In Japan, beer is very popular. I’m very happy with the quality of beer that I get to drink living here. There’s lots of things I wish for – more microbrews, more dark beers, and by god I wish for an ale.
Lager is what it’s all about in Japan. The big 3 main breweries – Kirin, Sapporo, and Asahi are all producing lagers – bottom fermented beers that are pretty good. Unfortunately, for one reason or another ales haven’t caught on.
That’s why I was so glad to bump into Kirin’s “Grand Ale” – a premium bottling that they have done that tastes to me like the best beer on earth. Every once in a while I get an ale from an import shop or a nice bar, but that’s not so often. Now I can just walk across the street and buy bottle after bottle (no 6 packs available) for 240 yen a pop.
Until I get my hands on another bottle of New Belgian beer, this will do just fine.
