Strong Beer Days at Beer Belly
Tochigi Beer Week at Dig Bar (2nd visit)
Session Citra Wheat launch party at Beer House Hobbit
Strong Beer Days is an Event run by Qbrick & Beer Belly Tosabori/Higobashi where each year in January they feature high-ABV beers. This year's event was particularly intriguing because beyond many typical boozy Japanese craft beers & their vintage variants they also had two special casks of Heaven Hill aged Minoh beers.
Both were served real ale style, meaning on cask, at Beer Belly:
リアル Ｗ－ＩＰＡ イチローズモルトバーボン樽 １年熟成
Minoh W-IPA barrel aged on cask 10% +
The staff seemed unsure of the ABV (no one checked) aged in Heaven Hill barrels apparently. It is a cloudy ruddy amber with a filmy beige head. A warm woodsiness, soft whiskey & rich maltiness in the nose. A full rich creamy texture, an amazing mouthfeel. The taste is a rich bourbon milkshake, seriously fantastically creamy the taste is woody with a touch of green pine boughs. Deliciously warming. Very well made but best for bourbon lovers.
 |
| Left W-IPA Right Imperial Stout |
リアル インペリアルスタウト イチローズモルトバーボン樽１年熟成
Minoh Imperial Stout barrel-aged on cask at the Beer Belly + Qbrick Strong Beer Event. 10%+ (staff unsure of ABV - possibly Heaven Hills barrels). this beer is a deep black with a cork like beige head. The palate is good but the W-IPA is much fuller & creamier. It has a lovely soft chocolate & mild roasty coffee, some cream + light bourbon. It is a better marriage of beer & barrel than the W-IPA. Rich chocolate, oak, vanilla, cream, roast coffee - terrific. Wow after a bit of time I got some fantastic smokey caramel from it! Possibly the best Minoh I've ever had, high ABV but easy drinking.
I then headed on down to Dig Bar where the Tochigi Beer Week event was in full swing.
I'd popped in on Friday after work and had fantastic fried gyoza, a nice burger and two good beers:
8 to Go by Ushitora Brewing
A cloudy light gold with a filmy white head. A big citrus/tropical fruit nose - shikwasa? Light bodied a bit silky or viscous. The taste has a touch of pithy citrus, fruit juice & a light crisp bitterness with some honey. Deceptively complex. Very drinkable.
Blue Magic Bourbon Black Magic is an inky black beer with a reddish tint around the edges. Made with whiskey soaked oak chips it has a soft caramel & light bourbon aroma but was possibly served on the cold side. Medium to somewhat light bodied. The taste is fudge, light bourbon, chocolate pretty crisp tasting light bourbon black beer. A bourbon beer with a fun twist - being a fairly sessionable bourbon black beer.
This time I tried a few more:
Ushitora 7 to Go 5% light Scotch Ale
A cloudy mahoganey brown. Nutty light caramel more woody bitter than sweet in the mouth. The nose is incredibly light. A bit salty caramel & malty decent but on the low end for other Ushitora beers.
 |
| Left 7 to Go Right Heretic Torment |
Heretic Torment Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Now this was a luscious beer! Heretic Torment 10% Belgian dark Ale pours a ruby cola pour with a surprisingly herbal nose that gives me oregano & dark malts. The taste is big bready dark malts, some fudge + banana really tasty & smooth. Good stuff.
After those I hit the rails to go to Hirakatashi station and Beer House Hobbits + Tainai Kogen Collaboration Session Citra White Event.
There I got a pint of the new collaboration beer which didn't disappoint.
4.7% seems like it is a Weizen dry hopped with citra.It hass a big fluffy soft wheat & cloves aroma. The palette is very soft & has a smooth wheatiness to it. This single hop hoppy wheat beer is quite nice, I guess I will classify it as an American Wheat Ale. The taste is chewy wheat, spicy cloves with a light zesty citrus. A lovely light & refreshing beer. Good stuff.
I followed that up with a Tainai Kogen seasonal I hadn't seen before:
Tainai Kogen kupper 4.5% the nose is a light crackery caramel on this Vienna lager. Light to medium bodied with a flavor of reasons and bready caramel cake. Simple but flavorful.
All in all a fun busy night. I learned that in March a new bar focusing on imported craft beer will be opening in Hirakatashi which is great!
Also the Session Citra White should be getting a wider release so keep an eye out for it at Asahiya~!
