Shikkoku
Coedo Brewery (Kyodo Shoji Koedo Brewery)

ShikkokuShikkoku
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From:
Coedo Brewery (Kyodo Shoji Koedo Brewery)
 
Japan
Style:
Schwarzbier
Ranked #121
ABV:
5%
Score:
82
Ranked #24,596
Avg:
3.61 | pDev: 10.8%
Reviews:
37
Ratings:
79
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 06, 2024
Added:
Jul 15, 2008
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  16
Shikkoku is a Japanese word that evokes the jet-black color of onyx, perfect for this enchantingly dark, slow-aged brew marked by an elegant, mellow flavor profile. Enigmatic shadows contrast sharply with the brightness of its fine, tea-colored head, while the fragrance of aromatic hops delights the nose. Two types of black malt join six other malt varieties for a black lager that is smooth, light, and balanced—never cloying. Japan proudly offers this dark jewel to stand among the best dark beers in the world.
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Ratings by nickd717:
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

4.17/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle acquired from an Asian market I went to for cheap seafood and then noticed, "Hmm, I haven't ticked this yet."

Now the brewer calls this jet black, and I'll almost give them that. Just some dark brown around the edges when it's held up to the light. A small tan head fades to a thick foam ring around the glass.

Big roasty aroma, charcoal-like and hinting at the beer's ashy dryness.

The flavor is great, rich yet balanced and not overblown. The roastiness dominates, lending campfire flavors, and some very slightly sweet caramel and chocolate malts sit behind that.

Nice palate, with some body to it but not at all heavy. Clean and crisp on the finish, with a medium level of carbonation.

From a brewery that has left me unimpressed in the past, let me just say that I am impressed with this one. It's an excellent example of the style, and one of the best beers I've had from Japan. Stood up to and even complemented some tri-tip I was eating at the time of this tick. A nice beer to appreciate on a night when I'm a one-tick pony (work to do). I can't believe the ratings are this low - this beer is solid!
Feb 01, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of ZebulonXZogg
Reviewed by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois

3.7/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours dark brown, khaki head with some spotty lacing. Snot factory gets some coffee and dark fruit. Very thin beer. As someone who doesn't drink many lagers, I found this to be different and pretty tasty too.
Mar 06, 2024
Photo of detgfrsh
Reviewed by detgfrsh from Texas

4.08/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From a bottle best by 2024.03.19. Black color with brown head. Smells of roasted malt. Medium body and slick feel. Roasted malt flavor with an earthy bitterness. This is a great Schwarzbier!
Nov 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4.13 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Oct 01, 2023
Photo of DanfromVan
Reviewed by DanfromVan from Canada (BC)

3.58/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Served in a Golden Draak Tulip with a busted stem (that balances perfectly on the right angle).
Quick and evaporating head on this one.
Nice nutty roasted nut aroma
Bubbly mouthfeel which I like.
A tiny bit thinner than I was expecting after the rich aroma, but still the best beer I have had from this brewery.
I could definitely do two in a row of these.
333 ml bottle 5% ABV
Jun 05, 2021
Photo of hk117
Reviewed by hk117 from Hong Kong

3.53/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
330ml bottle - deep roasted smell and flavour of a stout but the mouth feel and carbonation of a lager. Interesting but would likely prefer a good stout or a good lager over this depending on the day.
Aug 05, 2020
Photo of flyingpig
Reviewed by flyingpig from Scotland

3.71/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
333ml bottle from Beers of Europe (£3.79):
Opaque black with a foamy, tan brown head that's just under 1cm tall & fades after a minute or so. It's quite dark & roasted on the nose without being too strong; hints of coffee & an earthy bitterness follows with burnt notes to finish. The taste is similar, the coffee & earthy malt bitterness lead the way with some hints of chocolate sweetness & a grainy, almost oak taste to finish. The body is semi-dry & fairly smooth, sitting around medium but well-balanced & quite easy to drink too.
Jun 03, 2020
 
Rated: 3.88 by Nunya from Ohio

Mar 10, 2020
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

3.8/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
L- Jet black, zero light gets through the glass, even the edges, when held up right next to a halogen lamp. 5mm pale tan ultra-fine bubble head.
S- Coffee and toasty.
T- Coffee, quite light tasting ABV (blind-tasted I'd guess 4.8%). Nice balance, zero wrong to note.
F- Quite deep, versus refreshing, winter beer. Would go well with food. Rather light feel versus the prominent flavour.
O- Nice flavour, though the relatively low ABV% for the style doesn't bring the body to balance it. I'd love to try say a 6-6.5% version of this, I expect it'd come over very differently and reward better.
Feb 11, 2020
Photo of VoxRationis
Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York

4.25/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Served from a 11.26 oz (333 ml) bottle into a Teku glass at Kabooki Sushi in Orlando, Florida; bottled on 11/12/18.
A: Pours a very dark brown almost black color with mahogany highlights, a one to two finger, fluffy brown head, solid retention beyond a cap, and more modest lacing.
S: Aromas of chocolate, molasses, toffee and caramel.
T: More semisweet than semidry. Flavor palate follows the nose. Bitterness light with crisp, clean finish.
M: Light to medium bodied with strong carbonation. Creamy and smooth.
O: A delicious, richly flavorful example of the style.
Oct 22, 2019
Photo of flagmantho
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington

3.96/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from 330mL bottle into a tulip. Bottled 9/4/17, which is not fresh, per se, but is probably fine for a schwarzbier.

Appearance: rich, very dark-brown hue with a thin layer of tan foam atop. Head doesn't have much staying power, but the color is great.

Smell: nicely malty with a light roast character and some elements of toffee and caramel. I find it quite delightful.

Taste: a light roastiness and good, complex toffee-like flavors really shine through. The flavor is clean and crisp; a great example of a schwarzbier.

Mouthfeel: light body with a good carbonation and decent creaminess.

Overall: age does not appear to have affected this guy at all. It's a great example of the style.
Sep 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.59 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Aug 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.25 by Mattias from Sweden

Feb 14, 2019
 
Rated: 3.52 by Kurmaraja from California

Oct 19, 2018
 
Rated: 3.54 by morrowd3 from Vermont

Aug 31, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

Jul 26, 2018
 
Rated: 3.36 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Jul 21, 2018
Photo of Parmesan
Reviewed by Parmesan from Colorado

3.51/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
L: Pours a dark brownish back with a small creamy white head and no lacing.

S: Slight char and smoke mixed with toasted grain, some chocolate, slight note of sweet cherry. Aroma is fairly light.

T: Toasted grain, some smoke and ash, bittersweet chocolate, a light mineral note, some slight cherry.

F: Creamy and smooth.

O: Aroma is a little light but this is a decent beer.
Jul 07, 2018
 
Rated: 3.64 by RobinLee from Wisconsin

Jun 18, 2018
 
Rated: 3.89 by WickedBeer from Alabama

Jun 07, 2018
Shikkoku from Coedo Brewery (Kyodo Shoji Koedo Brewery)
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 79 ratings