Iwatekura Oyster Stout - Sekinoichi-shuzou, Iwate-kura Brewery

route66pubs

California

4.15/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep, rich black with a single-finger brown head. Head slowly subsides. With each drink, it does not stick to the glass, but the head withers slowly away, with the remainder clinging kindly to its beer brethren.

Very faint aroma of chocolate. Some fishy / shellfish aroma, but extremely limited.

Deep roasted and chocolate malts permeate the taste from front to back. Some ever so slight hop bitterness comes in at the tail as well. A little milky and creamy at the outset, but it quickly gives way.

Not quite what I would expect from an oyster stout ... more complex, more bitter undercurrents, not as creamy. Definitely higher in carbonation than is necessary, but not in a bad way with this beer.

Absolutely nothing wrong with this beer to keep me from drinking more of it. The bittering hops leave a hair of dryness, and the sweet chocolate aftertaste just leave me asking for another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2010 00:19:56 | More by route66pubs

YamagamiTravis

Japan

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

04-06-2013 00:09:50 | More by YamagamiTravis

Blackwolf

3.8/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served from bottle into pint glass.

A- Dark brown, no head.

S- Roasted malt, coffee/caramel, a little bit of salty shellfish note, but it is very faint.

T- Again, roasted malts, coffee and dark sugars. Caramel. You can get some salty water taste in the end that you know is the oyster, but it is also very faint in the taste and it is covered up by the alcohol.

MF- Light-medium bodied, creamy, little carbonation, smooth and this does stick to the mouth well. The alcohol finish hangs around for a while leaving a warming feeling.

O- It was interesting to try, but didn't wow me so much. Kinda hard to find, even if you do, expect to dig into the wallet a bit. This is something I would like to try again on tap if I can ever do that one day. Not bad though.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 22:25:55 | More by Blackwolf

shigg85

Japan

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

06-11-2012 04:37:40 | More by shigg85

moshiric

Japan

4.18/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- very inky. Not much head.

S- sugar comes out on the nose

T- a very good stout. Not overly sweet, but enticing enough. Very full taste. Could only have one. Alcohol taste is there but not at forefront.

M- coats the mouth. Not a bad thing given the taste isn't overwhelming.

O- one of the most balanced japanese stouts I have had i.e not too sweet. Will have again when I see it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2011 12:04:35 | More by moshiric

GRG1313

California

3.73/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice brown/black with a medium tan head that quickly fades.

Nose is of Belgian candi sugar and fruit. Smells like a nice Belgian double, not a stout. Sweet fruit, sweet carmel and malt. No typical stout nose characteristics.

Mouthfeel is thin cream but lightly rich and quite appealing. Very well balanced with light carbonation and a buttery character.

Flavors are all well balanced stout with nice "basic coffee" flavors and and a semi-sweet dark chocolate flavor and finish. Nice balanced acid and very pleasing. There is no oyster character to this brew whatsoever (although one is tempted to "find some" because we know it's there, it still doesn't exist no matter how much one looks).

Finish is a nice rich black dark coffee with an espresso bitterness.

This is actually a very drinkable and pleasant stout that has lots of flavor, balance and character but is not too heavy or burdensome to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2010 05:18:17 | More by GRG1313

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this one on tap at Popeye's in Tokyo. Appearance is textbook - very dark brown, bordering on black, with maybe an inch of cream coloured head. Roasted malt aroma has cocoa, coffee and a touch of the sea. Nice roasted malt flavour, with the chocolate coming to the fore, and only the slightest hint of brine in the finish. Smooth, soft mouthfeel with low carbonation. Nice... I liked it.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2008 15:13:52 | More by bobsy

hoegaardenhero

California

3.55/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

on-tap at the great japan beer festival tokyo 2008-

a: black/brown body with a finger of off-white head

s: chocolate malts with hints of coffee and a little bit of the ocean

t: first chocolate malts followed by warm roasted coffee malts with just a hint of oyster that blends pretty well with the chocolate and coffee

m: smooth and creamy with light carb

d: an interesting beer that could be good with sea food

Serving type: on-tap

05-11-2008 05:18:05 | More by hoegaardenhero