Category Archives: Japan

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, IPA - Session, Japan, Kirin Brewery Company

Kirin Spring Valley Summer Craft Ale

Monday, 21 August 2023 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Kirin Brewery Company
Country: Japan
ABV: 4.5%
Style: IPA – Session

Brewer Description: Galaxy hops.

My rating: 3-
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.16
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.1

Intro: A 500ml can, canned in May 2023. Poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: A nice clear golden colour, with a two finger white head that had good retention, and left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Citrusy lemon lime with some grainy malt notes.
Taste: Lemon and lime zesty, a touch watery, with light bitterness on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, light bodied, with moderate carbonation.
Overall: The aroma and flavours were fine, if nothing to shout about. But it was definitely refreshing on a hot summer day.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, Japan, West Coast Brewing

West Coast Hop Wave

Sunday, 23 July 2023 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: West Coast Brewing
Country: Japan
ABV: 8.5%
Style: IPA – Double
Other Notes: West coast Double IPA. Hops – El Dorado, Ekuanot, Simcoe & Simcoe CRYO

Brewer Description: (from website) Reintroducing one of the Hop Dude’s go-to brews, “Hop Wave” is a West Coast-style double IPA that celebrates our local surf scene, backloaded with veritable waves of El Dorado, Ekuanot and garnished with a touch of Simcoe to deliver the bright tropical fruit and candied orange aromatics the Alchemist craves. Hop Dude cleverly disguised the ABV hit with a medium body, citrus / pine on the nose and that classic West Coast-style bitterness, finishing dry, crisp and super clean. #clearbeer

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.68
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.5

Intro: A 500ml can, canned on 19th June 2023. Poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: A nice clear golden orange colour with a two finger white head that had pretty good retention, while leaving lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Orange peel, grapefruit, pine, a splash of lime, and a touch dank.
Taste: Sweet-ish pine, candied orange, citrus zest, grapefruit pith, light stone fruit notes, with a bitterish finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Easy drinking, but sweeter than I hoped, and looking for more bitterness.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, IPA - Sour, Japan, West Coast Brewing

West Coast The Collective: Peach Cobbler

Sunday, 16 July 2023 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: West Coast Brewing
Country: Japan
ABV: 9%
Style: IPA – Sour

Brewer Description: (from can) Sour DIPA w/ malted wheat, milk sugar, peach purée, vanilla and cinnamon.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.52
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.4

Intro: A 500ml can, canned on 5th June 2023. Poured into the only glass I had available at the hotel.
Appearance: A murky dark orange colour with a slight pinkish hue, and a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: It’s a bit light, but it’s sweet-ish, peach, pie crust, apple peel, and cinnamon.
Taste: Sweet and a touch sour, peach, apple, plum, with light cinnamon notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.
Overall: Didn’t really quite come together as I hoped it would.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Far Yeast Brewing, Farmhouse Saison, Japan

Kagua Japanese Citrus Saison

Thursday, 19 October 2017 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Far Yeast Brewing
Country: Japan
ABV: 6%
Style: Belgian Saison
Other Notes: Brewed and bottled at De Graal, Belgium

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Fruity and dry farmhouse ale with refreshing yuzu aroma.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.52
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.4

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of April 2019. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy copper amber colour with a two finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly while leaving some sparse lacing.
Aroma: Yuzu, mango, cream soda and a light floral element.
Taste: Reminds me of cream soda combined with citrus, floral and spice. Mostly grass, perfume-y, pepper and yuzu.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, medium to light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This was not bad, and I enjoy cream soda. My only negative was the floral element in both the aroma and taste that I’m just not too fond of.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), American Amber / Red Ale, Baird Brewing Company, Beer Reviews, Japan

Baird Red Rose Amber Ale

Thursday, 15 December 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Baird Brewing Company
Country: Japan
ABV: 6%
Style: American Amber Ale

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Richly fruity & malty, yet crisp & dry.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.22
My ratebeer.com rating: 3

Intro: A 330ml bottle, packaged on 24th May 2016, to be enjoyed within 12 months. Poured into a Mikkeller pint glass.
Appearance: A clear copper amber colour with a one finger off white head that had pretty good retention and eventually settled to a nice thin layer while leaving nice lacing.
Aroma: Malty, caramel, tea leaves and maybe a touch of honey. But it’s all really quite light.
Taste: Sweet biscuit malt with touches of caramel, wood, breadiness and lemon here and there.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Mouthfeel was great with nice crispness and tingly carbonation, but the aromas were too light and I really had to search for them. Taste was normal and drinkable. Not bad, but not quite my type of beer.

words of another dreamy traveller