Shiga Kogen UFO is a 9% Imperial Stout from Tamamura Honten, based in Yamanouchi, in Nagano, Japan. It’s part of their collaboration range, with this beer having been brewed with Pipeworks, a Chicago-based brewery in the USA. It’s name stems from being a a beer of unknown style due to the multiple adjuncts of coffee, various berries in the form of raspberries and blueberries, and lactose.
Shiga Kogen UFO Aroma and Taste
Shiga Kogen UFO poured out a pitch black colour with a thin layer of slightly off-white tan coloured head on top. There was a distinct berry-like nose to the beer – almost jammy – with a murky creamy and coffee nose going on. It’s almost as if someone had taken pretty much everything I like to eat / drink at breakfast and stuck it into a beer. There were some hints of cream and some coffee going on once Shiga Kogen UFO had warmed up to room temperature, but the berry aroma also got stronger.
The berries and lactose came together in the body, producing something that when combined with the coffee flavours was an interesting idea but the body was just too thin really to support the flavours, leaving just a berry flavour on the palate. The sourness was more sour than a tartness long associated with berries, but that too faded fast. At 9%, Shiga Kogen UFO really needed a thicker body to help bring all the flavours together for a much longer lasting experience. In the end, Shiga Kogen UFO just fell a bit flat in the longevity and memory.
Shiga Kogen UFO The Bottom
Kudos for trying something new, but Shiga Kogen UFO just fell a bit flat before the finish line.
Where to Buy Shiga Kogen UFO
Shiga Kogen UFO can be bought online at the following places:
