From old tasting notes. Nearly opaque reddish brown color with a huge creamy tan head. Roasted malt aroma with sour undertones. Roasted malt flavor has a fruity sour character upfront. A mild dryness pervades in the midtaste. Light dry aftertaste has a hint of licorice. Quite tasty and unique.

Sample can for review: The pour itself is more of a porter brown than black. In the glass, it looks dark brown to black, but with brown highlights. The smell has a bit of light coffee roast to it, and a sweetness like toffee; hey, that rhymes. The taste starts with pinprickly carbonation. The roast has coffee notes and is a bit grainy, but is rather light to make up for it. I’ve always considered Sapporo’s main lager to be dry, bu this has a residual sweetness that leaves a light coating on the lips, with a suggestion of a dark bock beer. Hop bill seems titlted toward German and milder bittering hops, resulting in a notable bitterness that works with the sweet malt.

Toasty, dryish, with some dark malt development. Could do with a little less carbonation.