Hideji Stout
Hideji Beer

Appearance: Pours a beautiful jet black with a half-inch fizzy head. There is more carbonation present than in generic stouts such as Guinness.

Smell: A "milky" aroma is a good description. Chocolate is heavily apparent and there is a hint of caramel.

Taste: A sweet roasted flavor dominates early. Dark chocolate and caramel flavors then punctuate the after taste.

Mouth feel: A very refreshing beer. Carbonation can be felt when the beer first hits the tongue. Unfortunately, the finish is a bit "watery."

Overall: This is by far the most interesting take on the style I've experienced in Japan. A heavy reliance on chocolate for the taste and smell really set it apart. I almost think they should have called this beer a "chocolate stout." The mouth feel can seem a bit watery. Fortunately, the after taste is so good that the lack of a strong finish does not present much of a problem. This is definitely a beer I would buy again when in the Miyazaki area. Those living in Japan can purchase directly from the brewer's web site.