Kamikatz Vanilla Sky is an 8% milkshake IPA from Rise & Win Brewing Company, based in Tokushima, in Shikoku, Japan. It’s part of their limited edition range and can be found in both bottles and on tap at various locations across Japan. Kamikatz Vanilla Sky is brewed using biwa, or apricot, juice sourced from the local area, and also vanilla extract. Kamikatz Vanilla Sky is also a collaboration beer, with this one having been brewed with the Wisconsin based brewery “Untitled Art Brewing” and the California based brewery “Ronin Fermentation Projekut”. At the time of writing, it’s unknown whether Kamikatz Vanilla Sky is a one-off or not.
Kamikatz Vanilla Sky Aroma and Taste
Kamikatz Vanilla Sky poured out a dark orange colour with a few bubbles of white head on top that faded quite fast from the glass. There was a peculiar mix of aromas coming off the beer – apricots, vanilla, caramel, and some phenol-like aroma. I know milkshake IPAs are supposed to have a lactose-like quality to it with hints of creaminess and vanilla but the only thing Kamikatz Vanilla Sky had from those three was the vanilla quality to it. I didn’t get any aromas from the hops, so either they were well-hidden behind the other aromas, or not present, which seems like a waste of hops really.
The body to Kamikatz Vanilla Sky was definitely creamy but more in an oaty way than an actual lactose or milkshake way. Those confusing aromas of apricot and vanilla was, I have to admit, peculiar and not something that I think goes well. The good thing about Kamikatz Vanilla Sky is that the 8% of alcohol was incredibly well-hidden – not a single hint of it came through when the beer was either chilled or warmed up. There was also no hint of bitterness to Kamikatz Vanilla Sky either, further compounding that fact that perhaps the hops had gone to waste. The phenol-like taste was not really welcome either with it bringing a slight unpleasant end to the beer.
Kamikatz Vanilla Sky The Bottom Line
Kamikatz Vanilla Sky is not something I’d want to drink or try again.
Where to Buy Kamikatz Vanilla Sky
Kamikatz Vanilla Sky can be bought online at the following places:
