with what you get from the standard Yebisu, but there is a deeper flavor and less of the ethanol bite common to JDM production beers. This easily makes me twice as happy as regular Yebisu. If I can’t find any interesting jibiiru to bring back with me this time around, I’m seriously bringing some of this back! Continue reading ‘Beer is Good – Yebisu Premium Kohaku Amber Lager’
I guess I’ll fill in the fourth offering from Saitama’s Coedo Brewery – the Shikkoku dark lager. The name uses the kanji for “laquer” and “black”, forming the compound “jet black”, and as is fitting to this name, this dunkel pours an almost opaque dark brown with a moderate but transient head. Although the head becomes filmy, the carbonation remains constant throughout the beer’s existence in the glass. This carbonation, along with the almost completely attenuated decoction gives this dark beer a dry bitterness with little detectable sweetness. The initial flavor is bitter from the noble hops combined with the smokiness from the darkly roasted malt. The two flavors dominate throughout, masking any cereal-malt flavor that may be there.  The aroma is actually rich and warm, belying the almost two-dimentional quality of the flavor. Don’t get me wrong here – I like this beer – it’s just not a very complex mouth experience. Continue reading ‘Beer is Good – Coedo Shikkoku’
Sam Adams seasonal, and I’m buying it in season! Hm, dunno what happened with this second bottle from the six pack, poured with weak head that quickly dissappeared, first bottle had bit more of a head. The taste is still pretty good, but as I write this, the carbonation has all but died. Medium dark amber, but no strong smoky aroma or flavor, a fair amount of bitter middle. Nice malt and the adjunct spices I find to be a nice addition, although I say this with impeded sinus once again. I would drink this again (this is my second tonight 🙂 3 out of 4 spicy monkeys.