Kyoto Beer Lab Norwegian Raw Ale 7.2% Review

Kyoto Beer Lab Norwegian Raw Ale 7.2% Review

This article is based on a past tasting experience, updated in June 2025.

【#rihobeer No. 468】Kyoto Beer Lab Norwegian Raw Ale 7.2%
Recommended Craft Beer

Here’s an introduction to this recommended craft beer, including where to buy it and its flavor profile. Use it as a reference for your next beer pick!

What Kind of Craft Beer Is This?

Beer Characteristics

When Did I Buy It?

This was a gift from a friend！Thank you！

Where Did I Buy It?

Kyoto Beer Lab growler takeaway

Beer Style Guidelines

Since no official style description was available, I’ll reference similar styles and descriptions from other breweries brewing the same style. I’ll cite Classic Saison from the Raw Ale perspective and Mild Ale from the English Ale perspective.

66. Classic Saison

Classic Saison ranges in color from straw to light amber. Chill haze or slight yeast haze is acceptable. Fruity esters are medium to high. Hop aroma and flavor are low to medium, with European hop varieties contributing floral, herbal, and woody character. Hop bitterness is medium-low to medium and never overpoweringこと。Malt aroma and flavor are at low levels but serve as the foundation for overall balance.Phenolic character harmonizes with esters and hops without unpleasant harshness.Accompanied by fruity ester aromas and Belgian yeast-derived black pepper-like spice.Fruity with subtle acidity,ホースィー（馬臭）、ゴーティー（山羊臭）、レザリー（革臭）など、ブレタノマイセス酵母由来のフレーバーが非常にロー・レベルで感じられるものもあるが、必ずしも必須ではない。アテニュエイション（発酵度）が高く、ボトル内二次発酵を行って特定の酵母由来のキャラクターを付与したり、カーボネーションを高める場合も多い。ダイアセチルが感じられても、非常にロー・レベルであれば許される。ボディは非常にライトからライトの範囲。

• Original Gravity (Plato)：1.040-1.060 (10.0-14.7)
• Final Gravity (Plato)：1.004-1.008 (1.0-2.1)
• ABV ：5.0-6.8% ABV
• Bitterness Units：20-38 IBU
• Color：3-7 SRM (6-14 EBC)

https://beertaster.org/beerstyle/2204_detail/2204_066.html#j066

75-A. English-Style Pale Mild Ale

English Pale Mild Ale ranges in color from light amber to medium amber. Chill haze is acceptable. Fruity esters are very low to medium-low. Hop aroma, flavor, and bitterness are very low to low. Malt flavor is dominant. Very low diacetyl is desirable as a characteristic of these low-alcohol beers. Body is light to miディアム・ライトの範囲。

• Original Gravity (Plato)：1.030-1.036 (7.6-9.0)
• Final Gravity (Plato)：1.004-1.008 (1.0-2.1)
• ABV ：3.4-4.3% ABV
• Bitterness Units：10-20 IBU
• Color：6-9 SRM (12-18 EBC)

https://beertaster.org/beerstyle/2204_detail/2204_075.html

As every brewer knows, you have to boil the wort to make beer. That’s what we’ve been taught. Yet remarkably, for centuries, many regions of Scandinavia and traditional farmhouse brewers have continued to make ‘raw beer’ with a unique smoothness — without boiling the wort at all. Incidentally, the Japanese term ‘nama beer’ (draft beer) commonly used refers to beer that isn’t heat-treated after the aging process, which isa term used for draft beer. Confusingly, these two have completely different meanings, so we call our beer ‘Raw Ale’ (meaning a raw/unboiled ale). The purposes of boiling wort include: sterilizing the wort, removing unwanted proteins, eliminating unpleasant aromas, and extracting hop flavor and bitterness. While this is not wrong, it represents the best method for making beer safely and deliciously, andあり、絶対条件ではなかったのです。詳しい醸造方法の説明は避けますが、常識とは違う醸造工程に好奇心と不安の両方が入り乱れました。麦汁を煮込まずに作り上げる「Raw Ale」は、通常ジンのAromaの元としても有名なジュニパーという針葉樹を麦汁に浸け込んで苦みと風味を付けます。今回はRaw AleそのもののニュートラルなTasteを確認したかったためジュニパーを使用しませんでした。その代わりに、Tasteが薄っぺらくならないための対策として、トーストやクッキーのような穀物の豊かなTasteが強く感じられる英国産Maris Otter（マリスオッター）という麦芽を100％で使用しました。また、ホップには何世紀にもわたって英国の最高級ホップとして愛されてきたEast Kent Golding（イーストケントゴールディング）を使って、花や牧草のようなナチュラルな風味でAromaづけしています。いわゆる「SMaSH（スマッシュ）」と呼ばれる「Single Malt and Single Hop」でつくった、英国産イングリッシュエールの生バージョンとも言えます。これで比較もしやすくなったのではないでしょうか。独特の滑らかな質感、麦畑のような穀物の豊かなTaste、しとやかなホップの風味が特徴の古くて新しい「生」の体験を楽しんでください。

http://hopkotan.com/freedoms/fairy-tale/ From Hop Kotan

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rihobeer.com

2022.10.22

Craft Beer Review

Appearance (SRM)

Around 6-7. Yellow, but looks brownish away from light.

Aroma

Aroma (Orthonasal)

Grain-like aroma characteristic of Raw Ales. Sharp acidity hits. Hops are quite restrained. Banana-like aroma from the yeast. Strong almond-like notes typical of Raw Ales.

Flavor (Retronasal)

Grape skin-like acidity rises. Possibly from juniper berries? Somewhat gin-like impression.

Taste

Mouthfeel

Silky entry. Quite protein-rich as expected from a Raw Ale. Accompanied by acidity.

Body and Texture

Medium to full body, leaning heavily toward full. Feels quite light on the tongue, but I think more protein should be retained for this style. The grain character is slightly lacking.

The Swallow

Full-bodied mouthfeel with richness and substance. Heavy in the Raw Ale fashion. Milky — like drinking milk.

Aftertaste

Dry, yet a juniper berry-like fruity aroma similar to grape skin comes through cleanly.

Dregs

Strong yeast presence. Hops are, as expected, subtle. Gentle.

Tasting Notes

Since Norwegian Raw Ale doesn’t exist in the Beer Style Guidelines, I’m scoring based on my interpretation.

Aroma (Out of 10)

Malt (Out of 3)

2

Hops (Out of 3)

3

Other (Out of 4)

3

Fruity character from juniper berry adjunct. Could be from hops?

Appearance (Out of 6)

Color (Out of 2)

2

Clarity (Out of 2)

2

Head Retention (Out of 2)

0

Absolutely no head retention. Could use a bit more.

Flavor (Out of 19)

Malt (Out of 3)

2

Could use a bit more malt character.

Hops (Out of 3)

3

Restrained yet harmonizing well with the yeast esters.

Condition (Out of 2)

2

Thank you for the fresh sample.

Aftertaste (Out of 3)

2

Not bad, but slightly too dry.

Balance (Out of 4)

3

Feels slightly light.

Other (Out of 4)

4

Fruity with a slight peppery quality — the juniper berry character is delicious.

Body (Out of 5)

4

Slightly thin.

Overall Impression (Out of 10)

7

Absolutely delicious.

Total (Out of 50)

39

Overall Impression

This was truly an excellent beer!

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クラフトビールのふるさと納税完全ガイド

ふるさと納税で手に入るクラフトビールをブルワリー別にまとめました。納税先を検討中の方は参考にしてください。

rihobeer.com

2024.07.05

We regularly update our recommended craft beers available on Rakuten. Check it out!

【2026年3月更新】今楽天で買えるおすすめクラフトビール

楽天で買えるクラフトビールのうち、気になるものをピックアップしました。定期更新していくので、ビールが買いたくなった時に覗いてみてください。

rihobeer.com

2022.10.22

🏆 Overall Rating

🛒 Where to Buy

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