Taiko Ale
Iki-iki Beer, K.K.

Appearance: Dark maple syrupy brown-brick red with orangey garnet highlights. Small, lumpy, bubbly head, beige-parchment in color with mediocre retention.

Smell: Sweet malts, dark fruit, dark chocolate, roasted nuts, twelve-grain bread, and mild, estery hops.

Taste: Balanced but thick, hoppy and bitter but with a nice, toasty, grainy, malty substance.

Mouthfeel: Thick but not too cloying or syrupy. Carries the flavor well.

Drinkability: Very drinkable and tasty, though I don't know if I'd call this an IPA... maybe more like a double amber? It's darker than most IPAs and it's also less hoppy. But whatever... the bottom line is, it's a very good beer, with a bold flavor that's somewhat rare in Japan, even among craft breweries.

Sampled on tap at Popeye in Tokyo.

This IPA poured a slightly hazy, amber (reddish) color with nice, creamy, off-white foam that left good lace on the glass. The smell was sweet malt, but faint. The taste was malty with some floral hops and a bitter hop finish. This is definitely an IPA in the English tradition. The mouthfeel was smooth and crisp with medium body and carbonation. This was a very nice and drinkable IPA.