Heisei Koshi no Unkai is 6% hazy IPA from Heisei Brewing, based in Nagaoka, in Niigata, Japan. It’s part of their regular lineup and can be found in both bottles and on tap. Heisei Koshi no Unkai takes its name from the Japanese phrase “sea of clouds” due to the fact that Yamakoshi is enveloped in a fantastic sea of clouds on spring and autumn mornings. Heisei Koshi no Unkai is brewed using Citra, Mosaic, and Nelson Sauvin hops.
Heisei Koshi no Unkai : At A Glance
- Alcohol: 6%
- Style: Hazy IPA
- Hops: Citra, Mosaic, and Nelson Sauvin
- Adjuncts: –
- IBU: –
Sale Information
- Availability: Regular
- On Sale: –
- Size: 330 ml
- Price: From ¥750
Aroma & Taste
- Notable Aroma: Fruity tropical aroma with pineapple and mango, along with citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit. Light sweetness.
- Notable Taste: Smooth bitterness with tropical and citrus fruits. Medium bodied with no discernible off flavours.
Heisei Koshi no Unkai : Aroma & Taste
I’ll be honest – I’ve had some duds from Heisei Brewing in the past and you know what they say, “once bitten, twice shy”. And that sums up how I felt about drinking Heisei Koshi no Unkai – I was not looking forward to it but I’ve paid for the beer so I might as well get something from this little sojourn into Heisei Brewing.
Heisei Koshi no Unkai poured out a hazy golden orange colour with a minimal amount of white head – perhaps less than a millimetre adorned the top of the class, with most of the bubbles that were present quickly dissipating away. I was most surprised though when the aroma from Heisei Koshi no Unkai was not one of plastic or phenols but one of tropical and citrus fruits. Pineapple and mango, along with lemon and grapefruit, were the immediate aromas that escaped the glass, and combined with a touch of malt sweetness actually made this, well, a nice smelling beer. Just to make sure, I did wait for it to warm up before smelling it again but it really did smell alright.
The body began with me being a bit nervous – perhaps my brain was playing tricks on me and this was in fact a poorly made beer. With the initial sip being rather hesitant, I was once again welcomed with a bouquet of tropical and citrus fruits that were aligned with the aroma from the nose. Heisei Koshi no Unkai had a smooth bitterness to it that lingered just under the surface throughout drinking, and with a medium body of sweetness, it was a well balanced beer. Again, I waited to make sure that I was able to taste off flavours but Heisei Koshi no Unkai had none.
Heisei Koshi no Unkai : The Bottom Line
I was most surprised with Heisei Koshi no Unkai – perhaps because it had been super fresh then it was in the best condition. A really solid made beer.
Heisei Koshi no Unkai : Where to Buy
Heisei Koshi no Unkai can be bought online at the following places:
