Hakusekikan Crystal Ale
Stone Iwamoto Co., Ltd / Hakusekikan Beer Restaurant BACCHUS

I had this one at Popeye's under the impression it was a barley wine, but I agree with the assessment that its most likely closest to a Belgian Strong Pale.

Rich golden body with a wispy off-white head, showing the graceful maturation that the past 8 years have added to this beer. Sweet, fruit aroma, with touches of honey and oak. Malt heavy flavour, with vanilla being strongly prominent throughout, with sweet honey backing it up. Its perhaps a touch one dimensional at this point and the vanilla is a touch too heavy, so I'd hazard a gues at saying that its peaked. Heavy, chewy mouthfeel and limited carbonation.

It was a neat experience to try a beer aged for this long, but perhaps others would hold up better?

I don't know of a good way to describe this beer well without resorting to wine. It tastes exactly like the beer equivalent of Sauternes. It's mild, sweet, a little syrupy, but somehow beautiful for all that. Lightly carbonated. No noticeable head.

Sampled on tap at Popeye in Tokyo, Japan.

This ale poured a hazy, golden brown color with off-white foam. The smell was very nice: sweet, malty, fruity, with a hint of alcohol. The taste was slightly sweet and malty with hints of hops, fruit (oranges?), caramel, and alcohol. The mouthfeel was light and airy, melting off the tongue. Heavenly. The body was medium and the carbonation low. This was quite an excellent ale! I really want more of this one.