Minoh Barrel Aged W-IPA is a 9.5% double IPA from Minoh Beer, based in Osaka, Kansai. It’s part of their annual limited edition range of beers, and this one is usually released late September / October time.
Okay, so some of you might have realised by now that Rob is the BeerTengoku powerhouse in these parts. I’m constantly amazed at how he can juggle two kids, craft beer writing and a full time job, and still have time in the day to tease me, make disgusting messes in his bathroom (if you’re Facebook friends you may have seen his recent beer volcano) and visit every damn hole in the wall he can fit his long-suffering liver into.
Meanwhile I live in a comparatively quiet area of Kanagawa, have a long daily commute by car and get home just in time to collapse in front of the TV for a couple of hours before bed. There’s also the issue that Rob is my main beer supplier, and unless it’s a beer that Rob doesn’t want to touch with a ten-foot barge pole (*cough*Ryuhyo Draft*cough*), he usually glugs them down and blarfs out a review rather than wait for ol’ slowcoach Robson to creak into activity.
Rob knows what I like, however, so he saved this special limited-edition beer for me to drink and review. And how do I repay him? By finishing the review a full six months after the beer has finished production (goddamn it, even the page on the Minoh website 404s when you visit it). Gratitude!
So, you’re probably not asking by now as this beer will be as rare as unicorn turds, how is it?
Minoh Barrel Aged W-IPA Aroma and Taste
Minoh Barrel Aged W-IPA pours out stealthily with no fanfare (please someone, make a beer that pours out with a fanfare). There’s also no head, but what there is is a nose that’s strong with dates, dried fruit and wood. Down it goes, and there’s a smooth, velvety texture and a taste of honey, brown sugar and malt. The aftertaste is slightly sour and bitter, but it doesn’t detract from the overall experience.
It’s a very robust beer, and the flavour retains its presence as you drink it. It also doesn’t taste like a 9.5% beer, so look out. It is, however, a very warming drink, and I think it would be a good beer to drink if you want to get into whisky, as it has all the sweetness and flavour of dried fruit without having the harshness of whisky.
Minoh Barrel Aged W-IPA One Line Review
Minoh Barrel Aged W-IPA takes the best of Ichiro’s Malt whisky and presents it in beer form. If you can find it by now, it’ll probably taste amazing. Let’s hope they make another batch.
