Shiga Kogen Barrel Aged Yama Bushi Red is a 7.5% sour ale from Tamamura Honten, based in Yamanouchi, in Nagano, Japan. It’s part of their Yamabushi range of beers can be found in both bottles and on tap at various times throughout the year. This batch was bottled in May 2020 after being brewed in December 2016, after about 36 months of aging in wine barrels. It is released after about half a year of fermentation and aged in a bottle.
Shiga Kogen Barrel Aged Yamabushi Red Aroma and Taste
The first thing you notice about Shiga Kogen Barrel Aged Yamabushi Red as it pours out of the bottle is how muddy red it is – I was honestly expecting something a bit more vibrant, due to it being called, well Shiga Kogen Barrel Aged Yamabushi Red. The aroma wasa funky and woody – lots of raspberry and cassis aroma going on with a slight oakiness to it, and the yeast! Wow – it was present and potent for sure. There was no sweetness to Shiga Kogen Barrel Aged Yamabushi Red outside of the fruity flavours.
The body to Shiga Kogen Barrel Aged Yamabushi Red was sour – not a face turning sour but it was noticeable and lingered from the first sip to the very end of drinking. The raspberry and cassis flavours also lingered throughout drinking, and combined with the woodiness of the beer, was an interesting experience. The flavours didn’t really develop much further than that – there was barely any sweetness to Shiga Kogen Barrel Aged Yamabushi Red though.
Shiga Kogen Barrel Aged Yamabushi Red The Bottom Line
Shiga Kogen Barrel Aged Yamabushi Red is nice but it’s not worth the high entry fee unless you share it.
Where to Buy Shiga Kogen Barrel Aged Yamabushi Red
Shiga Kogen Barrel Aged Yamabushi Red can be bought online at the following places:
