Gokujō Classic Ale (Cedar Aged) Brewed For Isetan
Hitachino (Kiuchi) Brewery

Appearance: I don't usually comment on packaging, but this is one of the classiest looking bottles I've seen in a while: navy blue, linen-textured label with grey and white trim and "sugitaru shikomi" ("cedar barrel-aged") embossed in silver foil. Nice. The beer itself is a bold, hazy, cinnamony orange with a very small, light beige head. Tiny bubbles; sparse carbonation. Not much else to say.

Smell: Light, sappy cedar; almost potpourri-like combination of spice and fruity and floral esters; cinnamon and clove; apple cider; dried ginger; leafy and orange-zesty citric hops; slightly earthy yeast; sweet Crystal-ish malts. This is amazing. Very autumnal and complex, with each facet of the aroma coming together to create very interesting associations.

Taste: Thick and sweet, with a broad, sugary base. Notes of honey, golden pineapple, and pale grain glaze the palate, while zippy bitterness from the cedar and hops sneaks in the the back and the sides of the tongue. Earthy, fruity, bready, and enjoyable. Finish is dry and slightly yeasty, with a lingering sticky sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Soft and smooth, very well carbonated but slightly syrupy.

Drinkability: I expected this to be a bit drier considering the bottle says it uses "raw hops," and I do think this is a tad too sweet. Buut then this is a beer best sipped slowly, after dinner, in front of a nice, warm fire... or under the kotatsu, as the case may be.