Shonan Beer Barrel Aged Belgian Stout is a 10.5% Belgian stout from Kumazawa Shuzo, based in Kanagawa, Japan. What Kumazawa Shuzo have done is taken their regular Belgian Stout and it has been aged in Ichiroās Malt bourbonĀ casks ā something that happens with all of the beers in the Tengu series. As such, itās sold in limited amounts though it can be found on tap at their annual Oktoberfest ā well worth a trip down. At the time of writing, itās unknown whenĀ Shonan Beer Barrel Aged Belgian Stout will appear again though weāve been told it will do.
Shonan Beer Barrel Aged Belgian Stout Aroma and Taste
I didnāt mean to openĀ Shonan Beer Barrel Aged Belgian Stout ā I was sitting at home, watching the world go by and fancied a stout. Something was calling me ā perhaps keeping it under the house for yonks meant it was desperate to get out. Eventually it did and Iāll tell you, Iām happy I did get it out of the cellar.
Shonan Beer Barrel Aged Belgian Stout poured out a thick black syrup-like gloop, and produced a massive amount of frothy, tan-like head, that faded slowly to a head of a few millimetres that clung to the glass. It had a rich creamy aroma with strong hints of bourbon from the casks it had been stored in, along with hints of vanilla and cocoa, along with hints of dried fruit.Ā The best way to describe it would be to get a Christmas pudding, douse it in bourbon, light itĀ then liquify the whole lot and pour it into a bottle and youād end up coming close to with this.
When Shonan Beer make a good beer, they do it andĀ withĀ Shonan Beer Barrel Aged Belgian Stout, they hit it the ball out of the park. Itās quite light for a stout, but then it is Belgian stout, so it does lack that gloopy-stick-to-your-ribs effect that comes with an imperial stout. Flavours of caramel, burnt toffee, chocolate, and some hints of Belgian funk come through, with the bourbon flavours soothing the throat when the beer has warmed up. Itās all so well-balanced that you forget itās 10+%. Just wish I had some cheesecake to go with thisā¦
Shonan Beer Barrel Aged Belgian Stout The Bottom Line
Shonan Beer Barrel Aged Belgian Stout is simply one of the best barrel aged beers Iāve had ā ever. Please please please buy it when it comes out again.
Where to BuyĀ Shonan Beer Barrel Aged Belgian Stout
Shonan Beer Barrel Aged Belgian Stout is a limited edition beer and as such, there is no guarantee when it will be on sale again.