Minoh Beer

Opps, sorry, I must have dozed off. But it's time for another post.

As reported in Brews News, there is an Osaka Exhibition in the Tokyu Department store above Shibuya Station (8th floor of the west section). In among the chaff of okonomi-yaki and taco-yaki vendors there is a wee gem in the form of a booth from Minoh Beer of Osaka. I had occasion to pop in last night and try a couple of their wares.

The verdict is that their 9% DIPA (or WIPA as they were calling it, since in Japan W=double, get it?) is damned good. Damned good! As good or better than any of the rich, caramelly, highly hopped American micro-brew inspired ales you might have tried in your beery adventures. I talked to the brewer and she told me that the hops are all Perle and Cascade, which is interesting. It was certainly a very smooth bitterness and perfectly balanced. Reminded me of a Baird Red Rose Amber Ale on steroids or Dogfish head 90 minute IPA, which I once had the good fortune to try.

I tried the real-ale stout after that and it was insipid by comparison. I should have had them in the reverse order. It was a fine beer, smooth and dry with with subtle roast. But being much lower in body, flavour and overall bang-for-buck, I had to have another WIPA after that to send me on my way. They also had a pilsener and a weizen on tap, but it was simply not the right time or place.

I also snaffled a sip from a fellow-drinker of the Cabernet Ale. It was certainly very grapey, somewhat tart and sweet at the same time. I won't pretend that I would actually enjoy drinking this, but it is an interesting hybrid in the true sense of the word. My own feelings are that if you want beer, drink beer, if you want wine, drink wine. Old fashioned and fuddy-duddy you could call me. I am also a fruit beer sceptic with the exception of well-made lambics. But fruit infusions in regular pale ale's and the like invariably leave me underwhelmed. The fruit is usually a distraction more than anything else. Still, each to their own.