Ryuhyou Draft by Abashiri Beer

It was blue. 2.75/5 stars.

Perhaps some context is needed for this beer. According to their website, this Japanese beer is made with drift ice and dyed with natural gardenia pigment. So, there you go.

Novelty beers like this one often aren’t very good. I could go on at length about a certain Oregon brewery that is known for their novelty beers in highly-decorated bottles. But I won’t. I’m not here to disparage how another person chooses to make money! The “drift ice” lager was no exception. It tasted like, I think the saying goes, “sex in a canoe.” (I’ll let your parents explain that one to you.)

This beer stands out in my memory because it stole the show at the 2016 Portland (OR) International Beerfest. It was (and still is) unique for its appearance. In the clear glassware provided, it drew the eye from across the festival grounds. When I first saw the sports beverage-colored liquid transported across my field of vision, I knew I had to find it. I whipped out the comprehensive beer guide from my back pocket, scanned the seemingly endless names, and came up short. Nothing “blue” was on the list. Now the hunt was truly on! I traced the increasing number of blue potables towards the appropriate quadrant. I identified the correct tent. So close! I found the server with the longest line. Success! Now to stand patiently in line to exchange my wooden tokens for a taster. When the interminable wait was over, I held the trembling glass in my hand. Quick! To a well-lit table! We must document the discovery!

It’s funny, I wasn’t disappointed when the beer failed to excite my other senses as much as it had delighted my eyes. Somehow I knew that something this intriguing to look at couldn’t hold up on the palate. Yet, that visual feast had been enough. I saw the same story play out again and again throughout the festival. Each person would go on their own voyage of discovery, from the initial surprise (“Blue beer?!?”) to the gentle letdown. Despite the fact that Abashiri Beer released this jewel in 2014 (ancient in the craft beer world, especially for a novelty), it still surprises and delights consumers around the world to this day. Maybe the brewers discovered the open secret that we eat (and drink) first with our eyes. Or, maybe, this beer takes us on a journey that is more important than the destination.