Fall Lineup 2013

The limited edition beers of the fall season are out in full force. Of course, I couldn't miss the chance to take a look-see of these bad boys. Originally I was gonna write a book about their ins and outs, and their intricate connection to the universe, but after a long day of drinking with my good friend Miki, I decided to make it a brief ranking.

Miki's ranking
1. Furano no aki (富良野の秋, Sapporo 5%)
2. Akiaji (秋味, Kirin 6%)
3. Akiraku (秋楽, Suntory 6%)
4. Akiyoi (秋宵, Asahi 6%)

My ranking
1. Akiraku
2. Furano no aki
3. Akiaji
4. Akiyoi

Gingakōgen Beer

I'm not a big fan of wheat beer, but this one is pretty good. It has a nice conservative taste without that strong yeast-like aftertaste which most wheat beers have. Has a weird name though, Ginga Kōgen or Galaxy Plateau. What's weirder is the explanation of its meaning on the company's English website. Supposedly, Galaxy represents "dream and roman" and Plateau indicates "famous natural waterh." Yeah, that's right, roman and waterh. But let's not make fun of these hard-working beer brewers, because they did their best to come up with this stuff, their website goes on to say "Repeated trial and error and bloody effort resulted in the birth of the good-quality Weizen beer." Enjoy!

Brand: Gingakōgen Beer

Ingredients: Malt (wheat, barley), hops
Alcohol content: 5%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Gingakōgen Beer
Location: Waga district, Iwata prefecture

Suntory Gran Dry

Taste-wise, it is pretty close to Asahi's Prime Rich, but it loses out in alcohol percentage (only 5% as opposed to Prime Rich's 6%). In addition, they should've put some more effort into the can's design.

Name: Suntory Gran Dry

Type:

Ingredients: Happōshu (malt, hops, sugars), spirits (wheat), carbon dioxide

Alcohol content: 5%

Tax category: New genre (liquor)

Company: Suntory Holdings

Suntory Kinmugi Rich Malt

Let me introduce my all-time favorite lover Kinmugi from Suntory. Although she's been around for years, my love for her doesn't seem to end. She's always there for me on hot summer days or late at night after a long day of work. She's cool on the lips, but does tricks to your mind. Give her a try.

Name: Suntory Kinmugi Rich Malt

Type:

Ingredients: Happōshu (malt, hops, sugars), spirits (wheat), carbon dioxide

Alcohol content: 5%

Tax category: New genre (liquor)

Company: Suntory Holdings

Asahi Super Dry - Dry Premium

Limited edition. Pretty good.

Name: Asahi Super Dry - Dry Premium
Launch: Jun. 11, 2013 as part of gift pack.
Ingredients: Malt, hops, rice, corn, starch
Alcohol content: 5.5%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Asahi Breweries
Note: First as part of gift pack. General sales from Feb. 18, 2014.

Asahi Classic Premium

Not bad, but it's a bit on the watery side.

Name: Asahi Classic Premium
Launch: Jun. 25, 2013
Ingredients: Malt, hops
Alcohol content: 5%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Asahi Breweries
Note: Sold only at UNY Group stores for a limited time period.

Sapporo Hokkaidō Premium

When you really cannot say anything about your product you advertise it with slogans like "sugasugashii atoaji" (refreshing aftertaste). It's not bad, but it's a bit on the sweet side.

Name: Sapporo Hokkaidō Premium
Ingredients: Happōshu (malt, hops, barley, sugars), spirits (barley)
Alcohol content: 5%
Tax category: New Genre (liquor)
Company: Sapporo Breweries

Kai Hai

Despite the weird name (Kai Hai), it's a nice beer-tasting beverage. Goes down smoothly and is an excellent thirst quencher on hot summer days.

Name: Kai Hai
Type:
Ingredients: Happōshu, spirits (mugi, rice)
Alcohol content: 5%
Tax category: New Genre (liquor)
Origin: Korea

Suntory Sweet Rich

Ok. I wanted to end my long weekend of omatsuri and bbq with a challenge, so I tried this joke of a beer. The valium I had drink at my last health check tasted better than this. Sweetened beer? What the heck were they thinking?

Name: Suntory Sweet Rich

Type:

Ingredients: Happōshu (malt, hops, sugars, dietary fiber, essence, sweeteners [acesulfame K, sucralose], spirits (wheat), carbon dioxide

Alcohol content: 4%

Tax category:

Company: Suntory Holdings

Asahi The Extra

Wow! This is what I call beer. With a 6.5 percent punch to it! Definitely a keeper!

Name: Asahi The Extra
Launch: Sep. 25, 2012
Ingredients: Malt, hops
Alcohol content: 6.5%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Asahi Breweries
Note: Sold only at 7&i Holdings stores. First as limited edition (2012). Year round from 2013.

Echigo Beer - Pilsner

Pretty good. Tastes like Premium Malt's with a nice little regional twist to it. Give it a try!

Name: Echigo Beer - Pilsner

Ingredients: Malt (barley, wheat), hops, wheat, coriander, orange peel, ginger
Alcohol content: 5%
Tax category: Happōshu (malt content over 50%)
Company: Echigo Beer
Location: Niigata city, Niigata prefecture