330 ml bottle, labelled as Hakone Shichitou Pale Ale. I have had it for half a year, so I guess it is not overly fresh. Pours hazy orange, small head, some foam even stays a bit. Aroma is sweet, malty, candy, maybe some bittering hops also somewhere but they are not easily found. Taste is not unpleasant, at least in the beginning. It has malty body, very little on the hops side going on - and what is is coming out in the bitter-soapy aftertaste. Drinkable but that’s not the only quality I am looking in a beer.

Bottle via Rakuten, served in a half-pint glass. A cloudy honey gold pour with a thin filmy white head. The nose is yeasty with a somewhat weizen like wheaty yeast aroma that exhibits a touch of spice. The body is med-light with a very effeverscent carbonation that gives is a round but fairly strong mouthfeel. The taste is yeasty, a bit of spice, some cloves but somewhat of a saison like flavor which the body really reinforces. A bit of funk & somewhat peppery, decent but it doesn’t really evoke an English Pale Ale for me - it is too yeast forward with the malts not really being highlighted in any way. It doesn’t seem as bad as previous ratings but more of a wheat ale or possibly a weizen...

Orange with a foamy head. Fruity, sweet malts, soft orange, a bit candy like. The flavor was similar with soft hops, and caramel malts. This was the standout from Oratche but only because it was so odd.

Draught at the brewery. Buttery, spicy aroma with citrus. Flavors include orange and spice; strangely fruity and acidic, including lactic acid. There is also a strong lingering bitterness, though not quite a pleasant one. Drinkable but weird.

Light amber color. Soapy apricot nose. A bit strange mouthfeel. Hops are lacking and beer is directionless.

Draught at the brewpub. Lightly hazy golden, small head. Dryish yet fruity. Medium bodied with rounded grainy malt. Some unusual strawberry esters seem to stay just on the perception horizon. Finishes lightly minerally with salty bitterness.