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Thursday, December 09, 2010

Asahi Black


Asahi Black. A somewhat arcane beer that I'd seen a few times when reading old, old beer books with titles like 'The Worlds Greatest Beers' or 'Beer: An Aficionado's Guide' and usually written by Jackson or Protz circa 1990. I don't mind Asahi, as It goes, as long it's it's colder than cold and there's something suitably fiery food-wise that's it's dousing down. But Black? Never had it.

Not until Foley's Dean alerted me to the Leeds branch of Gerry's, a pretty good wine and whiskey merchant that's opened up in Leeds. Aside from Wine and Whiskey, they have a decent beer range - so drop by if you want to buy some decent beer in Leeds City Centre.

Anyway - back to the beer. Asahi Black. Looked great in the fridge, with that cool gold label, and it somehow fits this weather, being all lager-y but also a bit roasty. And...well, that's about it. With a tawny head and a great red streak coming through the glass it if you hold it the light, there's a slight hint of Liquorice on the nose. There's not much body to speak of, just that dry Asahi sort of graininess. The finish has a little bitter chocolate, and a weird lactic creaminess to finish. It doesn't taste 5%, but you wouldn't want loads of the stuff.

Would I try it again? Probably, yeah, but I wouldn't go out of my way to. Still, that's another one from the vaults that I can 'tick' off.


Gerry's is just next to North Bar; and if you don't know where that is, you shouldn't be reading this blog!

4 comments:

Adrian Tierney-Jones said...

Always found it a bit thin, like toast that had been on at number three in the toaster and then forgotten about for 5 minutes before being handed out when as hard and crumbly as a badly made bathroom tile and just as appetising. Sometimes lovely looking labels are just lovely looking labels…

Leigh said...

ATJ- yep, youre right. The love of labels has key me down !!

Anonymous said...

I've had it in Wagamama. It's nice to have an alternative to normal Asahi or the several other virtually identical Asian pilsners that they have, but doesn't wow me.

Anonymous said...

I actually liked this beer a lot. I thought it had a great mouth-feel (smooth and not nearly as watery as I expected) and I was happy that the roast character held out for the whole way through. Although my opinion of beers overall has been skewed by drinking gallons of Korean macros. But, as they say, 'when in Rome.'
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