Black Tide Sanma Sword is a 7.7% double IPA from Black Tide Brewing, based in Kesennnuma, in Miyagai, Japan. It’s part of their can and draught lineup, though its availability at the time of writing is unknown. Black Tide Sanma Sword is brewed using four different kinds of hops: Amarillo, Bravo, Strata, and Citra with the last one being used in cyro form – a more concentrated and intense version of the regular leaf form. Black Tide Sanma Sword takes its name from the weapon series of the popular local character called “Hoyaboya” and his “Sanma Sword”. The sword was given by the mayor to protect Kesennuma and it gives off a shock equivalent to the catch of saury with a single swing. Those with a bad heart get drunk and are eaten by the saury blade, so they can only be handled by true heroes with a kind heart.
Black Tide Sanma Sword : At A Glance
- Alcohol : 7.7%
- Style : Double IPA
- IBU : N/A
- Hops : Amarillo, Bravo, Strata, and Citra (Cryo)
- Availability : Unknown
- Size : 370ml can
- Price : From 750 yen
- On Sale : From October 2021
- Notable Aromas : Subtle fruity aroma of oranges, mango, and also some citrus. Faint malty aroma with alcohol kick when warm.
Black Tide Sanma Sword : Aroma & Taste
At first, I thought that this was going to be some kind of weird Yo-Ho SORRY Umami IPA level joke with the name “sanma” being in the name. Sanma, or saury, is a kind of fish in Japan, so I am glad to say that there was no fishy aroma in Black Tide Sanma Sword at all.
Black Tide Sanma Sword poured out a dark, slightly hazy, orange colour with a large fluffy white head that left white streaks down the side of the glass. I was expecting something big and bold from Black Tide Sanma Sword as Black Tide Brewing are known for full on hop beers, but Black Tide Sanma Sword was disappointing by their standards. That’s not to say it wasn’t hoppy but the hop aromas – orange and mango with the typical citrus bouquet – lacked the attacking nature that the name of the beer conjures up. There was some malt sweetness to the beer – a slight sticky sweet pilsner along with hints of caramel, though at almost 8%, there was a surprising lack of alcohol heat or booziness.
What Are Cryo Hops?
Hops are first picked, then chilled / frozen to a very low temperature in a nitrogen rich environment to maximise the yield of lupulin and aromatics from the hops before process into pellets.
Cryo hops are the concentrated lupulin of whole-leaf hops containing resins and aromatic oils. The purpose is to provide intense hop flavor and aroma, enabling brewers to efficiently dose large quantities of alpha acids and oils without introducing astringent flavors or vegetative material
The body was better than the nose, with the flavours being bolder. The fruitiness from the oranges and mangoes was evident from start to finish, and this was supported with a bitter kick to start the drinking off with. The citrus flavours came in soon after, but I was really hoping for something more flavourful than this. Black Tide Sanma Sword had a faint malt sweetness with the caramel growing in presence as the beer warmed up. It was only when the beer had pretty much got to room temperature did the booziness come through – a dangerous combination there but one that was well done.
Black Tide Sanma Sword : The Bottom Line
Black Tide Sanma Sword is a peculiar beer – it’s drinkable but compared to the hoppy beers I’ve had from Black Tide Brewing I’ve had in the past, it was disappointing.
Black Tide Sanma Sword : Where to Buy It
Black Tide Sanma Sword can be bought online at the following places:
