Inkhorn Hawkling is a 10% imperial porter from Inkhorn Brewing, based in Mejiro, in Tokyo, Japan. It’s part of their canned and draught lineup, though its availability is unknown at the time of writing. Inkhorn Hawkling is brewed with Ariana and Barbe Rouge hops.
Inkhorn Hawkling : At A Glance
Basics
- Alcohol : 10%
- Style : Imperial porter
- Hops : Ariana and Barbe Rouge
- IBU : –
Sale Information
- Availability : –
- On Sale : From January 2023
- Size : 350 ml
- Price : From 900 yen
Aroma & Taste
- Notable Aromas : Fruity berry like aroma with a creamy chocolate and coffee nose. Flavours increase as warms up.
- Notable Tastes : Smooth with a light dry body. Fruity berry flavour with chocolate and coffee before a warming creaminess seeps in.
Inkhorn Hawkling : Aroma & Taste
It’s been a while since I’ve visited Inkhorn Brewing in Mejiro, Tokyo so I was pretty happy when I saw that they are now selling cans of their beers. I did enjoy their beers when I went but the bar, for me, is a little out of the way. So the best way for me to support them is buying their beers when I come across them on my travels. Inkhorn Hawkling grabbed my attention with its label of a hawk and the bright purple background – I do enjoy seeing impressive artwork on the cans of beer, though just as long as the beer inside is great too.
Inkhorn Hawkling poured out a pitch black colour that was rather light in texture – after drinking so many imperial stouts in the winter of 2022/23, I was a little surprised to see how watery Inkhorn Hawkling was in comparison. However, the aroma was an intriguing one that started off with a fruity berry like one, though chocolate and coffee came in soon after, along with a light creaminess to the nose. As the beer warmed up, the aromas from Inkhorn Hawkling intensified, making it seem a little like a chocolate covered berry aroma. At 10%, the alcohol was also well hidden as I didn’t pick up any heat from the beer throughout drinking.
The body wasn’t a surprise with its dryness after seeing how Inkhorn Hawkling poured into the glass. The flavours were pretty similar to the nose with a fruity berry quality pairing off against the chocolate and coffee flavours that were also present. Inkhorn Hawkling had a touch of creaminess to the body, which was smooth with a touch of roasted black malt lurking underneath. Once again, the alcohol wasn’t detected at first, but the warming creaminess was in part, I suspect, to some presence of alcohol.
Inkhorn Hawkling : The Bottom Line
Inkhorn Hawkling is a fantastic imperial porter and one that I definitely would recommend to fans of porters, stouts, and imperial beer fans alike.
Inkhorn Hawkling : Where to Buy
Inkhorn Hawkling can be bought online at the following places:
