Subsidiaries
6.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask at GBBF 2006. A pitch black beer with a thin brown head. The aroma is sweet alcoholic combined with notes of chocolate. The flavor is sweet with notes of alcohol and chocolate, leading to a roasted end, which also has notes of the alcohol lingering. The mouthfeel is very smooth.
Tried
from Cask
on 05 Mar 2007
at 12:51
6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
A slightly hazy orange beer with a thin orange head. The aroma is sweet with strong notes of hops and quite a lot of fruit. The flvaor is sweet with notes of peaches and oranges as well as a grassy hop note, leading to a dry hoppy end. The body is a bit thin.
Tried
on 17 Feb 2007
at 03:04
7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
2002 Vintage Yellowish head, fast dwindled to rim over foxy red-to-amber beer. Very nice, deep & complex nose of cakey malts, and good, noble but restrained USA hops. Like a freshly baked caked, put into the fridge for keeping. Fruity notes with grapes, plums, a dash of mandarine and Marssala. Ends with something of seaweed (the Nippon touch?) Short very bitter taste, leaning over to overroasted cake, switching back to serious, nearly metallic hoppiness. Well bodied, very slick, slightly oily or even buttery. Ends with a wee bit of burning. Aftertaste is fruity-bitter: bitter melon, orangezeste and sugar-jellied fruitjuice with a dash of ginger. Remarkable beer seen its origin. Then again, has Nippon ever failed to equalize the best foreign examples? BIG thanks to Warren & Bill for this rare gem.
Tried
on 01 Feb 2007
at 13:14
6.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
This is for the 2005 version, which was released for the Japan Craft Beer Festival in Sept 06 in Tokyo. The 2005, unlike the 02 and 03, is distinctively different and IMO not a barley wine. I think the ABV sits around 8%, but this is pure west coast American strong ale. Heading in the direction of an Arrogant Bastard. Much hoppier than previous years, with caramel strawberry and citrus notes. Overall balance is OK. There is significant floral hops and an aggressive bitter finish. Not bad, I don’t think I prefer it more or less than previous years, its just different.
Tried
from Can
on 09 Oct 2006
at 09:17
7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Deep amber color, cotton candy, caramel, strawberries, cherries in the nose. Thick caramelly mouth. Med-full bodied. slightly hoppy dry hoppy finish with a touch of brandy. Not enough hops in there for me.
Tried
from Can
on 25 Nov 2005
at 22:04
6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Light med-pale color. A malty nose with hints of apples. Malty mouth with some oranges, apples and cream corn. Slightly sour dry finish.
Tried
on 05 Aug 2005
at 11:03
4.6/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 4.5
Blonde colour. Some pale malts noted, with a slight dusty yeast note. Fairly sweet. Disappointly bland for a brewer who apprenticed at Stone, this beer exemplifies the product of hop-shy brewing cultures. They do the malts all right in places like Japan, but the beers often lack balance.
Tried
on 17 Jul 2005
at 02:56
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
On Cask: Nut Brown color with a big candy sugar nose and a touch of cinnamon. The mouth is sweet and malty. Finishing with a rich lingering chocolately finish that has just of trace of sugar candy. Very well balanced and made beer.
In can it has a lower ABV and not nearly as good IMO and would give the same rating as presario.
In can it has a lower ABV and not nearly as good IMO and would give the same rating as presario.
Tried
from Cask
on 10 Apr 2005
at 20:07
6.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Stylistically challenged, pitch black and overhopped Porter had no head, but the nose gave off a deceptively huge citrusy aroma and the malts were barely present. The mouth was smooth with citrusy fruit, nuts and a hint of chocolate prancing around. The ending was smooth, but lacked real depth. An interesting beer that just gets a slightly lower mark because of it is not really within a style guideline.
Tried
on 06 Oct 2004
at 10:50
5.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 4.5
vegatle and pineapple nose. Tries to have a fruity mouth. Dry finish, who cares? their pale ale is just so much better.
Tried
on 24 Dec 2003
at 01:14