Inspireed by the Japanese flavor palette, we combined plums, black rice and pilsner to make a unique beer experience. Brewed “Dry” in the asian manner, Ume Umai is fruity yet earthy and above all, refreshing and delicious.
==Introduction==

Its been a long time for a Gigantic beer review. I don’t often get a chance to try their beers but they have been coming out more frequently however. Which hopefully I will be trying more if something intrigues my eyes. Ume Umai or Japanese for “Delicious Plum” is the beer I bring forth. With Plum and Black Rice or Forbidden rice which is mainly native to countries such as China, Thailand and Indonesia. An interesting ingredient at that and some forms of this rice comes in like a purple color.

Aromas:
Plum soda, Sake hints, Red bean ice cream mochi balls, peppercorn spice, caramel, vanilla, bubble gum, clove spice, bananas, oranges, Lychee fruit, Coriander spice, sakura cakes, ginger spice hints, grape skins, guava notes, lavender, sweet rice balls, cane sugar, apples, floral hops and cereal grain.

Flavors:
Oranges, Lychee fruit, Coriander spice, Rice pudding, stone fruit peaches, apricots, dark fruit plums, Red bean ice cream mochi balls, peppercorn spice, caramel, vanilla, bubble gum, clove spice, bananas, rice cakes, sakura cakes, ginger spice hints, grape skins, guava notes, sake notes, sweet rice balls, cane sugar, apples, floral hops, hibiscus, lavender hints, sweetened condensed milk, biscuit bread, plum sauce and cereal grain.

Aftertaste:
Leaving traces of dark fruits, stone fruits, hints of tropics, earthy notes, rice pudding, sakura cakes and coriander spice with oranges. No alcohol in the taste, cloudy full golden body, creamy, crispt, effervescent and full mouthfeel and a moderate drinkability.

Overall:
Very good brew with some very Japanese like flavors especially the rice dessert flavors. With the plum combination, this turned out to be very sweet and interesting. Being a smooth and lagerish like beer full of a complex flavor that was definitely worthy of merits. While it was not super boastful in its flavors as it was not head on fruits but lightly noted, it definitely gave it some credit for being above refreshing. Worth a try and maybe more.

Anime Corner:
Wo-Class from Kancolle/Kantai Collection was used in this pairing since I wanted to pair a character that has an octopus or some kind of tentacle monster on their head and went well with the flavors and ingredients of the beer like the color of the dark fruits and plums as well as the rice patties from where the black rice came from. Simply put, pairing that works with the beer label and flavors and colors.