Morioka Weizen - by Baeren

Baeren - Morioka Wezien - Iwate Prefecture - 5.5% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Wheat, yeast and banana make up a light-to-medium body, citrus- orange provides a sharp finish, mildly spicy notes give this weizen just enough pazzaz to make it interesting.
Smell: Banana at the front, wheat & yeast.
Look: Cloudy- unfiltered with sediments in suspension, big frothy head, some patches of lace. Verdict: After having some delicious Baerens' and happily proclaiming them the best makers of German brews here in JP, I had this weizen. While it was good and very classic, there was nothing that really made this stand out from the pack. All-in-all a refreshing weizen, but would pick up a Coedo Shiro over this one if the choice was presented.

Ursus Winter Beer - by Baeren

Baeren - Ursus Winter Beer - Iwate Prefecture - 7% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Quality wheat flavors, citrus- lemon/orange, banana, creamy, slightly sour, pepper corn.
Smell: Wheat notes, earth, and tapioca pudding.
Look: Earthy muddled brown, unfiltered and opaque, thick off-white head, come carbonation, patches of lace.
Verdict: Ursus has a great balance, and holds a complex flavor for a weizen-style beer. This was a pleasure to drink on such a cold day; I'm becoming a believer in Baeren with each beer of theirs I drink.

Baeren - Chocolate Stout

Baeren - Chocolate Stout - Iwate Prefecture - 7% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Bitter & sweet, semi-sweet chocolate, deeply roasted malts, sharp, fizzy, espresso beans, vanilla beans.
Smell: Sour notes, roasted malts, whiffs of chocolate.
Look: Nearly pitch black- but caught a dark brown around the edges of the glass and when I got down to the last sips, tan head, strong lace.
Verdict: I've been waiting too long for a solid stout here (probably my own fault) - but this was reward enough! This one holds a strong chocolate taste with perfect hints of coffee - just the way I like 'em. This is a classic take on the style, no experimentation or extremities here - just a solid beer all around.

Baeren - Rye

Baeren - Rye (Specialty Grain) - Iwate Prefecture - 5.5 % - 330 ml bottle @ Bulldog Pub:
Taste: Surprisingly very weizen-like (citrus/banana), rye is apparent in aftertaste though, sweet (not bitter like other ryes).
Smell: Wheat-notes, whiffs of orange & banana.
Look: Medium body, semi-opaque, golden orange w/ brown tones, highly carbonated, frothy head, lace lingers a little before settling.Verdict: Best Rye I've ever had - why? Because it didn't have a trace of that weird bitterness I usually taste from "bigger" rye beers (e.g. Hop Rod Rye by Bear Republic or Righteous Ale by Sixpoint). I recommend this an an alternative to a regular weizen, this is much more interesting!

Ginga Kogen - Weizen (Star Bottle)

Ginga Kogen - Weizen (Star Bottle) - Iwate Prefecture - 5% - 300 ml bottle:
Taste: Common wheat-beer flavors: banana & citrus; hints of custard; light hops; very refreshing; carbonation produces a fizzy sensation.
Smell: Potent banana & citrus aroma, with whiffs of cream.
Look: Cloudy mellow yellow; carbonated; head forms - however no lacing lingers.Verdict: Compared to their Pale Ale this is far better; I really like this weizen, it's simple yet tasteful and refreshing. This is the "star" of the Ginga Kogen lineup! "German Purity Law was declared in Bayern by Wilhelm IV and stipulates that beer is made of only malt, hop and water.
We are brewing beer as "natural food" instead of industrial product according to German Purity Law. So, Ginga Kogen beer is made of only malt, hop and water.
According to Japanese liquor tax law, beer may contain some kinds of auxiliary material such as rice and cornstarch.
Ginga Kogen beer that includes 100% of malt and no auxiliary material will provide the sweet taste from malt" -- gingakogenbeer.com

Ginga Kogen - Pale Ale

Ginga Kogen - Iwate Prefecture - Pale Ale - 5% ABV -350 ml can:
Taste: Tropical fruit juice (orange/banana/amongst others); sweet; not very hoppy- only slightly bitter.
Smell: Whiffs of tropical fruits; a little malt; but not much else.
Looks: A very hazy orange, pours with head which dissipates quickly, not too carbonated.Verdict: Can't say I'm impressed with this Ale; sure I'm happy to see this selling in a variety of locations, and maybe it's its subdued taste that allows it to sell along side Kirin and company, but I like my Ales packing more of a punch.
"Ginga Kogen started in 1996, as the project to economically develop Sawauchi village in Iwate prefecture, by Isao Nakamura who established Higashi Nihon House Co., Ltd. [...] Sawauchi village is the heavy snowfall area, so it has rich natural fresh water. And, it is similar to Bayern in Germany in climate. So, Sawauchi village is the appropriate [location] for [a] brewery." -- gingakogenbeer.com