Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8.5
330 ml bottle (12%) traded by TimE and got another from KansaiBeerLvrs to bring back to the states. Pours oily, jet black with no head. Aromas of coconut, whiskey, dark chocolate, caramel, vanilla. Tastes of dark chocolate, whiskey, vanilla, dark fruit, soy sauce. Well masked alcohol. Medium body with a dry finish. Would like a little more fine tuning but a nice beer.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Pitch black color with dark brown color. Iodine, cacao, dark chocolate, dark fruit. Big smooth mouth, very heavy, whisky, dark chocolate, cacao. Soo smooth and alcohol well hidden. Excellent. Just nice smooth drinking 12% beer.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9
Botte from the brewery. Black, nice lacy head. Big whiskey nose, vanilla, wood, chocolate, coffee, and some soy. Huge flavor, chocolate, whiskey, coffee. smooth and silky body. Some spice. Cinnamon. Booze. Very nice. Whiskey favor is good, but not overdone as in so many American bourbon barrel stouts. This is really well balanced and delicious. Great.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
big dark roasted notes with tons of bitter hops. Full bodied, but well balanced. Highly enjoyable.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Tap at Craft Heads, Tokyo. Deep amber color, small white head, lace. Aroma has ryeish caramel. Medium-bodied. Caramel-crystal malts, rye, grass. Sweetish amber ale. Ok.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Tap at Keg, Nagoya. Opaque black color, good creamy beige head. Aroma has lactose, ash and toasted malts. Medium-bodied. Licorice, lactose and ash in the flavor. Too ashy.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
New Beer Distributors, NYC 11.2 ounce ($8.25): Pours a murky brown with a off-white head. Aroma is full of sweet malts, some light hops, hints of booze, and some earthiness. Taste is slightly sweet, very malty, and somewhat alcohol. Not a bad barley wine.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Tap at the brewery restaurant. 1 year old, aged in the keg. Clear amber-orange with a touch of lace. Fruity, estery nose, caramel, oranges, apricots, light oxidation from age. Very fruity flavors, raisins, some toffee, hop bitterness and citrus flavors remain though mellow and muted, alcohol well hidden. Very smooth and mellow. Quite enjoyable. Definitely helped by the aging.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5
Ok my black IPA day continues. On tap at Molto. A nice dark brown pour with ruby highlights and a creamy beige head of foam. A hoppy fruity nose complemented with chocolate malts. Quite full bodied, smooth mouthfeel plus a decent level of hops. More of a classic black IPA than Green Petrol.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Tap at Keyaki. Strong citrus hop nose, smooth balanced flavors of citrus, chocolate, some coffee. Smooth and easy drinking though not so surprising.