Category Archives: Style

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

Uchu Grand Cross

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Brewery: Uchu Brewing
Country: Japan
ABV: 10%
Style: IPA – New England / Hazy Triple

Brewer Description: (from Untappd) TDH TIPA. Hops – Motueka, Nelson Sauvin & Rakau.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.07
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 350ml can, with a best before date of 29th July 2024. Poured into whatever glass was available at the hotel in Osaka.
Appearance: A hazy murky yellow orange colour, with a thin white head that dissipated quickly, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Tropical and citrus fruity, mango, grapefruit zest, citrus pith, light melon, and a piney grassy note.
Taste: Light mango, melon, grapefruit peel, citrus pith, with a moderate but lasting bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Nice aroma, while flavour was perhaps affected by being too cold at first, but definitely improved as it warmed a bit. Booze was well hidden, with an appropriate amount of enjoyable bitterness.

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

Uchu Fractal Enlightenment

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Brewery: Uchu Brewing
Country: Japan
ABV: 8.5%
Style: IPA – New England / Hazy Double

Brewer Description: (from Untappd) TDH DIPA. Hops – Citra & HBC1019.

My rating: 3+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 350ml can, with a best before date of 26th July 2024. Poured into whatever glass was available at the hotel in Osaka.
Appearance: A hazy orange yellow colour with a thin white head that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Tropical fruit juicy, mango, melon, coconut, notes of grass, with a splash of citrus peel.
Taste: Mango, orange peel, grapefruit zest, a lasting moderately bitter finish, with a touch of booze.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Good aroma, but take away the booziness from the taste would have helped it.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Sako, Lambic - Gueuze

Sako El Ambiguo Geuze

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Brewery: Brouwerij Sako
Country: Belgium
ABV: 7%
Style: Lambic – Gueuze

Brewer Description: (from Untappd) This Kattem gueuze El Ambiguo is a “Bourbon gueuze” that has been aged for 2 years in Bourbon barrels, hence the beautiful intense color and the special wood touch. It is a very soft gueuze, refreshing yet tender, complex yet thirst-quenching. Only water, homegrown hops, barley malt and wheat from the Pajottenland are the raw materials. Unfiltered and 6 months re-fermented and matured in the bottle, this Bourbongeuze is perfectly drunk from August 2023. Taste this divine drink, this is a wonderful gift from Pajotse nature!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.31
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle, 21-22 cork, bottle number 2014? with a best before date of 2060. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy dark golden orange colour with a one finger white head that had pretty good retention and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Musty, damp wood, funky, dusty, sherry, dried orange peel, apple peel, lime, persimmon, with a dash of sweetish marmalade.
Taste: Yellow stone fruit, apricot, orange peel, lots of wood, funk, with some wet leathery notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This gueuze had great aroma and drinks really easy. The bourbon doesn’t stand out in the aroma or flavour, and I certainly wouldn’t mind it, but this doesn’t take away from the beer, as assuming that it was just integrated well, it was enjoyable.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brasserie Cantillon, Lambic - Fruit

Cantillon Vigneronne – Viognier

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Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: 2019+ Viognier grape version

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A fine compromise between wine and beer, this is the Vigneronne Cantillon 100% lambic. The fruity taste of the white grape harmonized with the powerful character of a two year old lambic make from the Vigneronne Cantillon an unique beer. Beer with a taste evolution. Store and serve at cellar temperature 10-13°C/50-55°F. To enjoy completely the fruity taste of the Vigneronne Cantillon, drink it better in the year after purchase. To be drunk preferably within the 10 years after the bottling date.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.29
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, 2019 vintage, bottled on 10th October 2019. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed Zenne glass.
Appearance: A nice clear golden orange colour with a slightly less than one finger white head that had decent retention and left some lacing.
Aroma: Grape skin, white wine vinous, lightly tart, dry grass, funky, musty, and a touch of wood.
Taste: Lightly sour and tart, white wine vinous, grape skin, lemon juice, damp wood, funky, musty, with notes of dry grass and hay.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Enjoyable and easy drinking, but I prefer the previous Muscat version slightly more.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brasserie de la Sambre, Farmhouse Saison - Fruit

De La Sambre Ceréjhe (Etre Gourmet Blend)

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Brewery: Brasserie De La Sambre
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6.8%
Style: Farmhouse Saison – Fruit
Other Notes: 2021 harvest. 25 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Wallonian Saison with cherries.

Ceréjhe is the word used to designate cherries in Wallonian dialect. A delicate blend of saison (spring barley, Wallonian Winter barley, spelt & wheat) fermented with our own strain, 1 year old lambic and cherries. The cherries come from the lovely lands of our friends Sandra and Stephane next to the beautiful Mont Ventoux. The cherries underwent a 7 months long fermentation at cold temperature and were left intact (no pressing) during the entire process to allow the aromas to slowly diffuse into the beer.

The maceration was then back blended with the base saison to reach a balance between the saison, the lambic and the cherries. Not meant to be a cherry bomb, we hope that you’ll enjoy the delicate notes of these beautiful fruits, coming from an outstanding terroir.

An authentic farmhouse beer, Brewed in our 800 years old farm.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.12
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 750ml white waxed bottle, the Etre Gourmet blend, 2021 harvest, with a best before date of 7th April 2025. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A very nice lightly hazy ruby red colour with a one finger slightly pinkish head, with good retention and nice lacing.
Aroma: Sweet candied cherries, raspberry, strawberry, with light notes of wood and funk.
Taste: Much like the aroma, sour, tart, candied cherries, raspberry, strawberry, red fruit jelly, and wood.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: Easy drinking, nice and refreshing.