Hakusekikan Shizen Bakushu
Stone Iwamoto Co., Ltd / Hakusekikan Beer Restaurant BACCHUS

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From:
Stone Iwamoto Co., Ltd / Hakusekikan Beer Restaurant BACCHUS
 
Japan
Style:
Lambic
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.94 | pDev: 10.15%
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
12
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 15, 2012
Added:
Jun 09, 2009
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  0
Spontaneous fermentation but with "wine yeast was added to the bottle for conditioning."
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Photo of falloutsnow
Reviewed by falloutsnow from Illinois

3/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
From: Wally's Wines in LA, CA
Date: None on bottle/label
Glass: Drei Fonteinen gueuze glass

Definitely a different take on a wild ale, with little of the defining acidity, oak, or non-S. cerevisiae yeast complexities I've come to expect from the style. I'm interested in the brewing process for this beer, and am glad to see some brewers in Japan have taken that country's long history of wild yeast usage to beer production. The result in this brew, though, was just average in my perception. This is not to say this is a bad beer, but just not one that truly surprised my palate or taught me something new to do with the brewing process. Would probably not seek this out again.

A hard pour produces a head of clean, white bubbles at a height of 0.5cm. The head quickly falls to a thin ring around the glass, leaving small amounts of residual lacing (a few dots and streaks here and there) along the sides of the glass. The body is a hazy golden yellow color, with light bringing out the tones of pale hay. Carbonation is nowhere visible.

Aroma of proofed yeast, popcorn, and sweetish malts dominates, with a closely second soured grains and a bit of acridity in the background. Not exactly a strong aroma, aside form the yeast and general sweetness. Rather different form what I've come to expect from wild ales, so interesting in that regard, but not exactly delicious or enticing to my palate.

Front of palate picks up some Brettanomyces composting hay-like funk, with heavy proofed yeast and a backdrop of malt sweetness. Mid-palate finds continued yeastiness, more subtle Brettanomyces, with an addition of something popcorn-like and sustained malt sweetness. Back of palate finds some mild stomach acid flavor with obvious acridity, but it's fairly minimal amidst the backdrop of yeast and malt sweetness. Lingering aftertaste of slightly sweet yeast, a tad of Brettanomyces influence, and modest popcorn.

Beer is medium-light in body, with minimal, subtle carbonation. The resulting mouthfeel is smooth and somewhat watery, surprisingly clean for a wild ale. Finishes cleanly and dryly with little hint of lingering acidity.
Oct 15, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Oct 10, 2012
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
The pour is a hazy golden/yellow color with a tall white head. Smells really, really funky. Rice, anise, lots of barnyard, and tons of yeast. Sort of a sake like aroma to it. A bit of citrus and bread, too. Light lactic tartness on the back end. The flavor is similarly interesting. Intense funk of yeast and bacteria. Sake, rice, light mildew, and barnyard. Definite anise, some malt, citrus peel, and lemon. I actually thought this was pretty good.
Aug 13, 2012
Photo of RblWthACoz
Reviewed by RblWthACoz from Pennsylvania

3.67/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Any beer labeled lambic (or wild ale), is one I am game to try. And if it's from Japan?? All the more reason. This was certainly unique, but for a lot of reasons I am not entirely digging. I am routinely down for trying odd and unusual foods (or beers) from different areas, but this beer strikes me as too far eastern struck. The honey tones...interesting, I suppose. But none of this really hits me as pleasant. The beer makes me think too much. And I already do that enough as it is.
Aug 06, 2012
 
Photo of UCLABrewN84
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

3.72/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
My first unblended lambic and oddly enough it's from Japan.

Pours a slightly murky watery brown with a 1 inch white head that fades to an oily cap. No lacing whatsoever. Smell is of grains, spices, citrus, and yeast. Taste is very yeast forward (almost Belgian yeast flavored), grains, and lemony/citrus flavors. No real funky or tart smells or flavors on this one. A good level of carbonation with a crisp and smooth mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but not what I was expecting at all.
Aug 23, 2011
Photo of augustgarage
Reviewed by augustgarage from California

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 330mL bottle into my Drie Fonteinen tumbler.

Not quite clear arylide yellow liquid topped by a thin layer of ivory foam. Minimal lacing, faint tears, average retention (for the style).

Very sweet biscuity malt aromatics bring to mind mead and faro. A lemon-y background note is present as well.

Dry, mineral-laden, woody flavor profile - herbal but not bitter, malty but not sweet - not especially tart or funky, though there is a slight "wild" note that distinguishes this from a lager, which it resembles in some ways. Evolves little into the finish, though there is perhaps a bit more winter fruit present.

Light bodied with sufficient carbonation.

A simple carefully crafted beer with little in common with the listed style, though it embodies a pleasing connection to nature.
Jul 18, 2011
Photo of slayer3604
Reviewed by slayer3604 from California

4.37/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Wonderful little "Lambic" from Japan that was cracked open at work to try out;

had a very pale almost pear juice color to it with a lot of haziness, capped by a small white head that started huge and settled to about a finger's width.

smelled like grass, pear, vanilla and lighter sweet malts followed by a musty barnyardiness that was very pleasing and melded well together.

tastes very balanced, even with the 'tart'ness that came forth, and was supported on all sides by crisp fruit.

very light mouthfeel. i wish it was a little more firm.

i could drink this all day. Very nice beer and highly recommended.
Oct 09, 2010
Photo of Mora2000
Reviewed by Mora2000 from Texas

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to blutt59 for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a murky light yellow color with a white head. The aroma is wheat with some light tartness. The flavor is tart with sour lemons and sour wheat notes. Overall, a relatively low level of tartness but the finish is quite tart. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.
May 18, 2010
Photo of Halcyondays
Reviewed by Halcyondays from California

4.3/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
330 mL bottle,

A: Pours a relatively clear yellow with a puffy, soapy head. Very good head retention, spotty lace.

S: Definite bananas with vanilla ice cream, notes of lemon and cotton candy, intriguing.

T: Goes more into traditional wild ale flavours than the nose entailed. Lemons for sure, tangerine, green apples with a noticable lactic acidity, kombucha like almost. Hay-like hops come in at the finish, with traditional wild yeast funk, wool, sweaty sock flavours. Fruity upfront, acidic mid-palate, hoppy and funky end sums it up.

M: Soft carbonation, moderate but easy acidity, not going to rip your tongue out like La Folie, nice long aftertaste for this style. Off-dry, there is still a bit of residual sugar left in there.

D: I didn't know what to expect with a Japanese lambic, but I'm always up for a new spontaneously fermented beer. The Japanese craft brewers are really doing some great and interesting experimentation, this is no exception. I think any champagne lover would get a kick out of this as it's got a wine-like quality, and it's well on par with the likes of Temptation and Belgian gueuze.
Jan 10, 2010
Photo of FACEMEAT
Reviewed by FACEMEAT from California

4.57/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 Oz. bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Pours a slightly hazy golden amber with a big white wispy head. Leaves a good ammount of lacing.

S: Funky wild yeast earthiness and bright apple aromas.

T: Wow. Leave it to the Japanese to perfect a Belgian style wild yeast ale. Big granny smith apple tartness with a delightful earthy wild yeast funk.

M: Medium-light body with a lot of effervescence to cleanse the palate and leave you wanting more.

D: Yes, please!
Nov 02, 2009
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.86/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Nuit De Japon at Dieu De Ciel, and one of two beers enjoyed on tap from this unique brewer. Wild yeast and open fermentation. Dark colour with noticeable lace. Funky aroma. Carbonation is right there (glad I waited a couple hours). Mouthfeel OK. Taste is wine, grapey with chocolate malt.
Jun 09, 2009
Hakusekikan Shizen Bakushu from Stone Iwamoto Co., Ltd / Hakusekikan Beer Restaurant BACCHUS
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 12 ratings