Hitachino XH Extra High

Extra Strong 8% the most prominent thing on the label.. yet it's actually 8.5%.. you wouldn't get away with that in Aus. Even on ratebeer it's at 8.0% but .. haha.. read the Japanese bit. Unless they're measuring alcohol on a non-abv scale, this is more likely to put you over than it initially appears. Whoops.

The label suggests this one is brewed using more malts and hops than usual (yep), and matured for six months - well, this bottle's been there a bit longer so maybe even more so. It's maybe not in its prime this one to be honest and that, plus a mixed sort of experience with beers that market themselves only as high alcohol in the past, makes me a bit apprehensive here. Still, it's a tight fluffy head, and a pleasing strong ale dark colour.

After pouring, there's a bit of sourness here on the nose along with alcohol notes and malt, and the sourness makes me wonder about its age once again until I notice that this one has also been matured in both sake and shochu casks. This really does give it a pronounced funky character that I really dig alongside the nutty strong ale vibes. It's deep and complex and while I don't get a lot of the belgian yeast quality, it's all come across nicely as a package. Spicy caramel finish rounds out what is a complex and compelling beer, quite contrary to expectations.

Very, very interesting stuff.. can't wait to try more, and will visit next time in Japan. 8.0

Mash Tank 8 Belgian Ale

Via growler, courtesy of good mate Dave.

Look at him cradle that thing like a child. That's commitment.

Pretty cloudy sort of body on this one, though not out of keeping with the style. Very shy head, and nose more or less archetypal for these beers. Slightly on the sour side, saison-ish notes present.

It's slightly sour for a wit in terms of taste too - or perhaps just short of sweet for a belgian ale - but this isn't really a problem so much as a characteristic.

Not a lot more to say here - competent execution of a style I'm not 100% sold on, but respect nonetheless. 6.0

Birra del Borgo InBraNata

This.. was a belgian ale?

Really after drinking it I had no idea. Of the style, that is - the fact it's bad was pretty evident from the start. Why, you ask? Well, it's a lot of little things. The slightly odd, swampy yellow colour. The odour of fear and loathing that emanates from its unholy surface. The spiky aerated finish that nevertheless almost comes as a relief as it distracts you from the oddly rhubarb like taste and insipid malt.

This is the sort of beer that makes me wonder if I'm doing something wrong. It tastes like a bad brew, but I'm sure the bottle itself wasn't spoiled.

On the other hand, it's refreshing to have a beer that is quite clearly terrible for a change.. gives me more confidence in my ability to put together drinkable homebrew for a start. Now no more please. Horrid. 2.0