Let me tell you something, writing beer reviews is a process. Maybe you’ve wondered why the date of my review is usually different (later) than the date that I actually drank the beer? It’s true. That’s because writing beer reviews is a process. First, I buy the beer. It might be in cans or bottles, in a crowler or growler, or on draft. Then, I drink the beer and take my tasting notes, jotting down any observations and random thoughts that might pop into my head. That’s  that.

Then, though, comes the review itself. I usually alternate between a canned, bottled or crowler/growler beer drank at home and a beer I drank on tap at Taco Mac or a brewery. I do drink more beer at home, and I tend to write one review a day average, so I build up a backlog of packaged beer to write about. Hence the lag time.

What does all of this have to do with Sweetwater Torikumi Wasabi Infused Blonde Ale? Simple. Sometimes, a beer is interesting enough that I “fast track” it ahead of the others and review it pretty much as I’m drinking it. That’s the case with Sweetwater Torikumi. Truth be told, they had me at “wasabi”, and as soon as I heard about this beer I made it a mission to find some. Fortunately, I didn’t have to look too far, and scored a 4-pack right around the corner at Uncle Jack’s package store.

I drank a can the night I bought them, penned my thoughts to paper (OK, more like typed it into Word on my Surface) and here I am, a scant few days later sharing with you on Bruguru.com.

From the can label:

Sumo Danko vs King Dragon Fish: Two men enter, one man leaves.

Sumo Danko hails from the back hills of Georgia, is feared and revered for his fists of fury, oversized sack of hops, low-grade narcolepsy, and a penchant for buggery.

King Dragon Fish is a mountain dweller from TaHellYaRide, with an insane ability to break trees with his ankles, occasional bouts with gout and high altitude tommy boy foolishness; usually found face down.

The fighters strapped on their mawashis and laid the base for the brawl with 2-Row wheat, Carapils, Oat Flakes and Rye-both Sumos anticipating a high alc 7.5% ABV encounter. Sensing hop superiority, Danko charged forward, slapping bellies with Dragon Fish, delivering a fresh wasabi chop that blew out his mawashi. The wasabi blast finished it off with a stinging euphoria that opened the Sumo’s senses, cleared their minds, and made them want to jump in for round two.

I paid $9.99 for 4 16-ounce cans of Sweetwater Torikumi Wasabi Infused Blonde Ale, a collaboration with Colorado’s Telluride brewery and part of the Dank Tank series of beers. My can is stamped with a best by date of 10/13/17 on the bottom.

Sweetwater Torikumi Wasabi Infused Blonde Ale pours to a murky blonde color with a thick rocky head formation and a soft grassy hop and spicy wasabi nose. Taking a sip, the beer has a soft wheaty bready maltiness up front with hints of spicy rye and smooth oatmeal. The wasabi comes out in all its green vegetal glory, though it’s not as spicy and pungent as I want it to be. Still, it’s there, and intensifies a little into the gently bitter finish.

I did get the wasabi here, enough to think this would be a great beer with sushi. But wasabi is in your face. it's robust. It's fragrant. It's pungent. The best of it burns through your nostrils like a rhino with his ass on fire. Nothing like that here, and that brings the beer down a bit for me. I would drink it again, and pair it with sushi for sure. I would sure like a little more fire in my nostrils when I drink it, though.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

 

 

 

 



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