I have been patiently awaiting for Baird Ishii Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA 2015 after trying Baird’s Wabi Sabi Ale and being confused by the layers involved though my interest was piqued. Green tea and beer. Green tea and I didn’t have the best of introductions; after arriving in Japan back in 2004 and barely being able to read kanji, I picked up a bottle thinking it was apple juice. Cue spitting it out and not drinking it for ages until I tried some Itoen, the brand of champions. Then I saw this come up on the BeerTengoku twitter feed (@tengokubeer) and I sent emails off left, right, and centre, wondering if this was coming to Japan.
Cue February 14th. Baird Ishii Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA 2015 arrived in Japan, both at Bashamichi Taproom and Antenna America, both great craft beer places in Kannai among others. And off I went to get me some with kids in tow.
Baird Ishii Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA 2015 is the latest incarnation of a recipe that first started out in 2011 that seems to have gotten stronger since then, weighing in at over 10%, well 10.1%, compared to a 9.2% one back in 2011. It’s brewed with Japanese green tea and five varieties of hops, including the Japanese Sorachi Ace hop that is making a comeback.
10.1% of pure goodness in a bottle. We love Stone beer and Baird Beer, Ishii is a new one to us.
Baird Ishii Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA 2015 Aroma and Taste
Baird Ishii Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA 2015 was tried both on draft and in bottled form. The glass was bought for me years back as I spent so much on beers that a friend bought me a selection of craft beer glasses from across Japan and thought it would be apt to at least drink it from that. The beer poured out a deep amber orange colour with a slightly off-white head. Though nothing unusual there, the aroma coming off of Baird Ishii Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA 2015 was perplexing. My eyes could see it was a beer, my brain registered it was a beer, but my nose. My nose was playing tricks on me. First, green tea came through which then segued into a hoppy mango and lemon aroma.
With 10.1% of alcohol packed in, there was no discernible aroma of it, yet I knew I wasn’t safe with this beer. Strong beers are my weakness, in that I can only have one, maybe two, before the effects hit me. Baird Ishii Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA 2015 came on strong with a variety of hop character: citrus, pineapple and for some reason, herbs. So much so that I was taken aback. Then, without realising, a macha tea taste came through with a dry kick to it. Continue this while you’re drinking it and it became almost common sense that citrus flavours and green tea work well.
Baird Ishii Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA 2015 One Line Review
Baird Ishii Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA 2015 is another collaborative beer done well, along with the Coedo Coronado Ichiro’s Malt concoction that it’s hard to understand why it hasn’t been done before. Go buy it, try it, and savour it as it won’t be around for long.
Where to Buy Baird Ishii Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA 2015
Baird Ishii Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA 2015 can be bought at the Bashamichi Taproom in Kannai and the two Baird Taprooms in Shizuoka though it’s on limited release across Japan.
