Collection: Beers & ciders

1. Lager Beer: This type of beer, like the popular Asahi Super Dry, is light, refreshing, with a clear flavor and moderate bitterness. It is often served very cold.
2. Blonde Beer: Represented by brands like Kirin Ichiban, it is generally light with sweet aromas and a pleasant effervescence.
3. Ale-style Beer: Less common than lagers but increasingly popular with craft breweries like Coedo offering more robust and fruity ales.
4. Rice Beer: Rice is a key ingredient in the production of some Japanese beers, giving a lighter and sweeter taste, typical of beers like Sapporo.
5. Craft Beer: Craft brewing is gaining popularity in Japan, with local breweries producing premium, hoppy (with a pronounced hop flavor), and starred or limited edition beers.
6. "Dry" Beer: Dry beer (like Asahi Dry) is drier than classic beers and ideal for those looking for a light and thirst-quenching beer.

Each type of Japanese beer offers unique flavors, often influenced by local ingredients like malt, hops, and sometimes even saké for experimental creations.

Quality ingredients: Japanese beers use high-quality local ingredients, such as rice, malt, and specific hops, giving them a light and refreshing taste, often less bitter than Western beers.

Brewing process: Brewing in Japan is carefully controlled, with particular attention to water purity and refined techniques. This results in a clean, light, and often drier beer.

Taste and texture: They are known for their delicate flavor, often milder and less sweet than some Western beers, with a smooth texture and pleasant effervescence. This profile pairs well with Japanese cuisine, offering a good balance with dishes that are often salty or umami-rich.

Dry beer: The dry beer style, represented by brands like Asahi Super Dry, is a distinctive Japanese style characterized by a drier, refreshing taste and low bitterness.

Brewer precision: Breweries such as Kirin, Sapporo, and Hitachino have centuries of expertise, and craft breweries have recently emerged to offer premium beers with a wide variety of flavors and ingredients.

Packaging: Japanese beer is often sold in carefully designed cans or bottles, featuring clean and modern designs. This packaging is often a valued aspect of premium Japanese beers.

For beginners who want to discover Japanese beer, here are some popular and accessible beers that will allow you to enjoy the unique flavors of Japan:

1. Asahi Super Dry
   This is one of the most well-known and popular beers in Japan. It is light, refreshing, with a clean flavor and moderate bitterness. Its dry texture makes it an easy-to-drink beer for beginners, ideal for pairing with Japanese dishes.
2. Kirin Ichiban
   Kirin Ichiban is a premium blonde beer made from first-press malt. Its flavor is mild, slightly sweet, with a subtle malt taste and a light aftertaste. It’s a pleasant and smooth beer, perfect for those new to Japanese beer.
3. Sapporo Premium
   This beer is also one of Japan’s major references. With its light taste, slightly malty and a pleasant effervescence, Sapporo Premium is an easy-to-drink beer, ideal for meals. It has a well-balanced flavor, neither too bitter nor too sweet.
4. Asahi Black
   For those seeking a slightly bolder experience, Asahi Black is an excellent choice. It is a dark beer with aromas of roasted malt and a creamy texture. Although richer, it remains accessible to beginners thanks to its smoothness and balanced taste.
5. Hitachino Nest Beer - Red Rice Ale
   If you want to try something a bit different, the Hitachino Red Rice Ale is a Japanese craft beer made with red rice. It has a slightly fruity and sweet flavor, with spicy notes, ideal for a unique yet accessible experience.

Here are some examples of regional variations in Japanese beers:

1. Hokkaido (Sapporo)
   The Sapporo brewery is one of the oldest in Japan and is based in Hokkaido, the northernmost region of the country. The beers produced here are often known for their refreshing and light taste, suited to the cold climate of the region. Sapporo Premium is an excellent example of a classic Japanese beer from this area.
2. Tokyo and Kanto
   The Kanto region, which includes Tokyo, is one of the most dynamic in terms of craft beer production. Breweries in this area often experiment with local ingredients, such as rice, herbs, or unique flavors. Tokyo’s Yona Yona Ale brewery is famous for its craft beers with bold flavors, appealing to those seeking more complex tastes.
3. Kyushu (Kirin)
   Kirin is one of Japan’s most famous breweries, originating from Kyushu. The region produces beers like Kirin Ichiban, appreciated for their purity and mild malt flavor. Kirin Ichiban is often seen as an easy-to-drink beer, ideal for pairing with Japanese meals.
4. Ishikawa (Coedo Brewery)
   The Coedo brewery located in Ishikawa is known for its craft beers that use local ingredients and unique brewing methods. For example, Coedo Beniaka, a sweet potato ale, offers a slightly sweet and earthy flavor that reflects the local ingredients.
5. Okinawa
   In southern Japan, in Okinawa, you can find beers like Orion Beer, known for their mild and easy-to-drink taste, suited to the tropical climate. These beers are often lighter and less bitter than those from the rest of Japan.

Kirin beer stands out for its unique brewing and refined taste, the result of Japanese expertise combining tradition and innovation. Its flagship product, Kirin Ichiban, is a premium beer made using the "First Press" method, which uses only the first pressing of the wort, ensuring a purer flavor and a subtle balance between sweetness and bitterness. With its light malt aromas and a smooth, refreshing finish, it pairs perfectly with Japanese dishes like sushi, yakitori, or tempura. Kirin also offers other varieties, such as the more robust Kirin Lager or the lighter, thirst-quenching Kirin Nodogoshi, highly appreciated in Japan.