On tap at Popeye’s. Rich, thick wheat malt flavor. On the sweet side, but has a good bitter finish. Not sour at all. Crisp, but rich, with medium plus carbonation. Very nice, with lots of spice and banana. A top Japanese wheat beer.

Bottle from Yamaoka. Pitch black with a thin, lacy brown head. Spicy, flowery roasted malt aroma, slightly earthy and nutty, dry, with dark fruit and orange. Fruity, strong malt flavor, with raisins, ginger, orange, a touch of chocolate. Slightly sour edge and not very sweet at all. Well attenuated for sure! Funky, barnyard character in there as well. Not what I was expecting. Pretty good roasted malt bitterness in the finish as well. Or is that hops? Rather thin palate with low carbonation. Really different. Nicely done. Can’t taste that 10% alcohol at all!

Bottle from Yamaoka in Kyoto. This beer is 5%, and so really is not so much an English Strong Ale as an English brown ale, I would say. Rich dark malt aroma, with caramel, nuts, grains, and detactable but light hops. Medium reddish/amber color, a bit too light for the name “dark ale," but attractive nonetheless. Very thin head that went straight to lace. Rich, malt-centered flavor, nutty, with lots of cereal malts, caramel, a touch of chocolate, and a slightly roasted flavor. Quite complex. A bit of dark fruit, with a slight citrus touch. Lightly hops, but they come in near the end to provide a rather bitter finish. Well balanced and tasty. Good stuff.

Draught at Eni-brau in Osaka. A very fruity, smooth, and mild version of a pale ale. Medium caramel malt richness, with bready taste, medium to light hops, bubble gum. Good balance, with just enough hops. Super smooth. Very well done and understated.

Draught. Brown with a light tan head. Aroma is sweet malt, fruit, alcohol, and spice. Flavor was similar. malt, yeast, fruit, sweet and alcohol. Nice body to it. Tasty.

Draught at Popeye’s. Poured hazy yellow with a nice white head. Aroma was fruity, wheat, yeast, banana, and citrus. Flavorful and refreshing. Very fruity, banana, yeast, wheat, bubblegum. Had a light, crisp body. Enjoyable.

Deep dark amber color. Fruity nose of cherries and oranges. Hoppy start, with cherries, oranges, strawberries and milk chocolate malty mouth. Beautiful. Malty finish with dark cherries. Splendid.

Deep mahogany color. Light brown head. Sugar candy with hints of chocolate in the nose. Big chocolatey, sweet malty mouth with, earthiness, sea salt candy, cherries and cherry liquer. No alcohol detectable. Smooth chocolately finish. Yum.