Asahi Black (Kuronama) - Asahi Breweries Ltd

ryanmac06

Texas

2.73/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - The color and look of this beer is exactly what you would want from a dark lager. Two fingers of head was present most of the time and stood there through the entire drink.

S - The smell was light and mostly non-existent. As it began to warm, the smell increased to a light/dull malty smell but never impacted taste.

T - At the front it was mostly bland with a subtle caramel malt taste at the beginning. At the end there was still a subtle malt flavor lacking hops to balance. It finished clean but was poorly balanced.

M - Very smooth and well carbonated. The feel was typical of a dark lager and could easily stand up to other beers in it's class. The long lasting head added a nice feel as well

D - This beer is very easy to consume and is a good starting point for folks who don't typically like "dark beers". It's carbonation and smooth mouth feel will help people come back to this beer.

Overall - This beer is very bland to me and is not as impressive as many beers in it's class. The balance is lacking and it's a straight forward non-complex brew. It's an easy-to-drink dark lager that's a good entry point for folks who typically drink pilsners and very light lagers. I probably won't drink this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2010 18:47:46 | More by ryanmac06

rickyleepotts

Arizona

3/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Today has been a good day… and I have some time to kill before meeting my buddy Scott for dinner, so I figured we could review a beer. I am not sure if I have had this before, but reading they use rice has me pumped up. I have been on a rice IPA kick lately… just something that smooths out the mouthfeel and provides a more enjoyable experience. Also a cool story about how Asahi basically took over from being the name of the beer to being the name of the brewery. We are having sushi for dinner… so this is only fitting!

Here is another small bottle… 11.3 ounces on this one. Would it really kill them to send a full beer? No worries. I am ready to drink! Oh, and we are meeting Scott at Angel's Trumpet Ale House… so I will be drinking plenty there.

In the Glass: It's dark, but it's not black. I wish I knew Japanese… I wonder what the label says/means. It could say, "This is the best beer ever!" and we would never know. When I was pouring it, the beer produced a really nice creamy head… but it was gone as fast as I could turn around. Not much lace to speak of. Let's see what she smells like. (I still feel weird writing that…)

Nose: This smells like rich malty bread. The rice isn't really coming through, but I am sure it will in both the mouthfeel and the flavor. A second whiff has me smelling some of those dark malts that were tacked about. I hope the flavor delivers.

Flavor: It's nice, but not until the end. There is a lot going on with the mouthfeel… but the flavor is really lacking for a beer that is sold by the palate. Or is it palette? You know what I mean. The best part of this beer is the finish. In the tasting notes they mentioned coffee several times, but I am not getting much coffee from this. There might be a hint of coffee in the finish, but the dark malts are all I am getting here.

Mouthfeel: At first, there isn't much going on and then it explodes into a crisp sharp malty backbone. Then, as it sits on the palate it begins to dry. I get a hint of coffee notes as it finishes, but that isn't really changing the mouthfeel. I don't want to call it boring, but it's nothing to write home about.

Aftertaste: This is the best part. It has a nice drying finish to it, but the flavor dwindles in a hurry. Right after I swallow it tastes good… and I want that flavor to continue. But it doesn't. I am still not getting any rice from this. Grab a Flying Fish Wild Rice Double IPA… THAT is what rice is supposed to taste like in a beer. If I were to buy an Asahi beer again, it would be the Super Dry. We are having sushi later. I hope they have Asahi Super Dry!

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 00:06:44 | More by rickyleepotts

pin

Australia

2.5/5  rDev -29.4%

05-28-2013 03:25:29 | More by pin

zbooks

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -8.2%

05-22-2013 22:59:56 | More by zbooks

NeverSettle

Texas

2.5/5  rDev -29.4%

05-22-2013 22:37:22 | More by NeverSettle

mcdsports

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

05-20-2013 02:07:24 | More by mcdsports

Zbeetleman

California

3/5  rDev -15.3%

05-15-2013 05:20:50 | More by Zbeetleman

rph97

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

05-10-2013 01:54:06 | More by rph97

flooshmander

California

4/5  rDev +13%

05-04-2013 07:03:39 | More by flooshmander

RaulMondesi

California

3.06/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

When in sushi, you drank sushi thangs.

Coca cola head, coca cola beer - but not bad. Maybe this is the Mexican coke of beers (sans high fructose corn syrup, insert cane sugar: the "real stuff"). Aite enough when I'm macking down some toro and mackerel, but that's about it.

Holla my children.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 04:17:27 | More by RaulMondesi

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A-dark brown with ruby hints and a light tan head and a little lacing

S-roasted malt, dark fruit, caramel, hint of chocolate

T-roasted malt, caramel, raisins, little chocolate, mild bitterness in the finish

F-light to medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth

O-OK but a little on the thin side and lacks robustness in flavor

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 03:19:26 | More by MDDMD

tbryan5

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

04-03-2013 17:53:15 | More by tbryan5

metter98

New York

3.6/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

A: The beer is clear but very dark garnet red in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high tan colored head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface, a collar around the edge, and some lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light aromas of dark malts are present in the nose along with some hints of caramel and nuts.
T: The taste has flavors of nutty and caramel malts with hints of cola; there are some hints of initial sweetness which are then followed by a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light-bodied, a little watery and a bit smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is extremely easy to drink and can be considered sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 12:05:52 | More by metter98

Ilovebeer1549

California

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

03-17-2013 23:13:59 | More by Ilovebeer1549

weerezboy

Washington

4/5  rDev +13%

03-06-2013 21:40:54 | More by weerezboy

warpedrevolution

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -8.2%

02-25-2013 04:18:09 | More by warpedrevolution

spycow

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

02-08-2013 02:02:48 | More by spycow

eulerthegrape

California

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

02-03-2013 20:12:38 | More by eulerthegrape

phishbone23

New York

1.75/5  rDev -50.6%

01-23-2013 13:43:47 | More by phishbone23

Beerswag

California

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

01-18-2013 00:52:47 | More by Beerswag

djaeon

California

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

12-24-2012 03:40:07 | More by djaeon

dog-ear

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

12-21-2012 06:01:59 | More by dog-ear

EthansBeer

4.75/5  rDev +34.2%

12-17-2012 06:36:19 | More by EthansBeer

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

11-29-2012 06:27:58 | More by KalanM

Atropheus

3.25/5  rDev -8.2%

11-07-2012 09:56:30 | More by Atropheus