Pilsner (Bier des Himmels)

Bottle at the ryokan in Kinosaki. Picked up in town. Pours clear gold, lightly effervescent, with a frothy white head. The nose has some dry grains, dirty hay, faint grass. Light sweet flavour with dry pale bread, old biscuits, bread crust, some grassy and husky bitterness. Light bodied with average carbonation. OK balance in the finish, more husky grains, dry pale bread, straw. So so overall.

Aroma is a bit like vegetable poop...but not as bad as that sounds. Still odd, though. Toasty. Sweet malts, has a mellow hop character and bitterness. Ok.

On tap at Sake Sakamotoya. It pours a clear deep gold, 1cm filmy head that lasts a long time & clings to the glass. Fresh cut hay/grass aroma speaks of spring & summer. The taste is light, green, grassy, bitter with some puckering but clean & crisp. Not really my cup of tea but a solid pils.

On draught at the Hyogo Beer Oktoberfest in Kobe. Cloudy, bright gold. Buttery, malty aroma with lots of hops as well. Decent malt flavor, some butter, and good hops all the way through. Long-lasting hoppy finish. Crisp and tasty, very well done.