Sapporo's Chocolat Brewery

Here is a great post from the guys over at Good Beer and Country Boys, a blog created about the first by the latter. Two native Kentuckians chronicle their search for great beer in The Land of the Rising Sun! As a fellow beer lover and US military veteran, I am happy to find this blog. Be sure to check out their beer map and be sure to recommend some good beer to the country boys to review.

My girlfriend came back from Kyoto with all of the ji-beer that she could carry, and as can see from the pics from Friday's post--Sapporo's limited edition Chocolat Brewery 'Beers' arrived. Of course I say 'beers' becuase Chocolat Brewery actually falls into the happoshu category...For starters, this beer is chocolatey. I mean as soon as you crack the top, the whole room smells like chocolate. I will be the first to tell you that I am not a big chocolate fan...well, what I mean is that I'm not a sweet chocolate fan. A chocolate stout that derives its flavor from roasted malt is fine. Hershey Kisses--not so much.This beer tastes like Japanese nama-chocolate, and Michi loved it. She's not a fan of other 'dark' beers, but this one was different. She loves all things chocolate and this was no exception. I thought it was good, and a novelty--but nothing amazing. I am worried that if Nate tastes it he will compare it to Chocola, becuase you can pick up on cocoa taste.All in all, it's a novelty and for that it's great. It arrived just in time for Valentine's Day and served its purpose. This beer isn't going to be your favorite and it's not going to win any awards. But then, that wasn't the point was it? It would be good to drink with vanilla ice cream as a dessert. At a grill-out? Not so much.I do have several more left, and I think I'll save 'em for when friends come and visit. I'll let you know the verdict.Check back often this week as Nate has TONS of beer news to tell from his weekend in Tokyo and I'll be reviewing some Kyoto beers. Next weekend we have plans to head to Mie to drink some ji-beer and continue the quest to visit every microbrewery in Honshu. You gotta have goals people.