Beniaka
Coedo Brewery (Kyodo Shoji Koedo Brewery)

BeniakaBeniaka
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From:
Coedo Brewery (Kyodo Shoji Koedo Brewery)
 
Japan
Style:
Happoshu
Ranked #1
ABV:
7%
Score:
79
Ranked #26,492
Avg:
3.46 | pDev: 13.58%
Reviews:
60
Ratings:
151
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 01, 2024
Added:
May 07, 2010
Wants:
  42
Gots:
  21
Brewed with roasted Kintoki Sweet Potatoes from Saitama Japan. This imperial Amber is rich and smooth bodied in style, perfectly balanced with earthy hop bitterness. With the aroma of caramel, sweet potato and hops, Beniaka delivers on all senses.

Because of the use of sweet potato as a secondary ingredient, Japanese laws classify Coedo Beniaka as a Happoshu (malt beverage).
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Ratings by mrjez:

  None found.

 
Rated: 3.77 by Jsalz21 from New Jersey

Jan 01, 2024
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.12 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Nov 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.29 by not2quick from Missouri

Sep 16, 2023
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Reviewed by mooseisloose from Florida

3.59/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
Popping the top at sushi sake I get a lot of caramel waft. Pours to a deep root beer color. Taste is smooth and sweet but there is not a lot of body. A bit watery but the flavor makes up for it. For the great aroma I expected more but is a great brew to enjoy sushi and not get weighted down. Overall very quaffable.
Jun 21, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by IRONRakkasan from California

Feb 25, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Sep 15, 2021
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Reviewed by heysuz from Indiana

3.5/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Brew: Coedo Brewery (Kyodo Shoji Koedo Brewery) – Beniaka

Intro: 12 oz. poured into a tulip glass. Shared with a friend

Appearance: Dark reddish brown in color. Minimal head, maybe 1 inch. Minimal lacing as we drank

Smell: Sweet. Not much else

Taste: Followed along with the smell. Not cloyingly sweet. Was expecting a heavy sweet potato taste but not so much. Was surprisingly balanced.

Mouthfeel: Medium mouthfeel, medium carbonation. Carbonation helps this beer a lot

Drink: A little goes a long way. Wouldn’t want to much of this one.

Conclusion: Happy to have tried the style but would not revisit. Oddly enough, this was my last needed style to try until BA added Lager – Festbier just the day before so this is style #113 for me.
Sep 15, 2021
 
Rated: 3.79 by robotic_being from Illinois

Apr 04, 2021
 
Rated: 3.85 by Nunya from Ohio

Feb 16, 2020
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Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

3.94/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
First Happoshu, whatever that means.

This one pours a slightly murky brown color, with a small white head, and lots of lacing.

I don’t know what a happoshu is supposed to taste like. But this kinda feels pumpkin-ale-ish, with a fleshy sweet potato sweetness, some floral type character, and a bit of breadiness.

This is creamy, and pretty drinkable, with a slightly slick finish.

I didn’t know what to expect with this, and I also don’t know what to expect if I have another happoshu in my life. Aside from all that it was pretty tasty.
Feb 15, 2020
 
Rated: 3.63 by Trueprinceofgotham from California

Dec 30, 2019
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Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

4.04/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lovely clear brown body topped with a thick and frothy head; sticky sheets of foam adhere to the glass. Nice earthy and mildly sweet smell; a bit of caramel and brown sugar. A muted sweetness and caramel taste dominates the flavors; a smidgen of cola in the background; fine and subtle bitterness permeates it all. Medium body; softy prickly; semi-sweet overall.

This beer reminds me of a brown ale. It is nicely balanced and intriguingly complex. I do not know what sweet potatoes add to the beer overall, but there is no overt presence of them to be found. Good and righteous...
Dec 18, 2019
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.96/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sample from the brewer himself in Kawagoe near the brewery.
Clear brown - copper body with high clarity and a very good off-white head.
Medium body and carbonation.
Very good balance with a harmonious mix of flavors. Mild bitterness. Refreshing, excellent version of the style.
Oct 19, 2019
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

3.52/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L- Very deep chestnut brown. 3mm fine off-shite head clearing to lacing.
S- It has a distinctive and somewhat earthy aroma.
T- The flavour is also quite disctinctive, but then again it's the first beer I've had made with sweet potatoes! That said the difference is quite subtle, if I didn't know re: the sweet potatoes I wouldn't have guessed the recipe was that far off-piste.
F- It has as much body and mouthfeel as you'd expect from a 7.0%, it is over in the 'winter-warmer' category in my opinion. Very drinkable, nothing notable is out of place. I'd drink it again, though if I'd pay for it at the price I paid is another matter.
O- Above and beyond the Japanese mass-market beers, they really do produce some very interesting beers. They tend to be damned expensive, both over there, and I previously lived in Tokyo, so of course over here too. But what I notice, and appreciate is that the JPnese are perfectionists, and there is rarely if ever anything to find fault with in higher end beers like Coedo (Hitachino Nest, etc).
Bought from Amathus [drinks shop] Wardour Street, Soho, London W1. £3.90/333ml
Mar 08, 2019
 
Rated: 3.25 by Mattias from Sweden

Feb 14, 2019
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Reviewed by MyBar from California

3.68/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
From the bottle into a Reidel Overture Beer Glass paired with a black truffle gouda grilled cheese and creamy butternut squash soup topped with toasted pumpkin seeds.
L: A gorgeous Amber red color with a full fluffy head
S: Earthy, sweet with a balance of caramel and bitterness
T: Earthy, Hoppy tang with a lingering sweetness, great match for the truffle gouda
F: Rich bodied and well balanced but definitely a slow sipper at 7.0%ABV
O: Not something I would select regularly but definitely a treat with the right meal. Pretty cool that it's brewed with roasted Kintoki Sweet potatoes from Japan! Would pair well with mushrooms, Charcuterie, Salmon, Asparagus, Steak, Cheese, Chocolate Cake
Feb 08, 2019
 
Rated: 3.35 by StoutSnob40 from California

Oct 14, 2018
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Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois

3.42/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dirty brown color - cloudy and somewhat hazy. Thin tan head dissipates util there is about a quarter inch of velvety foam that lingers for some time. Solid head retention.

Aroma is interesting - there is some spice, bready malts, sweat potato, and some soapy vegetal hops. This is frankly unlike any beer I've ever smelled. Almost reminds me of an overly old spiced pumpkin ale ...

Taste has notes of bready malts initially - it tastes like a lager up front. You then get this spicy peppery note along with a sweet potato note and a bitter earthy finish.

Feel is light to medium bodied. The bitterness coats the mouth and leaves a lingering sensation in the back of the mouth. Mild to moderate carbonation.

Overall this is a truly unique beer - my first and only experience with Happoshu. This particular example is a solid beer - but would seem to me to be more of an acquired taste.
May 01, 2018
 
Rated: 3.25 by Howlader from Canada (AB)

Mar 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3.79 by Momon from Philippines

Feb 18, 2018
Beniaka from Coedo Brewery (Kyodo Shoji Koedo Brewery)
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 151 ratings