Y Market Meitei King is an 13% imperial stout from Y Market Brewing, based in Nagoya, in Aichi, Japan. It’s part of their late winter / spring lineup and at the time of writing, it can be found in both cans and on tap across Japan. Y Market Meitei King is brewed using a copious amount of malt alongside imported Simcoe, Citra, and Mosaic hops from America. It’s name roughly translates into “King of Intoxication” and at 13% let’s find out?
Y Market Meitei King Aroma and Taste
Y Market Meitei King poured out a pitch black colour with a medium amount of frothy, tan-coloured head that clung to the side of the glass. There’s no other way to describe Y Market Meitei King’s nose but big, boozy, and bold – the malt aroma was thick with coffee and chocolate, and a distinct alcohol heat coming off it once it had been given the chance to warm up. That’s something you MUST do with your stouts – please don’t drink them chilled as it numbs the flavours. And in hindsight, I should have taken my own advice. There was also a faint woodiness to Y Market Meitei King once it had really hit room temperature along with some vanilla coming through too.
At 13%, the booziness wasn’t hidden at all, but neither did it assault your senses. THe best way to describe it would be someone having poured a glass of port down some woody and then letting that resultant drink soak up some coffee and plums. It was incredibly rich in the body though the body was a little bit lighter than expected. The flavours were generally well-balanced during drinking with some vanilla also coming through but Y Market Meitei King is an end of the evening drink when you have no need to go anywhere either that evening or the day after. Maybe it could have done with some aging to take some of the flavour heat off but then it would be a different beer.
Y Market Meitei King The Bottom Line
Go in slowly with Y Market Meitei King and you won’t regret it.
Where to Buy Y Market Meitei King
Y Market Meitei King can be bought online at the following places: