7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Pitch black color, off white head. Cold coffee, dark fruit exude from the nose. Mouth is smooth, but perhaps too similar to cold coffee for some people’s liking, a touch of plums. Lingering coffee finish. More like a coffee stout than an export stout, but still very enjoyable.
Tried
on 11 Oct 2008
at 08:56
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
I guess this is their Shonan Gold. Had it on tap at Wachi in Kyoto. Light copper tint, basically golden, slightly orange. Medium to low head. Fragrant aroma of orange, malt, butter, hops. Fruity and appetizing, though unusual. Rich, complex flavor: quite a bit of orange, including bitter peel and sweet-and-sour juice. Decent malt character, like a golden to pale ale, also noticeable aroma hops. Well balanced, with lots going on. Good combined bitterness, with sour as well. Finish is complex and bitter from orange peel and hops. Long lasting astringency remains. A very interesting fruit beer, and I must say a success.
Tried
from Draft
on 20 Sep 2008
at 21:32
7.1/10
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Appearance 2
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Dull golden color. Musty cobwebs, bananas yeasty nose. Sort of like a barnhouse. Interesting. Thick, sweet malty, bready mouth with cookies and hay. Lingering bready finish. Nice, without being exceptional.
Tried
on 04 Sep 2008
at 10:20
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Draught at Wachi in Kyoto. Medium amber with orange. Lace. Fragrant amber malt and hop aroma, with fruits. Earthy amber malt flavor, with a bit of caramel and chocolate. Fruity—berries? Great hops. Powerful, long-lasting finish of hops, light amber malt and a bit of fruit. Very well balanced.
Tried
on 03 Sep 2008
at 21:16
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
Light yellow color, very bubbly. Aroma of pineapple, malts, and caramel. Relatively light bodied, with rich malts and decent hopping to go with the fruit. Not very sweet at all, and the light fruiting does not overtake the beer-like quality. Very well done, a great summer drink.
Tried
on 01 Sep 2008
at 01:52
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7
Medium copper color, slightly orange, low head going right to lace. Strong, fruity hops, tobacco, citrus and grapefruit, with caramel malt. Hops stronger, though balance seems decent. Hoppy, citrus flavor with decent malts, caramel, a touch of tobacco. Very hoppy, bitter finish with pine and grass. A reasonably well-made IPA but not really special. Hops are very good, the malts reasonably complex. Too light, maybe, and lacking malt balance, but likable.
Tried
on 29 Aug 2008
at 15:37
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Golden color, peaches, lemon, strawberries and honey in the nose. Well balanced, chewy, bready, peaches in the mouth. Moderately bitter finish. Better than expected based on previous reviews, but not outstanding.
Tried
on 17 Aug 2008
at 22:34
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
This is actually called Shonan Gold. Golden color, citrusy nose. The oragnes really mix with the hops and it is hard to distingush which is which and comes off more like a Pale Ale. Mouth is surprisingly sweet and malty and you come to realize you were fooled in the nose. Moderate dry bitter finish. Not particuarly refreshing, but unique and enjoyable nonetheless.
Tried
on 01 Jul 2008
at 19:30
5.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Clear golden with a full head. Very orange aroma with some soap. The orange in the aroma reminds me of an orange based cleanser. The flavor is very orange like, but after a few gulps the orange becomes very "Goo-Gone" like. Refreshing for the first few sips and would probably be very nice on a hot day, but I can’t take a whole pint of it.
Tried
from Can
on 22 Jun 2008
at 00:25
6.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Nice looking IPA, slightly amber orange with a puffy head. Aroma is very muted. Light floral and citrus hops. Flavor is a quick hitter. The sharp floral and herbal hops burst as they impact your taste-buds, but disappear just as quickly. Very one dimensional. I had pretty high hopes for this one which may explain why I’m so disappointed in this average IPA.
Tried
on 22 Jun 2008
at 00:14