The Far East - Barrel Aged Imperial House IPA
Tamamura Honten
- From:
- Tamamura Honten
- Japan
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
- ABV:
- 16%
- Score:
- +2 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.16 | pDev: 13.46%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 13, 2024
- Added:
- Mar 15, 2013
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 2
NO SCORE
-
-
Aged in Ichiro's Malt whisky barrels
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by amano_h from Oregon
4.16/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Barrel-aged IPAs seem to be stubborn nails to hit right on the head, especially in the current market where the prevailing trend is to brew IPAs as bitter and flavorful as possible while maintaining a consistent dryness throughout the drinking experience. Whereas some have bravely tried and came short, (i.e. Founders Brewing Doom) most brewers are now seemingly concentrating their efforts in aging darker ales where sweetness is objectively considered acceptable and in some cases widely encouraged.
But of course, such is not the case with Tamamura Honten. It seems that every year The Far East seems to be getting closer and closer to achieving a perfect harmony between the intensely oak-like and mellow maltiness of Ichiro's Malt Whisky and the aggressively orange-peel, pine-y and c-hop charged bitterness of Shiga Kogen's semi-year round House IPA.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The whisky prevails in this year's rendition as expected, but there's a surprising amount of hops that shine through with each sip; whereas the aroma is unmistakably rich toffee with a hint of smoke and charred wood, there's a whole lot of resin, bright citrus peel, and spruce that come out of hiding once the dominating whisky flavors have had a chance to acclimate.
The big picture--however convoluted--in a nutshell is that this in essence is more of a malt-forward traditional East Coast IPA, if such an East Coast IPA was brewed with West Coast hops and relied on whisky for all its malt flavor. Either way, I'm loving this beer to my bones.
Jul 10, 2017But of course, such is not the case with Tamamura Honten. It seems that every year The Far East seems to be getting closer and closer to achieving a perfect harmony between the intensely oak-like and mellow maltiness of Ichiro's Malt Whisky and the aggressively orange-peel, pine-y and c-hop charged bitterness of Shiga Kogen's semi-year round House IPA.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The whisky prevails in this year's rendition as expected, but there's a surprising amount of hops that shine through with each sip; whereas the aroma is unmistakably rich toffee with a hint of smoke and charred wood, there's a whole lot of resin, bright citrus peel, and spruce that come out of hiding once the dominating whisky flavors have had a chance to acclimate.
The big picture--however convoluted--in a nutshell is that this in essence is more of a malt-forward traditional East Coast IPA, if such an East Coast IPA was brewed with West Coast hops and relied on whisky for all its malt flavor. Either way, I'm loving this beer to my bones.
Reviewed by John_Henry from Japan
3.5/5 rDev -15.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.5/5 rDev -15.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
The bottle also reads: "Aged in Barrels of Ichiro's Malt CHICHIBU The Floor Malted". I that maybe this is aged in the barrels from chichiba distillery.
Whilst this is labeled an Imperial IPA, for me it's closer to an American Barley wine, but I listed the beer style as written on the bottle.
A: Pours with no head, little carbonation, and slightly cloudy. A good dark gold colour, almost amber.
S: Very little smell, but what you get is what you taste, quite sweet, almost honey like, sweet alcahol. No hops at all, that I can note.
T: For me this is an American Barley wine, and tastes very similar to other US Barley wines I've had. That said, I am a fan of Barley wine so this is sitting very well with me. Smooth sweet, with hints of whisky, a little kick from the 13%!! but overall very easy going and dangerously drinkable.
M: Pretty smooth with the low carbonation, high alcohol and sweetness.
O: Very interesting beer. I'm personally not sure whats going on with the style, but I don't believe that to be important. This is definitely worth trying if you have the opportunity.
Mar 15, 2013Whilst this is labeled an Imperial IPA, for me it's closer to an American Barley wine, but I listed the beer style as written on the bottle.
A: Pours with no head, little carbonation, and slightly cloudy. A good dark gold colour, almost amber.
S: Very little smell, but what you get is what you taste, quite sweet, almost honey like, sweet alcahol. No hops at all, that I can note.
T: For me this is an American Barley wine, and tastes very similar to other US Barley wines I've had. That said, I am a fan of Barley wine so this is sitting very well with me. Smooth sweet, with hints of whisky, a little kick from the 13%!! but overall very easy going and dangerously drinkable.
M: Pretty smooth with the low carbonation, high alcohol and sweetness.
O: Very interesting beer. I'm personally not sure whats going on with the style, but I don't believe that to be important. This is definitely worth trying if you have the opportunity.
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