WWED Grade: B

Appearance: Cloudy. Orange/Golden. Little sediment on the bottom.

Smell: The first time I had this beer I smelled a sweet orange, floralness. After a friend asked me to think of olives – that’s all I could smell. Absolutely smells like a can of green olives. Which doesn’t sound as appealing to me – but I still liked it.

Taste: Skunky sweet. Hints of orange and lemon. Like a Japanese Hefeweisen.

Mouthfeel: Smooth. Very drinkable.

ABV: 8.5%

Serving Type: 16 oz bottle poured in glass.

I had this beer recently for the first time at Umami in San Francisco. One of my absolute favorite Japanese restaurants in the city. Always looking to try new beers – our server sold me on this “trendy” Red Rice Ale. Uh…red rice? Sounded interesting. I smelled hints of vanilla, and orange – and absolutely loved this beer. So – I thought I’d give it a proper review. Upon a second, more concentrated and semi-unbiased review. I still enjoyed it, though maybe not as much. A friend of mine nailed the smell of a jar of green olives. Which doesn’t sound appetizing – but if you can get past this, you may still enjoy this beer. I’d compare it to a Japanese version of a Hefeweizen. Definitely worth drinking. Was a nice accompaniment to sushi. Enjoy…