Tokyo Black - Yo-Ho Brewing Company

TokyoCO

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a can into a goblet.

A: Black, slight light penetrance on edges, foamy head.

S: Malts, light smell of coffee, hints of dark chocolate.

T: Very creamy, tastes (coffee, dark chocolate, smoke, malts) are subtle but well balanced. Smoke taste really comes through in the finish. Drinks very easily.

M: Creamy! Very easy drinking, expected from a 5% beer.

O: My first Japanese craft beer! It's good, not overly complex or tasteful but an easy drinking porter. Smoke taste in the finish makes it above average for me!

Serving type: can

05-13-2013 06:55:43 | More by TokyoCO

popery

California

3.29/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Pours coffee black, maybe a shade lighter. Head is soapy, beige and pretty big but fades quickly. The aroma is mostly cocoa with touches of mocha, roast and a mild twang of acidity. Taste is sweet with more simple chocolate flavor and finishes with a fairly assertive coffee/roast bitterness. The coffee flavor is a bit stale. The acidity comes through a bit in the taste, as well. Mouthfeel is somewhat creamy, but it could use more body. It’s a decent porter but nothing special and certainly not worth the price, at least here in the US.

Serving type: can

03-02-2013 06:56:15 | More by popery

joecast

Australia

3.71/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Nice looking can. Nice looking beer. Pours with a viscous character with a black liquid and thin light tan head.

Interesting doughy aroma. Really like getting ready to bake some bread and some ground up heavily kilned malt is mixed in.

Mellow taste. Little astringency or bitterness to upset the smoothness but manages to remain very drinkable with light sweetness.

Not quite up there with the best of the style but still a very well made and enjoyable beer.

Serving type: can

01-16-2013 10:22:46 | More by joecast

BS-

4.48/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a highball glass

A: Absolutely black with a thick foamy mocha head and great lacing.
S: Very deep and roasty malts.A touch of bitter chocolate and slightly burnt coffee, but mostly deeply roasted malts.
T: Malty, roasty and earthy upfront, but a very distinct acidity comes in towards the mid-palate. It kinda took me by surprise. It’s almost a dark fruit-y, tart-ish kind of presence almost leaning towards overly ripe cherries. I did not find it all that pleasant initially, but it grew on me after a few sips. The finish is roasty and bitter with a nice maltiness that I love so much in stouts.
M: Mouthfeel is surprisingly light. I expected it to be creamier and fuller. It is extremely smooth though.
O: Very enjoyable. I would definitely have this again. Amazingly, it packs all that flavour in a 5% porter.

Serving type: can

12-28-2012 05:59:00 | More by BS-

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.38/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

350ml can purchased from Slowbeer in Melbourne. I love beer in cans. It's hard to tell its exact volume as almost all of the writing is in dense Japanese, but it's hidden there when you look.

Pours a very deep roasty black-brown, with a mildly frothed head of mocha that dissipates to a very thin film. Nice fine messy lace. Carbonation is quite fine, but the body is relatively light, meaning it sluices through quickly. Overall, it's a very decent looking brew.

Nose is also very pleasant, with a roasty toasted bite and a mellow chocolate or buttered brioche sweetness. Some heft in the aroma, meaning it stays very nice and rich. It's a very nice smelling, if not overly complex nose.

Taste is excellent: solid roasted basis, with a clear, rounded fullness to the palate, lending some smoky coffee, earthy spices and even a savoury umami character. Lovely stuff. The finish is really nice and long, and maintains a decent sweetness right to the back where it tastes like a crumbling mound of dark demerara sugar.

Feel is light but solid, and certainly full for a beer that's relatively low in ABV: pretty much spot-on for this style and flavour profile.

Overall, wow—I'm very impressed indeed. I wasn't expecting this to be as good as it is. It's really tasty, drinkable and flavoursome, but manages to stick really well within the pleasant mild, roasted genre of the porter. Really excellent, well-made stuff.

Serving type: can

11-27-2012 08:30:52 | More by lacqueredmouse

dgilks

Australia

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Black with a creamy tan head. Good head retention.

Roasty with a light earthiness. Nice coffee notes. Very good.

Smoky and roasty with a big earthiness. Not all that fruity but it works well together. Some bitterness and cocoa.

Medium-light body with moderately-high carbonation. Good.

A really solid Porter. Lovely flavour and a rounded character that brings it all together.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 04:43:22 | More by dgilks

ADZA

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a very dark kola hue which leaves a creamy mocha laced two finger head that stays and leaves heaps of clingy lacing,the smell is dark roasted malts,cooking chocolate,dark chocolate,tobacco and dark coffee,the mouthfeel is just over light bodied and well carbonated with tastes of dark roasted chocolate malts,bitter black coffee,earthy hops,dark chocolate and finished with a cappicino bittersweetness and overall its alright and easy enough to drink but nothing outstanding cheers.

Serving type: can

10-28-2012 03:51:45 | More by ADZA

gpogo

California

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Black body, tan head. Head faded to a ring.

A- Sweet roasted grain. As it warms chocolate comes out with very faint dark fruit aromas.

T- Initial sweetness with a bitterness throughout. The bitterness really complements the chocolate flavor, almost like you are eating some bitter dark chocolate. Finishes with a roasty bitterness and a light sweetness that sticks around.

M- Medium body, low carbonation.

D- Honestly I grabbed this beer due to the can. I'm impressed with the flavor, I found the aroma to be a bit bland. Seems like something I could easily drink two of in a session.

Serving type: can

10-18-2012 04:47:29 | More by gpogo

oline73

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the can into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours an opaque dark brown color with a thick layer of creamy tan head that fades to a ring around the glass.

Smell: Sweet with a lot of roasted grain. There is a mild caramel malt smell along with some dark chocolate and a touch of dark fruit.

Taste: This one was a pleasant surprise. Tons of roasted malt makes this beer stay more on the bitter side of the spectrum. There is some sweetness, but the roasty flavors win the fight. The finish is bitter from the roast.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with tingly carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: I was pretty happy with this beer, but a little more sweetness in the flavor would have put it over the top.

Serving type: can

10-08-2012 17:57:51 | More by oline73

CrazyDavros

Australia

2.95/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours black with a lasting, light tan head.
Sweet-smelling, some soy sauce shows along with roasted malt. Little else. Very faint.
Better flavours, with some spicy hops, roasted malt and liquorice. Again, quite sweet.
Carbonation is too high.
Not great.

Serving type: can

09-25-2012 03:04:59 | More by CrazyDavros

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Definitely looks like a porter. Tastes like one too. Nice smoky tone on there that accents the thick malts. Smooth. That is the key word here. I think this is one of the more masterfully brewed porters I have had in quite some time. So thorough and distinct. I feel like I'm watching a master painter slowly move their brush against a canvas and admiring every inch of movement that the brush deposits paint from. This is a very nice porter and the third beer I have tried from this brewery. They have a new fan in me. Now if only I could read their website.

Serving type: can

08-05-2012 23:10:00 | More by RblWthACoz

Amalak

New York

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A. It is in fact black. Nice foamy brown head that leaves some lace.

S. Kind of smells like cardboard.

T. It's has a toffee feel to it, and that cardboard smell fits into the taste, even if mild. Interesting taste. Very nice and interesting taste. There's a candy taste to it. Kind of like root beer candy.

M. Full-bodied and tingly.

O. Interesting taste. I really like this. Not your typical porter but worth a try.

Serving type: can

06-05-2012 02:20:01 | More by Amalak

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with very little hints of very dark brown when held up to the light. The beer has a three finger tall pillowy dark tan head that reduces but leaves about a half finger tall head covering the entire surface of the beer. Significant lacing is observed.

S: Overall the beer has a rather mild smell, which is a little unexpected with the style. I detect a light amount of dark roasted malts and a creamy lactose (like you would get in a milk stout).

T: There are dark roasted almost burnt malts with a light amount of bitterness. The bitterness only lingers a very short amount of time and is not overly intense or aggressive.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate amounts of effervescent carbonation. Slightly on the thin side.

O: This beer is very easy to drink and quite enjoyable. I could easily see this being a sessionable beer, especially in the early autumn just as it is starting to get cool/cold in the evening.

Serving type: can

04-21-2012 22:44:45 | More by dbrauneis

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

350mL can into tulip. some sort of canned on/best before date on the bottom, but i cant make out what is what from it.

A: opaque black body. very fine bubbles are a pretty tan color. retention is average, but the lacing is a little poor.

S: mild notes of freshly poured black coffee. a little bit of chocolate chip cookie too. not fresh out the oven, but more like opening a bag of homemade chocolate chip cookies. interesting notes.

T: a dry roasted flavor starts things off. warm notes of vanilla and the milkiness reminds me of a latte. finish is tin-y for just a second, and then a long roasted flavor.

M: the mouth is actually a bit spritely on an very close to being light, but medium body. a little less carb would be the bomb on this brew.

D: pretty good example of an "american" porter from a japanese brewery. i really am digging the can it came in as well as the graphics on the can. certainly an eye catcher. if this were more moderately priced i would certainly purchase more of this.

Serving type: can

04-04-2012 01:51:52 | More by Jimmys

cwguy5

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - deep brown, almost black with thin, tan head that faded to a swirling cap; some light lacing left behind

S - pretty standard porter aromas... roasted malt, some coffee, some dark chocolate

T - roasted malts but not to the point of bitter, coffee, chocolate, black walnut

M - thin-medium bodied with moderate, fine carbonation; a mild, drying finish

O - always eager to try dark beers from Japan and this one did not disappoint. nice porter with black walnut twist flavor-wise. check this one out if you get the chance.

Serving type: can

03-27-2012 03:01:02 | More by cwguy5

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.8/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours opaque black with a half finger light brown head that dissipates relatively quickly, no lacing. Aroma of roasted malt a bit of coffee. Smooth subdued chocolate, roasted malt and light coffee flavor with a slight hint of smoke at the finish. Light to medium bodied. A pleasant, well integrated but not too complex porter.

Serving type: can

03-03-2012 04:15:44 | More by LiquidAmber

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.65/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip glass. Jet black with a finger of tan head.

A good nose of burnt malt, but rounds out with roasted malt.

Heavy hitter on the burnt malt in the taste. I like it. Joined by nice bitterness makes it "gripping". Hint of milk but the burnt malt reigns supreme.

On the creamy side, smoother, bubbles on the tongue. Medium body.

A tasty, standard porter.

Serving type: can

02-11-2012 01:17:33 | More by Fatehunter

zeff80

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At the Red Paddle Bistro at the Gunflint Lodge.

A - Poured out a jet black color with a one-finger head of tan, bubbly foam. It left sudsy trails of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled roasty with some subtle floral notes.

T - Good roasted malt backbone with chocolate and toffee flavors. Light piney bitterness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied porter with a dry finish.

O - This was a nice find - a canned craft ale from Japan while in Northern Minnesota.

Serving type: can

01-08-2012 15:55:12 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: This beer is almost jet black in color (only some traces of amber are visible near the edge of the glass when it is held up to the light). It poured with a finger high tan head that died down but consistently covered the surface.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of lactose, similar to what you would expect from a milk stout.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has flavors similar to that of a milk stout. There are hints of burnt malts in the finish.
M: It feels light- to medium- bodied and slightly thin on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation that tingles your tongue.
O: This beer is quite easy to drink and goes down easily.

Serving type: can

12-31-2011 20:03:24 | More by metter98

DonDirkA

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Ive never had a japanese beer that I like but this one isn't bad. Smells like coffee with a little chocolate. The taste is coffee, straight up with a slight aftertaste of mocha-like chocolate. Its kind of a watery beer though, goes down like a light beer so that's a little disappointing. Overall maybe a B- beer but as far as japanese beers go its an A.

Serving type: can

12-28-2011 08:39:52 | More by DonDirkA

Minkybut

Virginia

3/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I poured this average beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer was black nd poured a decent head with good lacing. The beer had a milk chocolate taste and a hint of smokiness . The beer was just not that great and did not jump out with yummyness so I am going to have to say no to it specially for its crazy high price of over five dollars a can.

Serving type: can

12-24-2011 17:27:55 | More by Minkybut

clayrock81

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a blackish body with quick dying tan head on top of a mild but pleasant malty aroma. Pick up caramel/chocolate along with roasted/bready malts - touch of coffee. Medium-bodied and chewey, goes down easy, but just falls flat in taste department. Chocolate and caramel sweetness is minimal and touch of sticky malts are rather not well-balanced with mild coffee malts. Decent beer out of a can that was cheap; no real complaints.

Serving type: can

12-10-2011 19:23:14 | More by clayrock81

snaotheus

Washington

3.63/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz can poured into a couple pint glasses

Pours black, still, little head or carbonation. Smell is is chocolaty and coffee-ish. Rich.

Taste is sweet, lots of coffee, maybe a little cherry.

Mouthfeel is thick, a little chalky, pretty nice for a porter. Overall, this is a pretty decent beer.

Serving type: can

11-05-2011 04:42:35 | More by snaotheus

GRG1313

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Black with a medium dark khaki head that fades but is nice on the pour.

Nose is full of plumed coffee/plumed chocolate. Hints of vanilla and a hint of coconut and carmel.

Mouthfeel is medium thin but nice carbonation and decent balance.

Flavor profile is simple but nice roasted coffee and hints of chocolate malt and cocoa. Tastes a bit like a chocolate/mocha malt flavor.

Finish is cocoa/bitter chocolate and bitter roasted coffee. Finish is long lasting.

Serving type: can

11-04-2011 05:34:00 | More by GRG1313

DarthKostrizer

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to MrVonzipper for the can share

Look: Almost black and totally opaque with 1/4 head and no retention

Smell: Dark fruits coffee and some chocolate

Taste: Little bit of chocolate and coffee upfront with a bit of ash on the backend

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with low to medium carbonation

Overall: It is a decent little beer

Serving type: can

10-25-2011 03:30:53 | More by DarthKostrizer