Akari Shogun - Half Acre Beer Company

Vonerichs

Illinois

4.11/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pale yellow color, slightly hazy, and excellent head retention.

It has amazing citrus hop aroma, especially for a wheat. Fresh cut grass and wheat malt, too.

It's a aggressively hopped wheat. Oranges, grass, and light lemon.

Light and crisp mouthfeel with good carbonation.

This is an easy drinking wheat that satisfies hop cravings. I imagine this to be a great summer beer and am stoked they'll be canning it through the summer. J

Serving type: growler

03-24-2013 23:42:50 | More by Vonerichs

WankelEngine

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a growler into a pint glass

A: Pours a hazy, golden straw color. There is a foamy white head of two fingers which bubbles away, leaving light spotty lacing.

S: Some good hops smells. Citrus, grapefruit, and pineapple are complemented by some resinous pine. In the background is a sweet wheat/bread aroma.

T: Sweet orange flavor light wheat are the first things I notice. The orange develops into a more broad sour citrus. This is complemented nicely by some dry herbal and pine notes. Some wheat, pine and just a trace of alcohol make up the finish.

M: Moderately thin and the wheat gives it a good soft mouthfeel. Mild, small carbonation.

O: I'm not a fan of wheat beers but this one is pretty well done. Highly hopped for the style with citrus and pine notes.

Serving type: growler

06-14-2012 04:30:59 | More by WankelEngine

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 oz. can poured into a snifter.

Appearance - Very hazy orange with a nice white head. Nice collar and surface foam.

Smell - Very wheaty. Nice hop character though. Citrus hop aroma. Grapefruit.

Taste - Hops right up front. Tons of wheat behind it. More wheat than hops but still good. Low bitterness.

Mouthfeel - Light body. Well carbonated. Great drinking.

Overall - Half Acre does light hoppy beers so well. No exception here.

Serving type: can

05-18-2013 23:31:10 | More by Alieniloquium

benwood84

Illinois

2.23/5  rDev -45.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Undrinkable. I can't believe that people are giving this beer 4s and 5s.

It tastes like they didn't rinse the tanks after the last cleaning.

I went into Binny's looking for Three Floyds Gumballhead. They were out but recommended Akari Shogun. Perhaps this beer could use more hops for some bitterness but it just has no flavor.

People seem to love Half Acre brewery despite the way their beers taste.

I would sooner drink a miller product.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:56:28 | More by benwood84

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.21/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

16oz, 4/26/13 batch
Doom glass

A: Cloudy bright yellow color. Layer of bright white head. Sticky lacing all over glass. Nice carbo.

S: Peach. Agave. Grapefruit. Juicy fruit gum? Grainy wheat.

T: Touch of bitterness on the tip of the tongue, but nothing overly aggressive. Really fruity in the mid-palate. It's literally like juicy fruit gum and then wheat malts. Finish is dry and refreshing. Lingering fruit flavors and some slight bitterness.

M: Light to medium bodied.

Serving type: can

05-17-2013 15:46:01 | More by inlimbo77

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This poured out as a slightly hazed yellow color with a nice foamy white head on top. some moderate lacing and retention here. The smell of the beer has some big lively citrusy hops on the nose. The taste has plenty of hop bitterness as well with the subtle softness of the wheat filling in later on. The mouthfeel is nicely carbonated and light bodied, very refreshing. Overall it's a very good brew, would drink this one again for sure.

Serving type: can

05-10-2013 01:26:07 | More by Knapp85

Oxymoron

Colorado

4.11/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours a semi-cloudy straw colored yellow with amber hues throughout. A soft white head with good retention.

The nose is hop forward. A big citrus note with some underlining dank aromas. More of a citra and centennial notes. Hints of wheat and malt but hidden by the hoppy over tones. Same with the yeast.

The taste is similar although more expressive. A great hop note upfront that lingers into the finish. A good bitterness and finishing hop balance that blends well. The malt and wheat notes comes out nicely but do play second to the hops. A light spicy note on the back end. Clean yeast.

A light to moderate mouthfeel. A soft carbonation but the bitterness balances well. A great lingering hop finish. A bit too dry on the back end but still good. Overall a great hoppy IPA wheat.

Serving type: can

05-06-2013 22:30:16 | More by Oxymoron

robwestcott

Indiana

4.09/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Big thanks to ppohio for this one. Poured cold from the can a murky honey'd sunlight gold to a Three Floyd's Alpha King imperial pint glass with a huge big bubbled, foamy white head with major retention, leaving a sheet of sticky lace.

Aroma of super sweet floral hops.

Interesting Pale (?) Wheat (?), very nice, refreshing, medium bodied, medium bitter, nice malt balance. Tasty, and as the beer warms, there's a bit of a spicy bite to it.

Extremely drinkable.

Serving type: can

04-17-2013 01:20:47 | More by robwestcott

zrbeer1579

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Hazy yellow-orange with half finger white head.

Aroma: Tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, little orange and some tropical elements.

Taste: Big citrus bite, which was surprising. Tangerine. Little bits of orange, grapefruit and pine. And a slight tropical. There is some lemon to it, mainly toward the end. Maybe a little wheat flavor, but not much. Definitely hops forward.

Mouthfeel: Medium- light with ample carbonation. Crisp. Finish has a nice bitterness with citrus.

Overall: Another good American pale wheat ale that is hop forward. Obviously a refreshing beer for the summer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2013 20:49:07 | More by zrbeer1579

smakawhat

Maryland

3.08/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured on tap into a small snifter at Churchkey DC. From notes.

A cloudy hazy orange amber, topped with a sudsy off white big bubbled collar. some of the collar bubbles are really large and soapy.

Nose is mild husked grain, with no chewy wheat density. Mellow. Indistinct hop profile or sense of yeast esters. Nice grain action but otherwise nothing going on here.

Palate is all in the aftertaste, and goes quickly through a very wet an watery palate. Finish has white bread and flour aftertaste that does linger nicely, but the mid palate and mouth has virtually no flavor. There's nothing going on here, no wheaty chew, dense malt or yeast character, not even a sense of hop profile.

Overall this is pretty underwhelming, and weak watery wheat pale ale with no chewy backbone and virtually no flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2013 13:12:38 | More by smakawhat

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a Half Acre tulip.

A- pours a cloudy dark lemon with a 1 finger white head. Big blotches and trails of lacing.

S- big Citra hop aroma, citrus, lemon, and some spice.

T- light caramel, lemon and other citrus flavors, spices with a slight pine, grapefruit rind bitterness.

M- light body and medium carbonation. Some creaminess with a prickly feel from the spice.

O- very tasty pale wheat. Love the aroma on this beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 00:28:48 | More by kawilliams81

312HopBomb

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bomber poured in a Goose Island Belgian ale glass.

Pours a hazy straw color with a smallish head falls to a ring.

Terrific smell of orange citrus and floral with light wheat.

Taste begins with a citrus burst then dries out with a twang on the finish.

Mouthfeel is light effervescent and light body.

Overall a good american wheat. Good job Half Acre.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 03:02:22 | More by 312HopBomb

mfavoino

Washington

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another awesome bottle courtesy of Treebs.

Appearance: Hazy dark straw color pours a finger and a half head that falls to a more meager rim. Spotty lacing.

Smell: Lemon, honey sweetness, and a wheat backbone dominate the nose.

Taste: Toaste grains, wheat, then a nice helping of citrus flavors that makes it refreshing. Very well-balanced.

Mouthfeel: Light body and lots of carbonation. Finishes with a crisp hop finish.

Overall: Another great beer from Half Acre. This is a great version of the style that has summer written all over it.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 01:14:27 | More by mfavoino

homebrew311

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured in a snifter. Appearance is a hazy yellow with a thin layer of head that leve some splotchy lacing. The nose features a strong wheaty grain profile with lemon drops and passion fruity. The hops are present but somewhat tame. The taste has plenty of wheat backbone and some dry grapefruit bitterness. Not much sweetness here. Mouthfeel is light and moderately carbonated. Decent little whet beer, nothing earth shattering.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2012 19:35:31 | More by homebrew311

Treebs

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle served in a Firestone Walker tulip.

A: Pours a semi hazy golden color with a thick white head forming on the pour. It recedes to a thick collar and leaves some spotty lace down the glass.

S: Fruity hops and cracked wheat dominate the nose. Some citrus flesh and berry flavors with a little bit of lemon.

T: Pure dried wheat flavors with a nice fruity body mixing in. Semi bitter hops with some grassy flavors as well. Nicely balanced and easy drinking.

M: Light bodied with a clean finish. Sweet wheat on the finish with nice carbonation.

O: Really impressed with the balance and easy drinking of this beer. I hope this makes more appearances in the HA rotation.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 01:39:04 | More by Treebs

Etan

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle into a tulip.

A: Pours a light golden-yellow with a huge puffy white head. Nice retention and lacing.

S: Big tropical hops, sweet dough, slight grass. Very fragrant and nice.

T: Fruit is mostly gone in the taste - grassy hop and slight bitterness, doughy, a bit of wheat in the finish.

M: Lively carbonation, light.

O: This tasted like a slightly wheated version of Daisy Cutter, which I'm not a huge fan of to begin with. Great aroma, but the taste is dry, grassy, and boring.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 18:19:45 | More by Etan

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Local Option cervoise.

Gotta love these Half Acre labels, amiright? Anyway, the beer itself pours a cloudy straw topped by a sturdy finger of ever-so-lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises grapefruit rind, leek, light cantaloupe, light pineapple, and a pinch of coriander. The taste brings in more of the same, along with some orange rind, some overly-ripe mandarin orange, and a bit of wild rice. Unfortunately, a stiff bitterness pervades the finish, malingering for a tad too long, sorta ruining things a bit at the end. It's not enough to raze things completely, thankfully. The body is a rather light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly grainy feel. Overall, a solid, fruity wheat beer, but it's nothing overtly special.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 00:54:28 | More by TMoney2591

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

(Served in a tulip glass)

A- This beer pours a hazy deep lemon body with a creamy off-white head that last and sticks to the glass with each sip. There is a sea of microbubbles trailing up the side of the glass.

S- The full aroma of hops comes through even during the pour. the full juicy hops have a bright pungency to them with green citrus rind and some pithy notes. There is a soft spicey hop quality in the finish. As the beer opens the cat pee aroma grows to dominate but it has enough support that it is not bad.

T- The green bright pungent hops have some fruity notes and some green rind note to it in the finish but there is no hop bitterness at all. The gentle green hop note lingers for a moment. As the beer opens there is a woody hop character that finishes the beer.

M- The medium mouthfeel has a nice creamy fizz that enhances the hop finish and no alcohol heat noticed.

O- The bright full hops have some nice depth and blends together a lot of different characteristics. This has a full mouthfeel but it is not a filling beer. Very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 13:11:17 | More by rhoadsrage

emerge077

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Currently drinking a bomber, recently shared a growler (thanks Chris) but misplaced my notes. Served in a tulip glass.

Hazy opaque orange, deep saturated color with some micro sediment hanging in suspension. Copious lacing that hangs in 3D sudsy clumps dripping down into the glass. Great retention, head remains after sitting for 30 minutes even.

Pungent citrusy aroma at first, becoming grainy and wheaty over time. A certain sweet earthiness and grassy character from the Mouteka hop variety. First sips are very reminiscent of Tasty Waves and Daisy Cutter, albeit with wheat and a different hop variety. Smooth and extremely drinkable, earthy grassy bitterness lingers alongside bitter grapefruit zest. The NZ hops do lend some distinct character, and overall its pretty tasty, especially for the style. Definitely feeling the summer vibes with this one...

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 23:49:37 | More by emerge077

MasterSki

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bomber picked up at Half Acre on release day and shared with Jason a few hours afterward. Served in a tulip.

A - Pale straw body, hazy and unfiltered. White foam settles to a solid cap, thick collar, and splotchy patches of lace.

S - The combination of pale malts, wheat, and Motueka hops gives this a nice creamsicle vibe to it. Zesty orange, vanilla malt flavors, a bit of grain.

T - Taste is quite similar, with a mixture of juicy, fresh citrus, tangy unmalted wheat, pale malt sweetness, and a touch of yeast. Quite refreshing.

M - Largely smooth, with a touch of grain to it. Juicy medium-light body, with a bit of residual oily hop resin. Pleasant moderate carbonation.

D - An American Pale Wheat Ale that does not suck. Really easy to drink and perfect for the hot summer weather. Also appropriately priced at $5.99/22oz. Watch out Gumballhead!

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 17:17:25 | More by MasterSki

Florida9

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Cloudy pale orange-tinted yellow in color. Forms a moderate bubbly white head that reduces down to a rocky surface coating. Some moderate lacing.

S: The aroma is incredibly juicy with lots of citrus hops. Wheat, lemon and grapefruit dominate with orange to a lesser extent.

T: Flavor starts off with lots of toast, grains, and wheat before the hops begin to show through with notes of green grass and grapefruit. Finishes with a crisp wheaty maltiness.

M: On the lighter side of medium. Carbonation is approaching heavy. Crisp and grainy.

O: A very drinkable American Wheat Ale. Aggressively hopped, but with with a lot more wheat character than is typically seen in this category. Wouldn't mind seeing this one make its way to cans one day.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 21:38:16 | More by Florida9

GbVDave

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into 3 pint glasses. Thanks to HeatherAnn and Tim for the assist!

A: Pours a hazy, straw-y gold color with a 1 1/2 fingers of just off-white foam on top. Retention was very good, but lacing was limited.

S: Lovely citrus hop aromas that layer nicely with some toasty grain, pine, and a hint of sweet breadcrusts.

T: Slightly less focused in the taste than in the smell. Toasty grain and killer hops rush in from all sides to tussle on my tongue.

M: Dry and prickly with snatches of juicy sweetness and a mild smoothness that kept my mouth refreshed.

O: This is going to be our summer beer...without a doubt.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 15:07:06 | More by GbVDave

vespahulb

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I gotta say, although I could usually care less about packaging, they did a great job with the label.

First off, I understand the hesitation with brewing a wheat ale. Half Acre makes SO many great beers, that I hate to have them pegged as being the brewery that brews "Akari Shogun." We've seen this happen all too often, ala Oberon, 312, Gumball Head. I digress.

Popping the top, I immediately got a whiff of the dank, citrus-loaded Motueka hops followed by a firm wheaty, toasty background.

The appearance of this one is gorgeous. Cloudy, but bright and vivacious with tight, persistent bubbles.

In the mouth, this actually has a lot going on. Dank citrus, grass and earth explode out of the front of the palate. In the back, you get a firm kick of wheaty maltiness, followed by a touch of caramel.

The balance is fantastic. I respect that they didn't go the safe route and brew something that you'd see the trixies swilling in Wrigleyville. This brew is classic Half Acre and kicks some serious IBU's! A great wheat ale that I am gonna enjoy all summer long.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 12:43:28 | More by vespahulb

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bomber, no bottled on date but was presumably bottled over the last few days, poured into a Half Acre pint glass.

A- Pours a very hazy golden hay color, topped with a finger of creamy white head, good retention, leaves nice lacing.

S- Very nice fruity hop aroma, some grainy wheat and bready sweetness.

T- Big hops on this one, definitely an "American" wheat beer. Lots of juicy, fruity hops, very tropical, with a persistent bitterness. Caramel sweetness becomes more noticeable towards the finish, with bready wheat flavors.

M- Medium-bodied, smooth creamy feel.

O- A pretty damn tasty beer, it's very hop forward and probably tastes more like an IPA than a Hefeweizen, but is still an awesome beer, if this was available in four-packs it might be the first wheat beer I would actually pick up regularly.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 22:03:33 | More by WillCarrera