Judge's Review: 90 Rating - COEDO Shikkoku by COEDO Brewery

COEDO Shikkoku by COEDO Brewery is a black lager and is being evaluated as an International Dark Lager (category 2C in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). International Dark Lager is a catch-all category for moderately strong, dark-colored lagers that do not fit well into other styles such as Munich Dunkel or Schwarzbier. International Dark Lagers are typically restrained in roast and caramel malt character, have a low hop level and exhibit a clean lager fermentation. “Shikkoku” is one of the many Japanese words to describe the color black, typically referring to ‘jet black’.

Shikkoku pours black in color, is almost opaque, and sports a small, fading, light brown head. The aroma is moderate roasted malt with a hint of smokiness; no hops or esters are present. The flavor is similarly roasty with light chocolate and a hint of caramel malts with just a slight sweetness. The beer finishes with a moderately light bitterness and a lingering light roasted malt.

Shikkoku has more roasted malt character than typical International Dark Lagers (but as this is a catch-all category we do not see a need to penalize the beer for this feature). The flavor has a little depth to the maltiness but not so much that it becomes a thick and chewy beer. This is a well-brewed, easy-to-drink dark lager. Kanpai!