Hakuba Craft Avalanche : Background
Hakuba Craft Avalanche is a 5.5% Red IPA from Hakuba Craft, based in Hakuba, Nagano. It’s part of their bottled and draught lineup, as well as it being part of their regular lineup. The beer is made with Chinook and Citra hops along with special malt in the form of Munichi Type 1 and Crystal 60.
At A Glance
- ABV : 5.5%
- Style : Red IPA
- Hops : Chinook and Citra
- Adjuncts : –
- IBU : 38
Sale Information
- Availability : Regular
- On Sale : From December 2022
- Size : 330 ml
Hakuba Craft Avalanche : Appearance, Aroma, and Taste
I picked up this bottle of Hakuba Craft Avalanche from Shinshu Osake Mura in Shimbashi, Tokyo after seeing it in the fridges and I wish I had left it there now.
If you can’t guess where this review is going now from that opening statement, then carry on reading. Else, if you want to save yourself the time, jump straight to the “The Bottom Line”
First things first, the colour. I have no problems with a slightly darker than usual American IPA. Of course, that vibrant golden bouquet that often comes with a MoR American IPA is one of the best things about it. In the right light, as it shines through, it can make the worst day just a bit better. However, having the colour of this beer come out of the bottle, I was left disappointed. Though I’ve not knowingly had many Red IPAs, it seems like they’re trying to be hoppy amber ales.
The aroma though off Hakuba Craft Avalanche was terrible. It was oxidised and muddy with a distinct cardboard aroma coming off it. I struggle to think of anything positive about this beer – were the hops out of date? Had this beer been properly bottled? I guess the caramel aroma from the malts could be considered a positive but when you’ve got an IPA, the hops need to shine and pop through – not limply come out.
The body was a mess. It was oxidised and cardboard like with a big buttery bomb exploding through from the first sip to the second. I couldn’t make it through anymore and Hakuba Craft Avalanche joined the drain pour club.
Hakuba Craft Avalanche : The Bottom Line
A horrendous beer – something went really wrong with this beer and avoid it unless you’ve got no other choice.
Hakuba Craft Avalanche : Where to Buy
It can be bought online at the following places:
