Country of Origin: United States
Availability: Not listed as such, but I believe this is a limited edition available only in select markets.
Price comparison: About $2 more (per twelve ounces) than the average domestic national brand.
Alcohol percentage by volume: Unlisted; at a guess, less than 6%
Cute bottle/label? Twenty-two ounce brown glass bottle with an image of Iron Chef Morimotosan in traditional Asian garb silkscreened directly to the bottle.
Appearance: Chocolatey brown with small head and some lace.
Scent: Definitely hazelnut, with undertones of cocoa and smooth coffee.
Flavor: Slight nuttiness without being overpowering, peppery hops at the finish. More malt in the flavor as it warmed.
Impressions: Allez taverne!
Sorry, I couldn't resist. Can you blame me?
This was a nice little treat. Very drinkable; I finished the whole bottle in no time, with no ill effects. Ironically, I think this is too brusque to match with the more delicate styles of Japanese cuisine, but it would complement hibachi fairly well, and would also pair well with red meat or game. If you're a vegetarian, don't have this with dinner, wait and have it with dessert instead; I found it went surprisingly well with chocolate ice cream.
Will I buy this beer again? I'm learning my lesson. I liked this enough that I want some more; therefore, I must buy it now in case it is indeed a limited edition. I don't know how well it will mature, but I do know that Rogue brewery uses special capping processes to absorb oxygen and the malt-to-hops balance was such that I don't see it corking off or getting skunky; it should be quite stable to hang onto, at least for a little while.
Rating:
4 out of 5 cute beer glasses
Reviewed: May 26, 2004
