Pilsner
Hayashibune Yakurai Beer

Received this as part of a secret santa gift exchange. Really happy to have received something that is not available in the United States.

A - Poured into my Duvel tulip a crystal clear super dark straw hue, almost like a muddled gold, with a thin quater inch head that faded quickly to leave a light halo and thin wisps.

S - Aromas of faint cereal grains, light grassy hops, little bit of rice notes, really faint sweetness. Pretty neutral smelling and unoffensive.

T - Taste is definitely japanese. Decent amount of rice along with some pleasant sweetness. Hops are super super faint and grassy but practically nonexistent. Light malts, not really yeasty though there is some faint faint flashes of apple skin from the rice and malts that can happen in rice forward beers. Still though, nothing unpleasant.

M - Mouthfeel is nicely carbonated, bright, crisp, and clean.

O - Overall this was a shockingly good rice lager. Leaps and bounds better than Sapporo. Clearly a lot has changed with this beer over the past 13 years from when the first reviewer entered his information until I cracked this bottle. Doesn't taste gimmicky at all, however, I am still fairly certain the brewery is still owned by a tourism promotion board which is never really a good thing. Appearance was oddly dark for the style but every other aspect of this beer was very pleasant and enjoyable. Would go nice with some sushi or yakatori for sure.

Serving Type: Bottle

This is labeled a live yeast pilsner.

Slightly cloudy, with a white head. This beer is slightly sweet, with a cloudy dirty tissue paper flavor. Its very yeasty and the yeast is very unruly. This is a disaster of a beer. Obviously made as a tourist gimmick, as a tourism promotion board owns the brewery. I think they are just trying to capitalize on the all the hype surrounding brewers yeast being good for you.