Collection: Beers & ciders

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

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

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

Brewing process: Brewing in Japan is meticulously controlled, with particular attention to water purity and refinement of techniques. The result is a clean, light and often drier beer.

Taste and texture: They are renowned for their delicate taste, often milder and less sweet than some Western beers, with a smooth texture and pleasant effervescence. This profile is well suited to Japanese cuisine, offering a good balance with dishes that are often salty or umami.

Dry beer: Dry beer, represented by brands such as Asahi Super Dry, is a distinctive Japanese style distinguished by its drier, refreshing taste and low bitterness.

Brewery precision: Breweries like Kirin, Sapporo, and Hitachino have century-old expertise, and craft breweries have recently expanded to offer premium beers with a wide variety of flavors and ingredients.

Packaging: Japanese beer is often sold in neat cans or bottles, featuring sleek, modern designs. This packaging is often a popular feature of premium Japanese beers.

For beginners wishing to discover Japanese beer, here are a few popular and accessible beers that will help you appreciate Japan's unique flavors:

1. Asahi Super Dry
   This is one of Japan's best-known and most popular beers. It is light and refreshing, with a clean flavor and moderate bitterness. Its dry texture makes it an easy-drinking beer for beginners, ideal for accompanying Japanese dishes.
2. Kirin Ichiban
   Kirin Ichiban is a premium lager made from first-pressed malt. Its flavor is mild, slightly sweet, with a subtle malt taste and a light aftertaste. It's a pleasant, smooth beer, perfect for those new to Japanese beer.
3. Sapporo Premium
   This beer is also one of Japan's great references. With its light, slightly malty taste and pleasant effervescence, Sapporo Premium is an easy-drinking beer, ideal for meals. It has a well-balanced flavor, neither too bitter nor too sweet.
4. Asahi Black
   For those looking for a slightly more full-bodied experience, Asahi Black is an excellent option. It's a black beer with roasted malt aromas and a creamy texture. Although richer, it remains accessible to beginners thanks to its smooth, balanced taste.
5. Hitachino Nest Beer - Red Rice Ale
   If you'd like to try something a little different, Hitachino Red Rice Ale is a Japanese craft beer made with red rice. It has a lightly fruity, sweet flavor with hints of spice, ideal for a unique yet accessible experience.

Here are a few examples of regional variations in Japanese beers:

1. Hokkaido (Sapporo)
   The Sapporo brewery is one of Japan's oldest and is based in Hokkaido, the country's northernmost region. The beers produced here are often known for their refreshing, light taste, adapted to the region's cold climates. Sapporo Premium is an excellent example of a classic Japanese beer from this region.
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 region often experiment with local ingredients, such as rice, herbs or unique flavors. Tokyo's Yona Yona Ale brewery is famous for its boldly flavored craft beers, which may appeal to those seeking slightly more complex tastes.
3. Kyushu (Kirin)
   Kirin is one of Japan's most famous breweries, originating in Kyushu. The region produces beers like Kirin Ichiban, which are prized for their purity and smooth malt flavor. Kirin Ichiban is often seen as an easy-drinking beer, ideal to accompany a Japanese meal.
4. Ishikawa (Coedo Brewery)
   The Ishikawa-based Coedo Brewery is known for its craft beers, which use local ingredients and unique brewing methods. For example, Coedo Beniaka, a sweet potato ale, offers a slightly sweet, earthy flavor that reflects local ingredients.
5. Okinawa
   In the south of Japan, in Okinawa, you can find beers like Orion Beer, which are known for their mild, easy-drinking taste, adapted to the tropical climate. These beers are often lighter and less bitter than those from the rest of Japan.

Kirin beer is distinguished by its unique brewing and refined taste, the result of Japanese know-how combining tradition and innovation. Its flagship product, Kirin Ichiban, is a premium beer brewed using the "First Press" method, which uses only the first pressing of the wort, guaranteeing a purer flavor and a subtle balance between sweetness and bitterness. With its light malt aromas and smooth, refreshing finish, it's the perfect accompaniment to Japanese dishes such as sushi, yakitori or tempura. Kirin also offers other variants, such as the more full-bodied Kirin Lager, or Kirin Nodogoshi, a lighter, thirst-quenching beer much appreciated in Japan.