Kinshachi Imperial Chocolate Stout
Land Beer

I bought this bottle as a Valentine's Day set with the Chocolate Weizen (which I will try soon) at Seibu department store in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Poured it into a glass goblet. Created an amazing chocolate-hued head and appeared nearly opaque in the glass, as any good chocolate stout should. There is a great chocolate aroma that comes off the brew, but sadly, that was about it. I was looking for hopefully some other surprises as well, but didn't find any. It is a great chocolate brew, but it lacks both the thicker mouthfeel that I expect with a chocolate stout as well as any other levels of enjoyment. Taste grew increasingly pleasant as it warmed in the room. I would recommend this for a taste, but I probably won't be running out to find it again.

A - Finger of creamy chocolate ice cream head and attractive meandering coastline of lacing atop a dark dark dark soy sauce color body. Filtered but still a very little residue at the bottom for flavor.

S - Yeasty bread smells with lots-o yummy chocolate roasted malts. Fresh Irish moss hops like the morning after a heavy rain in the woods.

T - Pleasant hoppy bitterness that is more than you'd expect in japan. Sweet and wholesome.

M - Medium body. Smooth and velvety like an emperor's robe. Perfect for an imperial stout.

D - Yummy, lovely but more importantly it lives up to the name. Too many people slap imperial or chocolate on a label and think it'll be good. This brewer made it true to style. Will buy again for sure.