Black Tide Brewing
Microbrewery
in Kesennuma,
Miyagi,
Japan 🇯🇵
Associated Venue: Black Tide Brewing
Established in 2020
At Black Tide Brewing, our mission is to bring fine craft beer to the world from Kesennuma.
【Our Story】
The Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, Japan’s largest ever recorded, devastated the city of Kesennuma. The inner bay area of Kesennuma, its hub, was swept away by the massive tsunami triggered by the earthquake. To help restore and recover the city, Akihiko Sugawara, a local of Kesennuma, put out a “call to arms” throughout Japan marshalling specialists from varied trades:
・Fishing industry specialist: Hisashi Ishiwata
・Community development professional: Hiromasa Kokubun
・Restaurant management and consulting expert: Tomoyoshi Sen
・A publisher, traveler and expert craft beer hunter: Nobuhiro Tajima
At the same time, a man living in Portland Oregon (USA) dreamt about moving to a small town in Japan to brew craft beer. His name is James Watney. A PhD chemist, he has 13 years of brewing experience, including training at Portland’s own Culmination Brewing and Japan’s Isekadoya Brewing. He quickly fell in love with the culture and people of Kesennuma.
Knowledge, experience, sensitivity, and love for Kesennuma... As Head Brewer, James is moving to Kesennuma to pour his heart and soul into the brewing of BTB craft beer
Completing the team is Kazuya Tanji who has experience in the creation of two other Japanese craft breweries. He discovered Kesennuma while volunteering after The Great East Japan Earthquake. It is also no coincidence that he fell in love with Kesennuma. Tanji is now the Sales Manager of BTB.
【Our Home】
So what makes us so passionate about this project?
The answer is simple: our home, Kesennuma.
This city inevitably fascinates anyone who visits. Situated on the Sanriku coast, surrounded by brilliant green mountains, Kesennuma provides a truly special environment. Through its famous fishing industry, the city has long interacted with people and cultures from far away. Black Tide Brewing is proud to represent beautiful Kesennuma and show it to the world.
TimE (11146) ticked Orange Garden from Black Tide Brewing 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
sticky orange full body malty. Very dank but a bit strange. Ok
tokyobeerdrinker (9001) ticked Fable Maker from Black Tide Brewing 1 year ago
Lager but it’s more like a session ipa. It’s quite nice but I don’t really get the point of lagers that basically taste like this.
TimE (11146) reviewed Baby Shower from Black Tide Brewing 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7
Turbid light golden white color. Big dank juicy nose with citrus and peaches. Slightly tart palate, very juicy, somewhat dry. Medium carbonation with low medium bitterness. Lack complexity but good mouthfeel and well balanced.
TimE (11146) reviewed Thanks Fair from Black Tide Brewing 1 year ago
Appearance - 9 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Very fruity apricot and cherries. Low bitterness. Smooth as hell but very fruit and not overly minerally. Nice
TimE (11146) reviewed Seashore from Black Tide Brewing 1 year ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Very pale turbid white golden color. What an odd nose smells like sea water and nectarine. This kinda saltiness with lemon and nectarines. Very different. Very low carbonation and bitterness. I do like it
TimE (11146) reviewed Ajisai from Black Tide Brewing 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 6.5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Cloudy purple color. Slight tart funky yeasty nose that is flowery nose.. light tart palate with nose of plum. Very refreshing. Light medium bitterness. Good
TimE (11146) reviewed Kesennuma Party Night from Black Tide Brewing 1 year ago
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
dull brown amber color. Pithy and somewhat juicy but hop character isn’t well defined. Pretty average at best
willisread (9761) reviewed White Shark from Black Tide Brewing 1 year ago
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 5 | Overall - 5
Can from Liquors Kalahana. Pours a clear straw gold with full two fingers of fluffy foam that lingers. Tropical fruit aromas on the nose with notes of alcohol, parsley and coriander. Something seems Belgian in this one. Light and crisp on the palate with a rounder mouthfeel. Weird uber-tropical flavors that don't seem to be from the hops, but more synthetic. Scratchy carbonation, booze and herbal notes on the finish. Not a good start for my introduction to Black Tide.
TimE (11146) ticked I Dream of Filbert from Black Tide Brewing 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7
very herbal full body . Smooth
TimE (11146) reviewed Hyper Hoya Boya from Black Tide Brewing 1 year ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
hazy but not too turbid, very light golden color. Rocky white head. Nice passionfruit and citrus notes. Semisweet, juicy, light body, low carbonation, not very dank or tart but the alcohol is well hidden. Super quaffable, especially for the Abv. Just a lovely drop