Rating: 4.25/5

Ise Kadoya IPA by Nikenjatamochi Kadoya Honte is a 7%ABV Japanese IPA. This is not Asahi or Sapporo or Kirin although some of those beers pair decently with some sushi. This is actual craft beer. Ise Kadoya usually makes miso and soy sauce in accordance to ancient tradition in what the label says, an old wooden building in old Ise. They brew beer in small batches in the same traditional and natural way. When I first open this beer it was definitely not the typical tropical super piney IPA. The beer actually smells more like a barley wine. Think of it as Stone Old Guardian. The taste is more sweeter than the typical IPA. There is a lot more barley, honey and caramel in the flavor of this beer. There is some minor orange, apricot with earthy and soy after taste. For some reason, as I try this beer, I imagine having this with some nice sushi. The barley wine feel reminds me of the little bit of salty sweetness you get from soy sauce on some rice. It is quite delicious. The bitterness is only minor but its is somewhat like earthy hops. Wish they really had this at a restaurant…LOL maybe they do I just have to find the really nice one that has Japanese craft beer. I would recommend this is you are a fan of IPAs but also of Barley wines 😛