Pale Ale Biwa-cha

Tap at Devil Craft Hamamatsucho. Light golden colour, big creamy off-white head. Aroma is quite punchy. Big citrus, mainly lemon, but not much else. Good though. Taste is good. Nice citrus finish, something a bit sour there too. Bit of a spike there too. Something herbal and a touch of cream. Pretty nice.

Small glass on draft at Dig Beer Bar in Osaka. Clear golden yellow with off-white head. Aromas of tea, orange citrus, floral. Tastes of floral, light tea, herbs, light bitter hops. Medium-light body with a dry finish.

Shiroyama Biwacha Pale Ale / pale Ale biwa tea blend 5.5% it pours a crystal clear copper gold with a lovely biwa and citrusy hop aroma. The taste is more of a bitter earthy green hop bite with just hints of biwa fruits in the finish and possibly a dash of tea notes as well. Medium bodied with a sandy mouthfeel. Overall it is ok but after the light fruity nose I am a bit let down by the pretty standard pale ale flavor. As it warms up it gives a bit more biwa tea flavor, it’s alright.

Tap at Dig Beer Bar, Osaka. Amber color, tiny off-white head, lace. Aroma is light but I get malts, caramel and berries. Light-bodied. Malty and dry, some earthy hops. Dry spiceyness, is it tea? Also some unclean notes. Below par.

On tap at Ant n Bee, August 2013. Clear golden with a small white head. This was drinkable but a bit strange. Notes of medicine and citrus, also some light malt.

Draught at 2012 GJBF Osaka. Golden color. Nice citrus hop aroma, light malt, a bit herbal. Interesting flavor mixing biwa leaves and hops, works well. Clean, herbal. Decent.