2010 Version, absolutely fresh, Draught at Tadgs. Wonderful. Huge hop aroma, with grapefruit, mango,, passionfruits, pineapple, honey, and lean golden malts. Deep gold color. No caramel flavors at all. Clean, crisp honey malts and big citrus and tropical hops. Perfect bitterness at the finish, bitter but not mouth warping. This has triumphed head to head over draught Sculpin, West Coast, Ruination, Islander. One of the best in the world. Amazing. 　2008 version, on draught at Wachi. 8/4/8/4/17 Glowing golden / orange color with a thin head. Big citrus hop nose with caramel and warm light malts. Huge hops. Flavor of caramel malt and all kinds of fruits. Big, citrusy hops with come alcohol burn. Good, bitter, hoppy finish. Very good, very big. The best IPA in Japan for sure.

2009 Version on tap: Completely revised. Super complex, with cafe au lait, chocolate, dark fruits, smoke, wood. Exceptional mouth feel. Excellent. Bottled 2008 version: 7/4/8/4/14 Aroma of burnt wood, roast barley, something like oil, lots of smoke, with something sour there as well. Sweet, strong, burnt flavor. Very rich and smoky as well. A touch of dark fruit, lots of coffee. Finish of amazing alcohol heat, burnt malts. It is hot, bitter, and slightly stinging. An interesting, powerful imperial. Rich and nice, though the balance is not perfect and the alcohol far too evident.

Bottle courtesy of Greg Koch at our stop at the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens on 08/03/2008 on day three of RBSG. Clear dark brown body with ruby highlights and a small light brown head. Sweet roast, choclate caramel, smoke and bacon aroma. Bacon flavor with roast caramel and light smoke.

2007 Autumn. An Autumn Strong ale made with rice as well as barley. Says it is the “fresh hop,” version. A deep golden color with a tall, fine white head. Only slightly cloudy. Aroma of hops, fruit, malt, and yeast, earthy too. Rather original, somewhere between a golden English ale and a Belgian. Slightly spicy. Rich mouth feel. Fruity and slightly sweet with an earthy character too. Interesting. Alcohol is there… rather subtle texture and flavors. Slight bit of citrus, good hopping. The rice is evident. Quite sweet, but quite bitter too, and with a touch of sour the balance is great. Reminiscent of French or Belgian country ales. Earthy, sweetish, interesting. I like it a lot. It is supposed to be a saison that is fitted to Japanese tastes. Whatever that means...Fantastic, though.