Tamamura Honten Yamabushi Grand Rouge is a 6% fruit beer from Tamamura Honten, makers of the Shiga Kogen range of beers, based in Nagano, Japan. It’s a limited edition beer and available from mid-April on an annual basis. Like the other beers in the Yamabushi range, it’s based on a saison, though this one has had blueberries and raspberries infused during the secondary fermentation stage. At the time of writing, it’s available in bottles only though I suspect it has to be on tap somewhere in Japan.
Fruity and sour.
Tamamura Honten Yamabushi Grand Rouge Aroma and Taste
Tamamura Honten Yamabushi Grand Rouge poured out a light pinkish yellow colour with lashings of frothy white head on top. It kind of looked somewhat like rosé champagne. It had a crisp aroma of berries – the blueberries and raspberries intermingling with each other and also a slight Belgian funk to it as well. It also had a similar dry aroma to champagne as well – tough to describe that one but if you’ve had a bottle of champagne and got your nose in glass, then you’d understand.
The last time I had a tart beer like this was the North Island x Mikeller Haskap Blonde and that was instantly what Tamamura Honten Yamabushi Grand Rouge reminded me off. It had a soft sourness from the berries that wasn’t overpowering but it was noticeable and did make my face turn a bit. The carbonation levels and dryness again and had a champagne like quality to it – light and dry and drink enough of this too quickly then the alcohol rushes to your head like it did to me. It was surprisingly not as sweet as I thought it was going to be either and was very drinkable – especially when chilled. It finished off sour though that dissipated quickly.
Tamamura Honten Yamabushi Grand Rouge The Bottom Line
Tamamura Honten Yamabushi Grand Rouge isn’t a cheap beer but it’s a great beer and I would happily drink more of it.
Where to Buy Tamamura Honten Yamabushi Grand Rouge
Tamamura Honten Yamabushi Grand Rouge can be bought online at the following places:
