Yonezawa Jacks Pale Ale is a 5% English pale ale from Yonezawa Jacks Brewery, based in Yonezawa, in Yamagata, Japan. It’s part of their regular lineup and can be found in both bottles and on draught. Yonezawa Jacks Pale Ale is brewed using imported Centennial, Citra, and Columbus hops. An interesting choice of hops for what is supposedly an English pale ale – more about that later.
Yonezawa Jacks Pale Ale : At A Glance
Basics
- Alcohol : 5%
- Style : English Pale Ale
- Hops : Centennial, Citra, and Columbus
- IBU : Unknown
Sale Information
- Availability : Regular
- On Sale : N/A
- Size : 330 ml
- Price : From 880 yen
Aroma & Taste
- Notable Aromas : Musty citrus aroma with a lingering biscuit malt aroma. Slight oxidised nose when warm.
- Notable Tastes : Slight bitterness to the front, with citrus body and light biscuit flavour. Faint musty oxidised flavour.
Yonezawa Jacks Pale Ale : Aroma & Taste
Yonezawa Jacks Pale Ale poured out a slightly hazy golden colour with a large frothy white head on top that stayed around for a long time, and left streaky white marks down the side of the glass throughout drinking. Making an English pale ale with American hops is a brave move indeed – English pale ales are more maltier than their younger sibling, with American pale ales being far hoppier than their older sibling. With Yonezawa Jacks Pale Ale, there was a distinct citrus aroma to the beer, but there was some mustiness going on – something that is associated with oxidation of the hops or some poor bottling. The oxidised notes became stronger though as Yonezawa Jacks Pale Ale warmed up – not a pleasant aroma in either styles of beer.
The body started off with a faint edge of bitterness though this was followed up with some citrus and light biscuit malt flavour. And that was perhaps the main problem with Yonezawa Jacks Pale Ale – it couldn’t decide if was an English pale ale trying to be American, or the other way around. Of course, some people may say that having an oxidised musty flavour in your beer is worse, but going forward, this beer needs to decide what it wants to be. It’s a drinkable beer, with the off-flavours being noticeable but not prominent.
Yonezawa Jacks Pale Ale : The Bottom Line
At this price, a pale ale needs to be bloody amazing to beat out local, and import beers. Yonezawa Jacks Pale Ale isn’t.
Yonezawa Jacks Pale Ale : Where To Buy
Yonezawa Jacks Pale Ale can be bought online at the following places:
