Hamanasu Draft
Abashiri, K.K.

 

On the shelf this looked like a very interesting beer, and the backstory promised pure rosehip blossoms waving in a Japanese sea breeze. It turned out somewhat of a disappointment.

Appearance: The beer has a clear red color, similar to a rose wine. Very low carbonation, quickly dissipating foam.
Smell: A certain tartness, with strong tones of burnt caramel and moist earth. Do I taste some mushrooms? In any case, hints of ammonia. Wisps of rosehip are only present in the remote background. If we are looking at hamanasu flowers at all, it is through greasy binoculars, from a a far distance.
Taste: Rather flat, dry taste with little complexity. The flowery and slightly sweet hint of rosehip. Caramel and straw. The initial taste peters out quickly, leaving a somewhat grainy and unpleasantly dry aftertaste, with some sweetness of cheap candy. All in all, a rather awkward blend of taste components.
Mouthfeel: Light, one could say inconsequential, with a slightly puckery aftertaste. Almost no carbonation. Lies rather heavy on the stomach.
Overall: A disappointingly unimpressive lager. This is no undrinkable beer, but it is decidecly below average. The price point, the traditional Japanese backstory, and the promise of a rosehip infusion raise expectations far above what the beer actually offers. Will I try it again? Probably not.