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Not sure which Japanese beer to try when you’re in Japan? We taste the big beers and craft beers of Japan and take the guesswork out for you. Kanpai to Japanese Beer Guide!
When we visit Japan, I love trying all the different beers that are available in the local supermarkets and grocery stores. There are hundreds of beers that are only available in Japan (at least not easily accessible in the US) and being a beer lover, it’s always an adventure to try new beers.
You’re probably familiar with Asahi, Sapporo, and Kirin beers but there are many popular craft breweries in Japan as well and it’s not too hard to find their beer throughout Japan. We previously shared a post on the different kinds of Japanese beers and here is part two of the Japanese beer tasting. Kanpai!
Where to buy Japanese Beer in Japan
You can easily find beers all over Japan, besides bars and restaurants, most convenience stores like Lawson’s and Seven-Eleven carry a decent generic selection. When in a pinch, the basement floor of department stores that sells food would also have some.
However, based on our experience if you want the best selection of Japanese beer, head to a discount supermarket like Okay Supermarket. The neighborhood Okay Supermarket near Nami’s house usually has 20+ “beer-like” drinks to choose from. The beer selection also changes based on seasons and time of year so new beers are always being rotated in.
Japanese Beer Guide – Ratings
Similar to the previous beer tasting, I’ve recruited my Japanese beer buddy (Nami’s mom) to drink and discuss each beer. We would share what we liked and what we didn’t like. Yes, we do the heavy lifting and take out the guesswork for you.
Ready to taste some beers? Kanpai! (Disclaimer: We are not professional beer tasters, simply two beer lovers trying different beers and sharing our feedback). For ratings below, any 3/5 beer is worth trying and 4/5 is fantastic, at least according to the two of us.
Japanese Big Beer and Craft Beer Reviews
Kumano Kodo Beer – Smells great, sweet, the head disappeared quickly, bitter finish. 3.5/5Karuizawa Clear Beer – Good head, fruity, light, soft water, doesn’t have a strong aroma. No dry feeling. Sweet floral after taste. 4/5Sorachi 1984 Ale Beer – Very interesting flavor, lemon, coconut, dill. Different from regular beer. Too strong for regular drinkers but great for beer lovers. 4/5Premium Yebisu – Light aroma, no bitter taste, light texture, decent head, a bit dry. Watery. 3/5Hokkaido Brewing Company Otaru Bakusyu Pilsner – Smells like regular Pilsner beer, not too outstanding, decent head. Smooth and soft texture. Strong aftertaste. 2.5/5Hokkaido Brewing Company Otaru Bakusyu Amber Ale – Sweet and hoppy smell, not much head, sweet candy finish, dry. 3/5Yona Yona Ale – Smells fruity, pale ale, good head but disappears quickly. Slight bitter flavor. 4/5Kinkura – Smells good, floral, hoppy, head disappears quickly. soft, gentle, typical Pilsner flavor. Sweet. Mineral taste. 3/5Karuizawa Black Beer – Smells Smokey, dark, caramel, soft water, tastes like caramel soda, head disappears quickly. Sweet aftertaste. 3/5Asahi Gold Label – Soft, mild, easy to drink, a bit sweet. 2.5/5Lucky Chicken Red IPA – Smells like light IPA, good head, bitter, on the dry side, hoppy. 2.5/5Premium Rich Ale – Good head, smells hoppy, tasty, dry, just slightly bitter. 4/5Asahi Prime Rich – Smells like light beer, taste like light beer, watery. 2/5Kirin Beer Ichiban Shibori – Good head, sweet, soft tasting, metallic after taste, a bit dry finish 3/5
Shiro Nigori – Citrus smell, hefeweizen, not much head, slightly dry, lemon finish. 3/5Sapporo Lager Beer – Smells like regular Sapporo, head disappears pretty quickly, sweet aftertaste, smoother than the black label. 3/5Sapporo Extra Brew Black Label – Smells clean, head disappears quickly. Taste like regular Sapporo. A bit sour at the end. 2/5Sapporo Black Beer – Not much smell, not much bubble, light, slight stout taste. The after taste was not pleasant. 2.5/5Koshihikari Echigo Beer – Smells clean, slightly sweet, nice head, not beer taste, very small bubbles, almost water-like, smooth, not much hop taste. Contains rice. 3/5Suntory Koimenohitotoki – Not horrible but no hop Taste, it’s like water. This is happoshu and not beer. 2/5The Premium Malt’s The Black – No strong smell, sparkly, light and refreshing, light stout flavor. 3/5Captain Crow Extra Pale Ale- Smells clean, sweet, strong hop taste, not sparkly, dry. 4/5Lucky Dog Pale Ale – Pale ale, smooth, flavorful, sparkly, clean, sweet, delicate.3.5/5Echigo Beer – From Niigata, smells rich, not too sparkly, almost like champagne, honey, not too hoppy.3.5/5Orion Draft Extra – Not much head. Smells floral, honey, sweet. Taste light, dry, easy to drink in summer. 3/5Lucky Cat White Beer – Like a wheat beer, hints of yuzu and peppercorn, small bubbles, refined, 4/5
Japanese Beer – Big Beer vs Craft Beer
Based on our tastings, in general, the Japanese craft beers are much better than big beers. The craft beer flavors are more pronounced and refined. A few of our favorites Japanese craft beers are from breweries in Karuizawa including Karuizawa Brewery and Yoho Brewing Company.
The most disappointing beers are the ones with the coolest packaging, but the beer is either tasteless or unpleasant. If you have tried the beers above let us know what you thought in the comments below. If your favorite beer is not on the list, let us know what it is and we’ll try to find it on our next trip to Japan.
JOC Goods, our new online shop, offering Japanese tableware and kitchenware, is now open. It is a natural extension of Just One Cookbook’s mission to teach home cooks how to prepare and enjoy delicious Japanese meals. We believe that beautifully plated food can bring joy and happiness to people’s lives.
Wishing Japan could be open to tourists but sigh, still closed atm. I’m pretty intrigued with Sorachi 1984 Ale Beer, you just listed so many different flavor notes
Paul Barnier
4 years ago
Didn’t see Coedo here, which is definitely my favourite. I also remember Abashiri Ale being good when I tried it.
We like COEDO as well and our local Japanese markets carry them sometimes. We’ll feature them in Japanese Beer part 3!
Raymund
5 years ago
Wow, I havent heard most of the beers in here. All I knew was Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo, Orion and Suntory. I love light beers hence I always order Asahi, Kirin or Sapporo when dining in a Japanese restaurant
Wishing Japan could be open to tourists but sigh, still closed atm. I’m pretty intrigued with Sorachi 1984 Ale Beer, you just listed so many different flavor notes
Didn’t see Coedo here, which is definitely my favourite. I also remember Abashiri Ale being good when I tried it.
Hi Paul,
We like COEDO as well and our local Japanese markets carry them sometimes. We’ll feature them in Japanese Beer part 3!
Wow, I havent heard most of the beers in here. All I knew was Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo, Orion and Suntory. I love light beers hence I always order Asahi, Kirin or Sapporo when dining in a Japanese restaurant
Hi Raymund,
Most Japanese restaurants in the US do not have much of a selection besides the big three. If you do see other options do give them a try!
Can’t wait to go to nijiya mkt and spend like an hr looking at their selection now. Thanks Mr JOC!
Ben
Hi Ben,
Glad you enjoyed the beer post! Do you have any favorite Japanese beer at Nijiya?