Chichibu 2014 Sample Beer Cask Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange

Billy Abbott, The Whisky Exchange

• Nose

  Piles of fruit and grain. Granola and porridge piled high with mango, papaya, guava, pineapple and sultanas, all dried and rehydrating in the creaminess. Chocolate milk and rich milk chocolate develop, along with more savoury dark grains and leafy hints – very green. Butter toffee pokes in around the sides along with a slice of Millionaire’s Shortbread.

• Palate

  A huge burst of fruity hops leads the charge: big green leafiness and layers of mango, pineapple, sharp white grape and bitter green leaves, all backed up by a hoppy medicinalness – like licking a handful of hop pellets. That fades through dusky hoppy spice to more familiar flavours: green grass, stewed apple, meadow flowers and crisp, sweet pastry, although all with a leafy, hoppy background.

• Finish

  Medicinal hops linger, with dried and fresh pineapple fading to spice and green grass.