Furano Beer Light Lager
Streek Bieren Iwamizawa Bakushukan

Served up in a bottle with a pretty green label with a simple scene of flower fields in Biei, Hokkaido. The bottle says that this beer uses barley from Furano, a city neighboring Biei. Ingredients are: barley malt and hops.

The beer's looks are quite unimpressive, but the smell is pretty amazing. Rivaling a high-potency IPA in real hop fragrance, the sweet, flowery smell fills the nose. Slight flower aftertaste as well. The

The beer itself has something of a hop taste, but paradoxically not a strong kick whatsoever. The sweet taste reminds more of flowers, lavender coming to mind. Slight flower aftertaste as well. The overall character of the beer is perhaps a combination of lavender and hops, creating a unique and distinct taste. Good unity.

However, the mouthfeel element is definitely needed in this lager; without it, the flowery, hoppy taste and smell leaves a somewhat shallow impression, like the promise of the beer couldn't be delivered.

Interesting though, I'd like to try this on tap.