Asahi Super Dry - Dry Premium - Kaoritate Koku no Premium

Not impressed at all. Asahi is going for the impossible and miserably fails. I have a feeling that their product philosophy is to maintain the Asahi Super Dry taste but at the same time come up with something new. Limited design freedom results in limited success.

Name: Asahi Super Dry - Dry Premium - Kaoritate Koku no Premium
Launch: Feb. 17, 2015
Ingredients: Malt, hops, rice, corn, starch
Alcohol content: 6.5%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Asahi Breweries Note: Limited edition.

BrewDog Punk IPA

Judging by the can design, I didn't expect much. Uh, but was I wrong? It smells great and tastes even better. Kinda pricey, but give it a try.

Name: BrewDog Punk IPA
Ingredients: Malt, hops
Alcohol content: 5.6% 
Tax category: Beer
Origin: Scotland  
Notes: 330ml can.

Chang

Not bad. Slightly sweet, typical Southeast Asian beer.

Name: Chang
Ingredients: Malt, hops
Alcohol content: 5% 
Tax category: Beer
Origin: Thailand
Notes: 330ml can.

Asahi Craftmanship Dry Porter

Wow! Truly great brew. I am not really into porter, but this one might just change my mind about it.
The can design is kind of simple, but it is still a nice change compared to the usual "ASAHI and same paint slapped around it" type of design.

Name: Asahi Craftmanship Dry Porter
Launch: Feb. 10, 2015
Ingredients: Malt, hops
Alcohol content: 6%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Asahi Breweries
Note: Sold at convenience stores only.

Helios Tenshi no Red Ale

Wow! Great brew. Huge surprise. Just like the can says, "Awa made oishii bīru desu." (Delicious beer, down to the foam.)

Name: Helios Tenshi no Red Ale

Ingredients: Malt, hops
Alcohol content: 5%
Tax category: Beer 
Company: Helios Brewery 
Location: Nago city, Okinawa prefecture 

Orion Ichiban Sakura

 Pretty good stuff. Tastes kind of like Asahi Super Dry.

Name: Orion Ichiban Sakura
Ingredients: Malt, hops
Alcohol content: 5%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Orion Breweries 
Note: Available only during the spring.

Primus

 Good stuff. A bit on the pricey side though.

Name: Primus
Ingredients: Malt, hops, corn
Alcohol content: 5% 
Tax category: Beer
Origin: Belgium  
Notes: Sold at Seijō Ishii. 330ml can.

Radeberger Pilsner

 Nice Euro beer. A bit on the bitter side though.
 

Name: Radeberger Pilsner
Ingredients: Malt, hops
Alcohol content: 5% 
Tax category: Beer
Origin: Germany
Notes: Sold at Seijō Ishii. 330ml can.

Super Bock

Low-price beer from Europe. It's OK, but not something I would recommend.

Name: Super Bock
Ingredients: Malt, corn, sugars, hops
Alcohol content: 5% 
Tax category: Beer
Origin: Portugal Notes: Sold at Liquor Mountain. 330ml can.

Grolsch

Great stuff. One of the best low-price imports I have ever had.

Name: Grolsch
Ingredients: Malt, hops
Alcohol content: 5% 
Tax category: Beer
Origin: Netherlands 

Notes: Sold at Seijō Ishii. 330ml can.

Otaru Bakusyu - Pilsner

Hard to come by some good pilsner in Japan. This one has a bit of watery aftertaste, but overall it is pretty one. Give it a try!

Name: Otaru Bakusyu - Pilsner
Ingredients: Malt, hops
 Alcohol content: 5%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Hokkaidō Brewing
Location: Otaru city, Hokkaidō

Grand Kirin Bittersweet

Compared to the other five Grand Kirin products, probably this one is the worst. It is called Bittersweet, but to me it just tastes Waytoosweet. Unlike many Southeast Asian beers that have a hint of sweetness, this one leaves a massive milky sweetish aftertaste. Brrr...

Besides, Bittersweet seems to destroy the original concept of selling the proto Grand Kirin product at all convenience stores and the four other ones at a specific convenience store. It is sold at 7-Eleven stores along with its older brother The Aroma.

Since only Bittersweet and The Aroma contain sugars among the Grand Kirin lineup, could it be the Bittersweet will replace The Aroma? Let's wait and see...

Name: Grand Kirin Bittersweet
Launch date: December 2, 2014

Ingredients: Malt, hops, sugars (lactose)

Alcohol content: 5.5%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Kirin Brewery
Note: Sold at 7-Eleven only.

Asahi Super Dry - Dry Premium - Hatsushikomi Premium

This one was a huge disappointment. Too watery and lacks any real beer taste. And what's with the name? Asahi Super Dry - Dry Premium - Hatsushikomi Premium. Too long and two words are used twice in it. My guess is that they wanted to make sure that the consumer understands that this beer is REALLY dry and REALLY premium.
 

Name: Asahi Super Dry - Dry Premium - Hatsushikomi Premium
Launch: Dec. 24, 2014
Ingredients: Malt, hops, rice, corn, starch
Alcohol content: 6%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Asahi Breweries
Note: Limited edition.

Asahi Super Dry - Dry Premium (facelift 2014)

Cannot keep up with this one. They have changed the can design for at least four times since its initial launch in June 2013. As for the taste, it's great.

Name: Asahi Super Dry - Dry Premium (facelift 2014)
Launch: Jun. 11, 2013 as part of gift pack.
Ingredients: Malt, hops, rice, corn, starch
Alcohol content: 6%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Asahi Breweries

Sinto Beer

 Fruity fragrance X perfect bitterness. Thank you Murakami san!
 

Name: Sinto Beer
Ingredients: Malt, hops, rice
Alcohol content: 5%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Ise Kadoya Microbrewery
Location: Ise city, Mie prefecture 

Suntory Craftsman’s Beer / Kasshoku no Yoin

Fruity. Good balance. Long aftertaste. Great.

Name: Suntory Craftsman’s Beer / Kasshoku no Yoin

Launch: December 9, 2014

Ingredients: Malt, hops

Alcohol content: 5%

Tax category: Beer

Company: Suntory Holdings

Note: Limited quantity sold only at Aeon Group stores.

Zenkōji Roman Kuroyuri

See further details here about tasting.

Name: Zenkōji Roman Kuroyuri
Ingredients: Malt, hops
Alcohol content: 5%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Reijin Brewing
Location: Suwa city, Nagano

Zenkōji Roman Shirakaba

See further details here about tasting.

Name: Zenkōji Roman Shirakaba
Ingredients: Malt, hops
Alcohol content: 5%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Reijin Brewing
Location: Suwa city, Nagano

Zenkōji Roman Rindō

See further details here about tasting.

Name: Zenkōji Roman Rindō
Ingredients: Malt, hops
Alcohol content: 5%
Tax category: Beer
Company: Reijin Brewing
Location: Suwa city, Nagano

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.