Suntory Craftsman’s Beer / Enjuku no Umami

It is obvious they put a lot of effort into this brew. Great stuff.

Name: Suntory Craftsman’s Beer / Enjuku no Umami

Launch: October 14, 2014

Ingredients: Malt, hops

Alcohol content: 5.5%

Tax category: Beer

Company: Suntory Holdings

Note: Limited quantity sold only at Aeon Group stores.

Fuyu Kirin

See details here for winter 2014 beer battle.

Name: Fuyu Kirin
Launch:
Ingredients: Happōshu (malt, hops, barley, corn, sugars), spirits (barley)
Alcohol content: 5%
Tax category: New Genre (liquor)
Company: Kirin Brewery

Suntory Fuyo no Hōjun

See details here for winter 2014 beer battle.

Name: Suntory Fuyo no Hōjun

Launch date: 

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

Alcohol content: 5%

Tax category: Beer

Company: Suntory Holdings

Note: Seasonal edition.

Asahi Fuyu no Okurimono

See details here for winter 2014 beer battle.

Name: Asahi Fuyu no Okurimono

Launch: Sep. 30, 2014

Ingredients: Happōshu (malt, hops, barley, corn starch, flavor enhancer [amino acid]), spirits (barley)

Alcohol content: 5.5% or above but less than 6.5%

Tax category: New genre

Company: Asahi Breweries
Note: Seasonal edition

Winter Lineup 2014

Tested some winter edition beers today with Józsi. To me, after yesterday's major drinking, they all tasted the same. However, Józsi came up with an actual ranking.

 

1. Suntory: Fuyu no hōjun
2. Kirin: Fuyu kirin
3. Asahi: Fuyu no okurimono

 

 

P.S. Sapporo did put out a winter beer, but their's is real beer; therefore, it is uncomparable with these third-type stuff.

Asahi Hop Kaoru Pink no Beer Cocktail

Yep, pink beer, this is what the market needed. It tastes like rose hip...tea...or something.

Name: Asahi Hop Kaoru Pink no Beer Cocktail
Launch: Oct. 7, 2014
Ingredients: Malt extract, hops, sugars, dietary fiber, soybean protein, yeast extract, rose hip juice powder, anthocyanin pigment, flavor enhancer (amino acid), sweetener (acesulfame-K)
Alcohol content: 4%
Tax category: Happōshu
Company: Asahi Breweries Note: Limited volume.

Grand Kirin Battle

Compared some Kirin beers sold only at convenient stores for a premium price of 245 yen per bottle. Kirin started an entirely new strategy on the market. While one of the beers is sold at all convenient stores, the other ones are sold only at a specific store only. Miki was my partner in crime sorting these babies out. Anyways, without further ado, here is our ranking. 

Miki's ranking
1. Mild rich (Lawson)
2. The aroma (7-Eleven)
3. Hop fruity (Family Mart)
4. Browny (Circle-K/Sunkus)
5. Rich malt & dip hop (All stores)

My ranking
1. The aroma
2. Mild rich
3. Hop fruity
4. Browny
5. Rich malt & dip hop

 

 Pictures: Before/after. Haha!