Tap at Bungalow. They call this a rice barley wine. It is vastly different from last year’s, and now a collaboration as well. Uses koji in the recipe and sake yeast to ferment. Golden and sparkling clear with a fine, low head. Rich rice and fruit nose, mochi (rice cakes). Rich, round flavor, rice, estery fruits, melon and peach, koji. Nice tingly carbonation. Very good and also very original and interesting. Sake character comes through very nicely. Probably the best “sake beer” I’ve had to date!

I saw the other Orochi listing for Shimane Beer and there is no way THIS was a barleywine! I got the last bottle(535 yen) at Asahiya. It poured a crystal clear straw gold with a filmy head and a really interesting fruity, musty wine/sake aroma which is no surprise as it was made with sake yeast in a collaboration with a sake brewer. A slick mouthfeel, with some alcohol heat that took me by surprise - wow 10%! Warming going down, probably if I knew more about sake I could pin the style it resembles more. Unique, interesting but not for me this is too potent and sake like for my taste. Soft, fruity, dry finish. I wish I knew more about this beer though, I couldn’t find info online...