Coedo Beniaka | Coedo Brewery (Kyodo Shoji Koedo Brewery)
Brewed by:
Coedo Brewery (Kyodo Shoji Koedo Brewery)
Japan
coedobrewery.com
Style: Happoshu
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Imperial Sweet Potato Amber.
Because of the use of sweet potato as a secondary ingredient, Japanese laws classify Coedo Beniaka as a Happoshu (malt beverage).
Added by Westsidebuddha on 05-07-2010
Reviews: 45 | Ratings: 109
Reviews by SargeC:
3.75/5 rDev +11.3%
SargeC, May 13, 2012
More User Reviews:
3.43/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
A: Pours from a 333ml bottle a clear amber under a thin (1/4") off-white head which fades slowly to the rim and leaves some splotchy lace.
N: Definite sweet potatoe, grainy/malty, ABV noted, slight caramel sweetness.
T: Bready malts, sweet potatoes, yeasty, overripe plum/raisins and slightly grassy/herbal.
M: Semi-moderate body and light carbonation. Finishes with a bit of boozy, malty, and vegetal.
O: A mildly sweet, boozy, and interesting style. First for me.
★ 469 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
A: Pours from a 333ml bottle a clear amber under a thin (1/4") off-white head which fades slowly to the rim and leaves some splotchy lace.
N: Definite sweet potatoe, grainy/malty, ABV noted, slight caramel sweetness.
T: Bready malts, sweet potatoes, yeasty, overripe plum/raisins and slightly grassy/herbal.
M: Semi-moderate body and light carbonation. Finishes with a bit of boozy, malty, and vegetal.
O: A mildly sweet, boozy, and interesting style. First for me.
★ 469 characters
4.23/5 rDev +25.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
While this is technically a happoshu, it really has nothing particular in common with any other happoshu. Happoshu is a tax bracket, not a beer style, and this site should probably reflect that.
It's a stretch to call this beer 'amber,' although I suppose if you've got 'imperial' in front of it then you could get away with it. But really it's brown. Thick, deep, mahogany brown with a camel-colored foam that doesn't really last. Smells delicious, though, with a cavalcade of 'roasty' aromas: sweet potatoes, chestnuts, pumpkin bread, and malted milk, along with some lovely dark fruit notes as well, namely blackcurrants and chocolate-covered cherries.
Tastes less sweet than it smells, although this is still decidedly malty, and actually reminds me of a really good bock. Flavors of chocolate, dried fig, blackcurrants, dark caramel, maple, and a hint of sherry all come tied up in a gorgeously smooth and rich (but not sickly) mouthfeel. Disappointingly, it doesn't have much of a sweet potato flavor – probably the malts are just getting in the way – but that's not such a big deal when the beer is so good anyway. Very tasty stuff. Possible food pairings: baba ganoush, horumon yaki, meatballs, foie gras, Alpine cheese.
★ 1,234 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
While this is technically a happoshu, it really has nothing particular in common with any other happoshu. Happoshu is a tax bracket, not a beer style, and this site should probably reflect that.
It's a stretch to call this beer 'amber,' although I suppose if you've got 'imperial' in front of it then you could get away with it. But really it's brown. Thick, deep, mahogany brown with a camel-colored foam that doesn't really last. Smells delicious, though, with a cavalcade of 'roasty' aromas: sweet potatoes, chestnuts, pumpkin bread, and malted milk, along with some lovely dark fruit notes as well, namely blackcurrants and chocolate-covered cherries.
Tastes less sweet than it smells, although this is still decidedly malty, and actually reminds me of a really good bock. Flavors of chocolate, dried fig, blackcurrants, dark caramel, maple, and a hint of sherry all come tied up in a gorgeously smooth and rich (but not sickly) mouthfeel. Disappointingly, it doesn't have much of a sweet potato flavor – probably the malts are just getting in the way – but that's not such a big deal when the beer is so good anyway. Very tasty stuff. Possible food pairings: baba ganoush, horumon yaki, meatballs, foie gras, Alpine cheese.
★ 1,234 characters
3.34/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.2/5 rDev -5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
Bottle
Thanks for the tick/gift, UCLABrewN84!
Dark copper color with very minimal light tan head. There's not a lot of visible carbonation and this leaves the glass nearly clean.
The aroma is a combination of caramel, bread, a bit of spice character, and vegetables (celery and tomato?).
The flavor is malty with some spice character to it, along with moderate bitterness and some celery flavor as well. Drinkable.
Medium bodied with low carbonation. I think the body of this beer brings the rest of it down.
Drinkable, but unexciting. It's nothing I'll revisit.
★ 568 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
Bottle
Thanks for the tick/gift, UCLABrewN84!
Dark copper color with very minimal light tan head. There's not a lot of visible carbonation and this leaves the glass nearly clean.
The aroma is a combination of caramel, bread, a bit of spice character, and vegetables (celery and tomato?).
The flavor is malty with some spice character to it, along with moderate bitterness and some celery flavor as well. Drinkable.
Medium bodied with low carbonation. I think the body of this beer brings the rest of it down.
Drinkable, but unexciting. It's nothing I'll revisit.
★ 568 characters
3.43/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This one is a sort of medium-dark brown with a hint of violet in the body and some ruby in the very thinnest edges. The head is off-white, pretty small but fairly firm at the layer that stands up for the duration. Lacing consists almost exclusively of light spotting, but some little legs go out here and there.
There's some caramel in the nose, seemingly from the malts and a little sweetness. The potato itself is evident. There is an unfortunate, though not heavy, vegetal note.
The flavor pulls together nicely; malts form a good backbone with some caramel sweetness, the sweet potato makes a good showing, and there even seems to be a bit of alcoholic sweetness as well. I'm not sure what the yeast content is, but it seems to be contributing a different sort of earthiness and light sweetness of its own. It's pretty bready in the malts, too.
The body is lighter than some might expect, though it reaches a firm medium. It's a bit too carbonated, but it holds the malts well. It's lightly crisp and decently smooth, keeping up almost entirely to the end.
Maybe there are better Happoshu beers out there, but from how little seems to be out there, probably not. Then again, I've never been to Japan.
★ 1,204 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This one is a sort of medium-dark brown with a hint of violet in the body and some ruby in the very thinnest edges. The head is off-white, pretty small but fairly firm at the layer that stands up for the duration. Lacing consists almost exclusively of light spotting, but some little legs go out here and there.
There's some caramel in the nose, seemingly from the malts and a little sweetness. The potato itself is evident. There is an unfortunate, though not heavy, vegetal note.
The flavor pulls together nicely; malts form a good backbone with some caramel sweetness, the sweet potato makes a good showing, and there even seems to be a bit of alcoholic sweetness as well. I'm not sure what the yeast content is, but it seems to be contributing a different sort of earthiness and light sweetness of its own. It's pretty bready in the malts, too.
The body is lighter than some might expect, though it reaches a firm medium. It's a bit too carbonated, but it holds the malts well. It's lightly crisp and decently smooth, keeping up almost entirely to the end.
Maybe there are better Happoshu beers out there, but from how little seems to be out there, probably not. Then again, I've never been to Japan.
★ 1,204 characters
3.43/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Deep amber colored brew with a pale white head, poured into a nonic ten ounce glass. 4.25
Smells quite a bit like sweet potato and it’s not unpleasant. Different. Kind of nice. Also has an odd yeasty presence that reminds me of my heavy-drinking days, is kind of pungent and acrid, and also kind of reminds me of vodka. It’s pretty much the way a lot of beers smelled before I’d tasted a great beer. 3
Sweet potato makes it to my taste buds and again, I’m pleasantly surprised. Also has a quality like sake. There’s got to be rice in here. It’s got the feel and the taste. And it’s kind of caramelly and bread sweet. Some floral notes are there in the mix too. It’s interesting and not bad at all. 3.5
Okay, I do have one beef. This thing feels hot and sake-like. Seriously, there’s a sake quality to this. The mouthfeel is a bit numbing almost. Beyond that it’s sweet, kind of sticky and finishes with a bitter dryness. 3.5
This ain’t bad at all. I’d drink it again.
★ 995 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Deep amber colored brew with a pale white head, poured into a nonic ten ounce glass. 4.25
Smells quite a bit like sweet potato and it’s not unpleasant. Different. Kind of nice. Also has an odd yeasty presence that reminds me of my heavy-drinking days, is kind of pungent and acrid, and also kind of reminds me of vodka. It’s pretty much the way a lot of beers smelled before I’d tasted a great beer. 3
Sweet potato makes it to my taste buds and again, I’m pleasantly surprised. Also has a quality like sake. There’s got to be rice in here. It’s got the feel and the taste. And it’s kind of caramelly and bread sweet. Some floral notes are there in the mix too. It’s interesting and not bad at all. 3.5
Okay, I do have one beef. This thing feels hot and sake-like. Seriously, there’s a sake quality to this. The mouthfeel is a bit numbing almost. Beyond that it’s sweet, kind of sticky and finishes with a bitter dryness. 3.5
This ain’t bad at all. I’d drink it again.
★ 995 characters
3.47/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
11.25oz bottle, 2 cup Pyrex, 14.12.11 on the back label.
The color is russet, like sweet potatoes and brown sugar mashed. There isn't much head to speak of, just a collection of off-white bubbles that cover half the top.
It's a very sweet aroma and the sweet potatoes come through, smelling like they're mixed with the aforementioned brown sugar. Alcohol is also apparent, though not harsh.
Sweet, sugary, with an earthiness in the back. Finishes musky and bitter from the alcohol.
Velvety, not very carbonated.
This is a hard beer to rate. I don't know the Happoshu style well, but I believe it usually refers to beers cut largely with rice or more benign adjuncts. This is a creative iteration that is much like a Doppelbock in my eyes. Quite tasty and will go anywhere a Doppelbock will!
★ 799 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
11.25oz bottle, 2 cup Pyrex, 14.12.11 on the back label.
The color is russet, like sweet potatoes and brown sugar mashed. There isn't much head to speak of, just a collection of off-white bubbles that cover half the top.
It's a very sweet aroma and the sweet potatoes come through, smelling like they're mixed with the aforementioned brown sugar. Alcohol is also apparent, though not harsh.
Sweet, sugary, with an earthiness in the back. Finishes musky and bitter from the alcohol.
Velvety, not very carbonated.
This is a hard beer to rate. I don't know the Happoshu style well, but I believe it usually refers to beers cut largely with rice or more benign adjuncts. This is a creative iteration that is much like a Doppelbock in my eyes. Quite tasty and will go anywhere a Doppelbock will!
★ 799 characters
3.49/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.27/5 rDev -3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.25
Pours coppery brown with a small head.
Sweet potato is quite prominent in the aroma, but also some sweet malt. very interesting.
Lots of sweet potato as a flavour too. A hit of booze ruins things a little though. Again, quite sweet.
Body feels a bit flat, need a lot more carbonation to cut the sweetness.
★ 305 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.25
Pours coppery brown with a small head.
Sweet potato is quite prominent in the aroma, but also some sweet malt. very interesting.
Lots of sweet potato as a flavour too. A hit of booze ruins things a little though. Again, quite sweet.
Body feels a bit flat, need a lot more carbonation to cut the sweetness.
★ 305 characters
3.44/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.35/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
So this is my first Happoshu. Not sure what to expect here, this sweet potato concoction, but here goes. Poured into a nonic pint glass. Heard some horrid things about Happoshu, however this is Codeo and have managed to enjoy at least their Hefeweizen.
Out of the bottle is watery sounding pour, a bit of slap slap as the beverage enters the glass. Deep amber plum like red body, highly murky and cloudy. Barely makes half a finger of tan head, to fall to a filmy puck. Manages to maintain at least a tan collar that is about three millimeters thick and resembling at least a beer.
Sweet malts, kind of maraschino sticky cherry, and alcohol fussel like heat and warmth. Really not much else going on, but definitely sweet and getting into malt liquor like realm.
Surprisingly very light bodied, nearly crisp. Sweetness comes with a minimal subdued mouthfeel, but there's some hint of crackling toast and grains here, maybe even some caramel sweetness. Once again, jarred sugar cherries and plum like fruit, but kind of cheap tasting.
The most interesting thing, is I thought this was going to be an alcohol malt liquor sugar bomb but it's actually well hidden and drinks real easily. Most of the happoshu I've heard about is a canned cheap swill beverage, but this is a little different even if it's not really looking that appealing.
★ 1,338 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
So this is my first Happoshu. Not sure what to expect here, this sweet potato concoction, but here goes. Poured into a nonic pint glass. Heard some horrid things about Happoshu, however this is Codeo and have managed to enjoy at least their Hefeweizen.
Out of the bottle is watery sounding pour, a bit of slap slap as the beverage enters the glass. Deep amber plum like red body, highly murky and cloudy. Barely makes half a finger of tan head, to fall to a filmy puck. Manages to maintain at least a tan collar that is about three millimeters thick and resembling at least a beer.
Sweet malts, kind of maraschino sticky cherry, and alcohol fussel like heat and warmth. Really not much else going on, but definitely sweet and getting into malt liquor like realm.
Surprisingly very light bodied, nearly crisp. Sweetness comes with a minimal subdued mouthfeel, but there's some hint of crackling toast and grains here, maybe even some caramel sweetness. Once again, jarred sugar cherries and plum like fruit, but kind of cheap tasting.
The most interesting thing, is I thought this was going to be an alcohol malt liquor sugar bomb but it's actually well hidden and drinks real easily. Most of the happoshu I've heard about is a canned cheap swill beverage, but this is a little different even if it's not really looking that appealing.
★ 1,338 characters
3.33/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Bottle at Samurai Mama, Brooklyn, NY
A: The beer is clear dark reddish amber in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with just a few bubbles on the surface and a very thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of sweet potatoes in the nose; these become a little stronger as the beer warms up.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has lots of flavors of sweet potatoes and a slight amount of sweetness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a low to moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer style is definitely unique and sweet potato is more interesting as an adjunct malt compared to corn and rice. It definitely tastes a lot more flavorful compared to Japanese rice lagers.
★ 749 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Bottle at Samurai Mama, Brooklyn, NY
A: The beer is clear dark reddish amber in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with just a few bubbles on the surface and a very thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of sweet potatoes in the nose; these become a little stronger as the beer warms up.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has lots of flavors of sweet potatoes and a slight amount of sweetness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a low to moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer style is definitely unique and sweet potato is more interesting as an adjunct malt compared to corn and rice. It definitely tastes a lot more flavorful compared to Japanese rice lagers.
★ 749 characters
Coedo Beniaka from Coedo Brewery (Kyodo Shoji Koedo Brewery)
3.37
out of 5
based on 109 ratings.