Hinomaru Best Bitter Ale
Stone Iwamoto Co., Ltd / Hakusekikan Beer Restaurant BACCHUS

Had this at Popeye's in Ryogoku, Tokyo from an amazing patent-pending cold water cask system that works by funneling water around the inside of a cask, allowing bars without space for refrigeration or space to serve cask ale. Results in a very smooth pour without much head. This brew is a two-toned brown ale, dark at the top and light on the bottom, with absolutely no head. Bitter smell with a smooth cask texture. Roasted oat flavor comes through in both the initial and final stages of tasting. Overall, a decent bitter beer, but I was more intrigued by the cask system than anything else. I hope to see it implemented with some other higher quality brews.