Tainai Kogen Citra Weizen is a 5% German hefeweizen from Tainai Kogen Beer, based in Niigata, Japan. It’s part of their all-year round range of beer and can be found in both bottles and on tap. If you hadn’t guessed from the name, Tainai Kogen Citra Weizen uses Citra hops for bittering and flavouring, rather than your usual Tettnanger or Hallertau hops which are traditionally used.
Is the Citra really needed in this beer?
Tainai Kogen Citra Weizen Aroma and Taste
Tainai Kogen Citra Weizen poured out a dark golden straw colour – much darker than most hefeweizens I’ve come across. It also had a much reduced head as well compared to other hefeweizens, and didn’t last long before fading to a thin layer on top of the beer. It did have the usual banana aroma coming off of it, along with a slight phenolic smell coming through too. It was interesting to note the citrus aroma from the Citra hops in Tainai Kogen Citra Weizen, though they didn’t really feel they were core to the aroma of the beer, and left me wondering if they were used properly or in enough of an amount.
It was more of the same with the body of Tainai Kogen Citra Weizen. It tasted like your usual weizen, with a wheat banana flavour coming through most stronger, but the bitterness and hop flavours seemed lacking, or perhaps just did not live up to my expectation. There was some hints of citrus lemon flavour but then that was perhaps because I was willing, urging, BEGGING for the hops to come through at some point.
Tainai Kogen Citra Weizen The Bottom Line
Tainai Kogen Citra Weizen tasted like an average hefeweizen that someone had put a squeeze, albeit tiny, of lemon in the beer. Maybe if it is fresh from the brewery then it would be better but I’m not trekking to Niigata to find that out.
Where to Buy Tainai Kogen Citra Weizen
Tainai Kogen Citra Weizen can be bought online at the following places:
