Note: this is repost of an 8-year-old blog post.i
Nippon Beer's Shironigori
The Shironigori is such a good "Weißbier" I was tempted to go back to my local Lawson's convenience store and buy their entire stock. The can says this beer is shipped directly from Belgium. I'm not sure if that is a marketing gimmick or fact. Anyways, get it while supplies last.
Suntory's The Royal Bitter
Not bad. Tastes like something you might find in a British pub, only with more of a head on it.
Asahi's Aki Yoi
Much cheaper than Aki Aji, this happôsei (see Happôshu) from Asahi called Aki Yoi (an early evening in autumn) also has none of the charm of Kirin's seasonal beer. Treat yourself to a Suntory Kaku High Ball, instead.
Yona Yona Ale
A very hoppy beer that reminds me of a good microbrew you might find in Oregon. A real keeper.
Price: ¥260
Sapporo's Nihon no Irodori
"The Color or Spice of Autumn", made with "some" barley harvested in Hokkaidô, is a remarkably unremarkable beer. Glad I bought the smaller can.
By the way, why is everything called "Premium" these days? Perhaps I can get a t-shirt with that written boldly on the chest.
Price: ¥224
Kirin's Ichiban Shibori Stout
Lessee.
First off, the can states, "Just taste 'Ichibanshibori Stout.' The first wort gives a marvelously deep taste. The aroma of roasted malt and smooth creamy from enrich your precious time." That was either written by a fiendish drunk, or was meant as a kind of Buddhist kôan to meditate over while you enjoyed your brewsky. Whichever the case, this stout just doesn't quite live up to the advertised hype. A marvelously deep taste? Not really. A deep-ish taste, perhaps. Smooth and creamy? Nah. It does have have a good aroma, though, one which reminds me of my home-brewing days. Now that I think about it, I could have made this beer myself, and Kirin could have done much better.
Want a good stout? Treat yourself to a Guinness.
Alc./Vol 5%
Price: ¥217
Kirin's Tanrei Draft
This was disappointing. I was hoping for the poor man's version of Kirin's Aki Aji. What I got was Kirin's Tanrei happôshu (low malt beer), the same old crap in a colorful, autumny can.
Live and learn. Fortunately, this lesson was cheap: only ¥141.
Alc./Vol 5.5%
Helios Goya Dry
Helios Goya Dry from Uchinaa (Okinawa) is made with goya (nigauri, a bitter gourd native to the island). Because of its novel recipe Goya Dry can't legally be called a beer. I found a beer from Karuizawa that was also classified as a hôpposhu because it had contained coriander/cilantro.
A sticker on the can says Goya Dry has been crowned gold medal winner at a number of beer contests in Japan. Is it really that good? You'll have to find that out for yourself. I will say, though, that it is certainly both bitter and dry.