Home Beer Review 2nd Story Hippo Dreamland by 2nd Story Ale Works

2nd Story Hippo Dreamland by 2nd Story Ale Works

by Rob
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2nd Story Hippo Dreamland is a 5% blonde ale from 2nd Story Ale Works, based in Tokushima, in Shikoku, Japan. 2nd Story Hippo Dreamland is part of their bottled and draft lineup, though its availability at the time of writing is unknown. 2nd Story Hippo Dreamland is brewed using importer Hallertauer and Callister hops, along with locally sourced sudachi; a small, round, green fruit found across Tokushima. I’m guessing that the smiling person on the front was the result of having a few of these beers.

2nd Story Hippo Dreamland

2nd Story Hippo Dreamland Aroma and Taste

2nd Story Hippo Dreamland poured out a slightly hazy, dark golden colour with a medium amount of frothy white head on top that faded to leave a few bubbles around the outside. I was expecting an overbearing aroma of citrus from the sudachi, but instead, a crackery pepper aroma was the first to come through – it was sharp on the nose, but not in an overpowering way. The citrus aroma followed soon after, with it best being a more vibrant lemon or lime aroma to it, but at the same time, not smelling like lemon or lime. The malts also had a touch of pilsner sweetness to them that helped support the sudachi and hops, but the malts were not cloying.

The initial taste of 2nd Story Hippo Dreamland was an interesting mix of juicy tartness from the sudachi, with some mellow sweetness blended in from the malts. It made 2nd Story Hippo Dreamland an all together well-balanced beer – something that is often at risk when using fruit juice in a beer as the juice can dominate over the other flavours in the beer. When 2nd Story Hippo Dreamland had warmed up somewhat, there was a lingering tartness to the body of the beer that purveyed into the aftertaste, pairing off against the sweetness from the malts.

2nd Story Hippo Dreamland The Bottom Line

2nd Story Hippo Dreamland is a tasty fruited beer – I’d like to try the base beer though too.

Where to Buy 2nd Story Hippo Dreamland

2nd Story Hippo Dreamland can be bought online at the following places:

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