Can Japan's favorite cheap chocolate also be a good craft beer? Taste-testing Black Thunder Stout
No matter how old you are, visiting a chocolate factory will make you feel like a kid again. That was something our ace reporter Mr. Sato experienced first hand on his recent trip to the Black Thunder factory in the town of Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, where they make Japan's favorite brand of incredibly cheap, but also incredibly delicious, chocolate.
▼ Black Thunder, the chocolate that delights taste buds even if it sometimes breaks hearts
But while Mr. Sato's inner child was squealing with glee as he participated in the factory's souvenir shop activity that lets you stuff as many chocolate bars as you can inside a bag in three minutes, his inner adult couldn't help feeling drawn to…
…the Black Thunder chocolate beer?!?
Yes, they do sell beer at the Black Thunder factory, and yes, it's really made from Black Thunder. Specifically, it's made using the leftover pieces of chocolate that are broken off when the bars are formed, so as you crack open a can of Black Thunder Stout you can pat yourself on the back for doing your part to reduce food waste.
Though Black Thunder is famous for its low price, Black Thunder Stout is just a tad on the expensive side at 755 yen (US$5.20) a can. That's still an affordable luxury, though, and not a shocking price for a craft beer in today's marketplace. The beer is produced by Kagawa Prefecture-based brewer Setouchi Beer for Toyohashi craft beer company THC Craft, with the blessing of Black Thunder maker Yuraku Confectionary Company, and uses barley malt imported from the U.K. and Germany.
▼ The label, with an illustrated redhead in a tiger-stripe outfit, is clearly taking some design cues from manga artist Rumiko Takahashi, creator of Inuyasha , Ranma 1/2 , and Urusei Yatsura , whose female lead is fond of tiger-print attire herself.
But with Black Thunder being a chocolate with a pronounced sweetness, Mr. Sato wondered, and also sort of worried, that Black Thunder Stout would be a sugary-tasting beer. He felt a little better after asking the store staff about its flavor and a clerk told him that the beer, which has a five-percent alcohol content, isn't particularly sweet, and instead has an enjoyable bitterness to it.
Convinced, Mr. Sato bought a can and took it home for taste-testing.
As soon as he started pouring, Mr. Sato noticed the fine fizziness of the head, and since he likes his stouts to have this kind of creamy top, his expectations immediately rose like the foam in his glass.
Mr. Sato wasn't just pouring the can into a glass for the visual inspection, though. During the brewing process, the sugars in the chocolate pieces play a role in the fermentation process, and the resulting beer retains some of that sweet aroma. It's most noticeable with a wide-brimmed drinking vessel, and the brewers recommend a wine glass, but since Mr. Sato doesn't have one he instead used the widest-opening cup he could find in his kitchen. Sure enough, he could detect a gentle, enticing sweetness as he took a sniff before he took a sip.
And when he did take that sip? It was excellent. Gently pushing through the top layer of soft, creamy foam, he found a robust bitterness that gives the beer a sense of psychological weight. But the bitter notes weren't alone in the rich flavor profile, as they were accompanied by sensations of coffee. Surprisingly, there was no candy-like sweetness, but the flavor ends with a faint lingering chocolatey impression that tickles the nose and entices you into another sip.
Flavorful but mellow, Mr. Sato likens the Black Thunder Stout to a glass of fine wine or whiskey, something to take your time with and thoroughly enjoy. Sadly, while Black Thunder is available in pretty much every convenience store in Japan, Black Thunder Stout is harder to find, though it's sometimes available for online order through local products e-shop Toyohashi Tsushin here. However, even Black Thunder chocolate wasn't an overnight success story, and at one point early in its history was even temporarily taken off the market because of low sales before word of mouth made it the phenomenal hit it is today, so maybe we'll see Black Thunder follow a similar path.
Related: Black Thunder factory official website
Photos ©SoraNews24
● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
[ Read in Japanese ]
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NHK
2 days ago
- NHK
Kodansha targets US with manga magazine for young adults
Japanese publisher Kodansha aims to broaden the appeal of manga in the US with a plan to give away a special English-language edition of its popular magazine for young adults. "Young Magazine" is a long-running weekly in Japan, known for popular works such as the cyberpunk "Akira" series and "Initial D" on street car racers. "Young Magazine USA" will have about 1,000 pages featuring 20 titles on themes including Sci-Fi and cyberpunk. Kodansha says it is unusual for a manga magazine targeting readers other than teenagers to be published overseas. Other Japanese manga publishers are offering foreign language manga apps to try and build a global fan base. The editor in chief of Young Magazine USA says the stories target an older audience with themes of real-life struggles. "These magazines have inspiring themes. I hope to leave behind masterpieces that will be read for 50 or 100 years," he said. Kodansha will hand out the special edition at an anime event and bookstores in the US in August. Readers can vote for the story they like most on the Kodansha website. The winner will be serialized in the company's manga app in Japan and the US.
SoraNews24
2 days ago
- SoraNews24
What's inside a Japanese taco?
Taco restaurant serves up some surprises in Tokyo. You can find a lot of things in the huge metropolis that is Tokyo, but one thing that's relatively hard to find is good tacos. Our reporter Takuya Inaba has been on a mission to change that, though, hopping from place to place to try as many tacos as he can find. His latest quest took him to El Rey Amigo, a little-known spot in Tokyo's Machida City, right at the entrance to the retro Machida Nakamise Shopping Street, which is lined with long-established stores and restaurants. ▼ The colourful entrance to the shopping street will put a smile on your dial. ▼ Walking through the arcade will lead you to the secret taco spot. ▼ The menu is printed in Japanese and English, with everything reasonably priced. The low prices meant Takuya would be able to try a few different varieties, so he started by ordering the three-piece taco set for 1,000 yen (US$6.77). The flavours here are beef, beef chunks, and chicken, all topped with pickled purple cabbage and served with sauce and limes on the side. The crispy corn tortillas were fragrant and delicious, and the pickled purple cabbage added a great acidic tartness, creating an irresistible flavour. The best thing about these, though, were the fillings, which were bold in flavour, spreading spiciness and umami throughout the palate in equal amounts. They were true to Mexican-style tacos in ways you don't usually find in Tokyo, and three weren't nearly enough to satisfy Takuya's cravings. So he placed another order, this time for the 'Birria Taco' (500 yen), which is said to be all the rage in California. ▼ To eat it, you dip it in the accompanying soup. This one was surprisingly heavy to hold… and incredibly delicious to eat. T he meat, which had been marinated in vinegar, dried chillies, garlic, and a mix of herbs and spices, delivers a whollop of flavour to the taste buds. Loaded with an amazing amount of cheese, it has a super guilty flavour that's irresistible, and when you dip it in the accompanying soup… … the sense of sinful indulgence maxes out, with the rich and creamy flavour leaving you defenseless to its charms. By this stage, Takuya was happily full but he did have room for a unique taco you won't find anywhere else. ▼ The 'Japanese Taco' (800 yen) According to the menu, this taco is filled with the very Japanese flavour of okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake typically containing cabbage and eggs and served with mayonnaise, a sweet and salty sauce, and a topping of aonori (seaweed flakes) and katsuobushi (bonito flakes). The store's decision to use a soft tortilla for this taco is actually a very clever one, as it's a closer fit for the pancake-like taste and texture of a grilled okonomiyaki. Though Takuya was expecting some sort of Mexican fusion flavour when he bit into it, instead he found that it tasted exactly like an okonomiyaki, right down to the tiniest detail. It was so spot-on he found himself laughing in surprise, and the presence of yakisoba (fried noodles) inside was another unexpected discovery that added to its delicious moreishness. ▼ The noodles-and-tortilla combination makes this a filling meal so you'd only need to eat one of these to feel satisfied. The whole thing was seriously tasty, and the store's boldness in creating such out-there flavours puts this on Takuya's list of must-visit taco places to try while you're in Tokyo. Just make sure you come with an empty stomach so you can enjoy all the delicious varieties. Restaurant information El Rey Amigo Address: Tokyo-to, Machida-shi, Haramachida 4-5-18 東京都町田市原町田4丁目5ｰ18 Open: 7:00 p.m.-midnight (ends when sold out) Closed: Irregular holidays Website (Instagram) Images © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
3 days ago
- SoraNews24
This Japanese cafe for stuffed animals is a sweet day out for nuikatsu fans
Plushies are the VIP guests at this cafe, complete with tiny menus and mini desserts. Scrolling through your social media feed, you might stumble across an image of a beautiful vista that has a stuffed animal thrust into the frame. Searching further you might discover that the person who took that photo is sure to include their stuffed animal in every single shot from their vacation. This is just one example of the hobby nuikatsu, taken from nuigurumi (stuffed toy) and katsu (activity). The hobby isn't limited to travel photos at famous sightseeing spots, though. It's also about snapshots of partner plushies living their everyday lives to the fullest. A common activity is to go out for a simple meal together, showing off their plushie pals alongside delicious food and drink. For those who want to enjoy this aspect of the hobby to the fullest, there's wandering pop-up restaurant Little Lou's Cafe that has been making rounds in Tokyo; a dedicated nuikatsu cafe where you can enjoy tea and sweets with your little friend without needing to feel self-conscious about the gazes of non-nuikatsu fans. While we'd usually send one of our crack reporters to cover this intriguing location, we felt it deserved a more special treatment, given its targeted clientele, so please welcome our temporary reporter: Luu-chan. Luu-chan is a cat that has kept our Japanese-language reporter Mariko Ohanabatake company ever since she was 9 years old. Even to this day, they still share the same bed, so you know that the bond between them is both a strong and deep one, despite Mariko getting married and the family of stuffed animals increasing. ▼ Luu-chan has a great relationship with her friends. Dressing up in her favorite outfit, Luu-chan set out to explore this amazing cafe for plushies and their guardians. Arriving at the time of her reservation, she immediately noticed that the entrance had a photo spot opportunity, and couldn't resist striking a pose. Walking through the door, she was greeted by the fox manager and pastry chef, Lou-san. ▼ Luu-chan 'I've been looking forward to my first cafe visit!' Upon giving her name, she was directed to her seat, which had her own name written there. ▼ Luu-chan 'My name is here. Such amazing hospitality!' The cafe even provided a plushie-sized menu, while including an enlarged version for their guardians to peruse at the same time. It's such a warm and considerate establishment, where the guardians can feel like their plushies are truly valued. After all, they are important friends and family members. Looking through the menu, Luu-chan opted for the two sweets and one drink set for 2,300 yen (US$15.67), plus an extra 200 yen to upgrade to an ice cream float. Thinking about her beloved partner, Luu-chan selected Mariko's personal favorites of pudding, banana cake, and a melon soda float. When the plate arrived, Luu-chan was impressed once again. Not only did they include a guardian-sized portion for Mariko, but they were sure to add in a plushie-sized portion for herself, both of which were entirely edible. Sitting next to the melon soda float, Luu-chan looked down at her light green tutu and cherry-patterned bib, and remarked that she looked like a melon soda float fairy. Luu-chan was having a great time at the cafe, and was thrilled to be spending some valuable time with her guardian. Photos taken care of, she turned her attention to the food. She already rated them highly just based on the appearance, but the taste? Well, they were absolutely delicious. The firm pudding was especially amazing. The scent of egg and the gentle sweetness made them both reminisce on their time together as children. Fully immersed in a world full of kindness, cuteness, and deliciousness, the two of them couldn't wipe the smiles off of their faces. Being in such an atmosphere, it made striking up conversation with other patrons very easy. Another visitor was a rabbit named Nana-chan, who came all the way to Tokyo from the island of Shikoku with her guardian. Luu-chan could tell that they too had built a relationship full of love. They decided to take a commemorative photo together, to mark their meeting, creating a very special memory. Within the cafe, there also happened to be a little shop selling stuffed animal clothes and accessories, from tiny sizes to large. They even had a mirror just for the plushies, so they could check out how they looked. Luu-chan couldn't resist herself and tried on straw hats, sailor hats, and little purses. Everything was just too cute, but she eventually whittled the selection down to her favorite items and made her purchases. ▼ She chose a mint-colored sailor hat and a little pouch. She even decided to pick up some souvenirs for her friends waiting back at home. There was also an event where the guardians could write a message to their plush pals, which when folded form a bouquet. ▼ 'To Luu-chan, thank you for always being with me. From Mariko.' Finally, Luu-chan managed to squeeze in an interview with Lou-san, the fox patissier and creator of this wonderful cafe. Luu-chan: This cafe is so lovely. When did you start it? Lou: We started the stuffed animal cafe in 2022. Since it operates as a pop-up, it's only open a few days at a time, but recently we've been running it about two to three days a month. However, we can sometimes get so many reservations that we often have to use a lottery system to determine who can visit. Luu-chan: Wow, it's so popular! What's the hardest part about running a cafe for plushies? Lou: Due to the sweets being different sizes for the guests and their guardians, the molds and baking times are different, so that is probably the trickiest part. Luu-chan: How did you decide on the menu? Lou: The first thing I consider is whether I can make a version for plushies. As it is always their satisfaction that comes first, I always try to consider it from the perspective of other plushies when designing the menu. Luu-chan: That's the hallmark of a true plush patissier. Everything tasted amazing, and we were both completely satisfied. I'll definitely bring my friends along next time, too. As Luu-chan made her way back home, she couldn't help, but reflect on her life. When she and Mariko were younger, they would always go out together, but after Mariko left her behind once, the traumatic memory caused her to become a stay-at-home friend. So, for Luu-chan, this outing was very special for her, becoming an irreplaceable memory. In every photo, she's looking straight at the camera, posing perfectly, and radiating happiness. Luu-chan hopes that she and Mariko will continue to share beautiful memories together for many years to come. She also didn't forget to brag about her trip out to her friends when she got home. ▼ 'I went to a cafe!' Little Lou's Cafe is a pop-up store that opens irregularly, so if you and your beloved plushies want to visit, you will need to check out the next event dates on their social media accounts. However, it is reservation only, so unfortunately you can't walk in if you happen to pass by. The store will next open on August 12, 13 and 17 at Una Camera Livera in Tokyo. Even if you don't get a chance to visit the cafe, it shouldn't stop you from creating wonderful memories with your own childhood friends. Sure it might feel a little awkward at first, but remember that even the Japanese ambassador to the UK is getting in on the nuikatsu action, so you should relax and treasure the time you have with someone you have spent so many years loving deeply. Shop information Little Lou's Cafe Address and opening times are non-fixed. Refer to the shop's social media pages: Instagram; Twitter Reservations are open for a 24-hour period that will be announced on the Instagram page. Reservations for August are finished. Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
