Category Archives: Japan

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, IPA - New England / Hazy Double, Japan, West Coast Brewing

West Coast Full Hop Alchemist v.32

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Brewery: West Coast Brewing
Country: Japan
ABV: 8.5%
Style: IPA – New England / Hazy Double
Other Notes: Hazy Double IPA. Hops – Enigma, Sultana & Sultana Lupulin

Brewer Description: (from website) Word on the street is that our Alchemist just sits in his hop closet juggling massive bags of Big Boi IPA hops all day—not (entirely) accurate. The combos gon’ get real Hop Dudes. V32 is about to hit taps and shelves (and your squeaky clean glass… fingers crossed) and is a bold blend of two hops that are not as familiar to modern IPA savants—Enigma and Sultana. Full disclosure: it’s a little sweeter than most of our FHA offerings, and a touch out of balance (missed the mark just a touch?), likely due to a lighter body and slightly warmer mash temp (the jury is out, but adjustments are in order). It is however also absolutely delicious, loaded with fantastic FLAVORS of the lychee / white grape and overripe mango persuasions, with a subtle yet solid strawberry candy-like component. In a word V32 is very tropical, but brings all kinds of fascinating sensory in a hazy quite unlike anything we have cooked up to date.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.94
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 500ml can, canned on 6th November 2023. Poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: A hazy darkish orange colour with a two finger white head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Grassy, orange rind, citrus zest, mango, and a touch dank.
Taste: Sweet, maybe on the verge of being too much for me. Mango, mandarin, candied grapefruit zest, and notes of citrus bitterness that helps with the sweetness a bit.
Mouthfeel: Sticky, medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Generally, it was on the overly sweet side for me, but luckily there was some citrus rind and zesty bits that helped balance the sweetness.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, IPA - New England / Hazy Double, Japan, West Coast Brewing

West Coast Freestyle Sandbox Vol.4

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Brewery: West Coast Brewing
Country: Japan
ABV: 8.5%
Style: IPA – New England / Hazy Double
Other Notes: Hops – Freestyle Peacharine, Freestyle Pacifica, Freestyle Southern Cross & Freestyle Wakatu

Brewer Description: (from website) This is the last of our 2022 Freestyle-ONLY brews – and we saved the best for last. V4 contains what very little amounts of Peacharine we were able to get our hands on, along with other Freestyle favs like Southern Cross, Pacifica and Wakatu. V4 has plenty of pineapple and mango / tropical feels, dry and refreshing and with a touch of Peacharine is a fitting finish to ‘22 (bring on ‘23!)🔥

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.28
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 500ml can, canned on 26th September 2023. Poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: A hazy milky orange colour, with a big two finger white head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Juicy, mango, citrus, orange rind, with light grassy notes.
Taste: Juicy, tropical, mango, pineapple, orange rind, citrus pith, grass, light melon, and a touch of bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium to full bodied, with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Good juicy aroma and flavours. Easy to drink.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, IPA - New England / Hazy Triple, Japan, West Coast Brewing

West Coast RA

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Brewery: West Coast Brewing
Country: Japan
ABV: 9.5%
Style: IPA – New England / Hazy Triple
Other Notes: Hops – Galaxy, Rakau, Citra & Citra CRYO

Brewer Description: (from website) Defeat of the Voidmaster meant recovery of the second sigil. Shaped similar to the one held by The Lightning Council, this stone glowed an almost violent shade of vermillion and read “RA” on the reverse side (the ancient Hop Dude word for “Simcoe”, if you can believe that). Our Hop Heroes had now found two and would begin the search for the third and final sigil. RA doesn’t actually have any Simcoe (boom!) but DOES come loaded with Citra, Citra CRYO, Rakau and a shake shake of Galaxy (we only allow it to go out and play when several chaperones are around). RA comes fit with hints of pineapple and ripe mango, with an almost yogurt-like sensory addition which gives it a very unique flavor profile unlike previous iterations in the series. RA also popped to a bold imperial level 9.5% ABV, but drinks dangerously easy.

My rating: 4-
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.98
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 500ml can, canned on 19th September 2023. Poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: A hazy orange colour with a one finger white head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Juicy, pineapple, citrus pith, mango, orange, and maybe even a touch dank.
Taste: Sweet, pineapple, candied mango, citrus pith, orange rind, yoghurt notes, and a touch spicy.
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Nice tropical fruits, especially pineapple and mango, but generally too sweet for me.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, IPA - New England / Hazy Double, Japan, West Coast Brewing

West Coast Full Hop Alchemist v.31

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Brewery: West Coast Brewing
Country: Japan
ABV: 8.5%
Style: IPA – New England / Hazy Double
Other Notes: Hazy Double IPA

Brewer Description: (from website) Hazy Double IPA w/ Kohia Nelson, Citra, Citra CRYO, Mosaic & Mosaic CRYO.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.09
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 500ml can, canned on 11th September 2023. Poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: A hazy slightly darkish orange colour, with a one finger white head that had good retention, and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Grassy, citrus rind, grapefruit peel, with some light tropical mango notes.
Taste: As expected from the aroma, grassy, grapefruit rind and peel, tropical mango, notes of peach candy, and a lasting bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Sticky, medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Nice aroma and flavours, with an enjoyable lasting bitter finish.

4 - Good (buy), Asahi Breweries Ltd., Beer Reviews, Japan, Lager - Munich Dunkel

Asahi Black (Kuronama)

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Brewery: Asahi Breweries Ltd.
Country: Japan
ABV: 5%
Style: Lager – Munich Dunkel

Brewer Description: (from Untappd) Since its release in 1995, Asahi Kuronama has become Japan’s favorite dark beer with its rich aroma and subtle sweetness. It is made from three types of dark roasted malt that each gives a different characteristic flavor according to how it is roasted and toasted. “Dark malt” produces the distinct fragrance of dark beer. “Crystal malt”imparts a delicate sweetness, and “Munich malt” adds a fullness of taste. The exquisite blend of these three types of malt maximizes the goodness of each and creates Asahi Kuronama’s distinct richness and smoothness.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.98
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 350ml can, canned in May 2023. Poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: Dark brown in colour with a two finger tanned head that had decent retention, while leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: Roasty, lightly burnt toast, chocolate, with hints of dark fruit.
Taste: Roasty, coffee grounds, sweet dark malt, chocolate, raisin, nutty notes, with a nice dry, and lightly bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Easy to drink with good roasty notes.