808 Oyama Ale is a 4.5% saison from 808 Brewery, based in Oyama, in Tochigi, Japan. It’s part of their regular lineup and can be found in both both cans and on draught. 808 Oyama Ale is brewed using locally grown koshihikari rice from Oyama city and is hopped with Nelson Sauvin and Columbus.
808 Oyama Ale : At A Glance
Basics
- Alcohol : 4.5%
- Style : Saison
- Hops : Nelson Sauvin & Columbus
- IBU : Unknown
Sale Information
- Availability : Regular
- On Sale : From October 2021
- Size : 350 ml
- Price : From 500 yen
Aroma & Taste
- Notable Aromas : Rice-like nose with no discernible hop aroma. Light mineral quality.
- Notable Tastes : Smooth with low bitterness. Dry with low sweetness. Mineral taste to the beer.
808 Oyama Ale : Aroma & Taste
808 Oyama Ale poured out a golden straw colour with very little haze to it. What appears in the picture above is from the beer coming out of the fridge and being poured straight into the glass. In terms of aroma, 808 Oyama Ale lacked the typical Belgian yeasty funk, and instead there was a slight rice-like quality to the nose. However, there was also an unknown quality to it – something mineral, perhaps from the local water. It wasn’t an off flavour or an infection but it was definitely noticeable as 808 Oyama Ale warmed up more and more.
The body to 808 Oyama Ale was rather light and dry – probably coming from the substitution of rice for grain in the brewing process. There was a subtle rice edge to the beer – nothing potent or offensive but it was noticeable. Yet that mineral presence in the nose was more pronounced in the body, bringing a grainy like texture to the body. As in the nose, it wasn’t offensive, nor an off flavour, or an infection. But it was there. And was niggling at my taste buds.
808 Oyama Ale : The Bottom Line
808 Oyama Ale was drinkable but light and that mineral feeling needs to be gone in future batches.
808 Oyama Ale : Where To Buy
808 Oyama Ale can be bought online at the following places:
