Karasu
Abnormal Beer Company

 

pretty fun style fusion here, have to say i was a little dubious to hear of a japanese schwarzbier, and im not even sure it drinks like the japan aspect is all that evident, but its cool just the same. they brew this coal black lager with rice, a neat idea for a beer like this, add some strach and earthy character but keep the body light and the beer dry, its a nice touch, even if its as much feel as it is flavor. this is my first beer from abnormal, and its both innovative and impressively well executed. the head on this is remarkably white, very high contrast, less mocha and tan and all that, more just off white, airy and pretty on the dark base, very low viscosity apparent. the nose and taste have some real roast to them, good espresso, raisin, dark cocoa and chocolate malt alike too, but very little caramel malt middle which i love, this is where the rice does its thing, dry where a lot of these get richer, and there is a distictly german aspect to the malt too. i found this bitter also and not just from the roast and the coffee character, but also from hops, almost northwestern, not quute black ipa, but its hoppy too, and even though the lager yeast seems relatively mellow overall, there is a lot going on in this beer, its impressively dynamic. i get some cool fermentation crispness, pleasant chocolate on the swallow, a little froth to the body but smooth and easy too. i loved this, think is exceptionally well made, and it makes me want more of their beer. this is both awesome as schwarzbier but also sort of in a space all of its own, a new space, really fun!

Clear yet very dark mahogany body; decent head, one-finger thick, dense and creamy with some stickiness; nice sheets of foam form an inner curtain inside the glass. Delicate dark roasted grain scent; mildly sweet. Fairly rich flavor; subtle notes of cocoa with a touch of vanilla on the back-end; moderate bitterness develops and finishes nicely with the subtle sweetness. Medium-light body; silky; semi-sweet with a light dryness at the finish.

A tasty dark lager rice beer utilizing rice, Northern Brewer and Saaz hops (with a couple of other varietals).
A nice, easy drinking beer that is better than the sum of its parts.

Pouring temperature: 46 °F; canning info: BEST BY 03/03/23 LAGER BUDDIES; collaboration with Eppig Brewing

 

 

Like the ruler the head mistress used to slap you with, this one is straight down the line good. No pomp. No fuss. No Instagram influencer photoshop… It is just a perfectly fine beer for a perfectly fine day. Like Yasujirō Ozu pouring green tea over his rice, it’s a winner.