How grand is the Grand Kirin??

Recently, Kirin Brewing has been releasing new beers in its Grand Kirin series of beers.  The Grand Kirin is the premium offering from Kirin.  It utilizes the exclusive "dip hop" process that Kirin developed specifically for this beer.  Grand Kirin is in direct competition with Suntory's Premium Malts, Sapporo's Yebisu, and Asahi's Super Dry Premium (a recent release from Asahi).  In a time in which beer sales have been on a recent decline in Japan, is it the right time for a push for a premium beer?  Kirin Brewery is world renowned for its Ichiban beer.  Also, many older Japanese people are nostalgic for Kirin's lager and Classic beers.  So, it is time for a review of the Grand Kirin beers.  Are they worth purchasing and drinking?  This review will cover the six beers in the Grand Kirin line: The Aroma, Browny, Hop Fruity, Mild Rich, and the Original Grand Kirin.  Cheers! (乾杯！）

Grand Kirin The Aroma                                                     Style: Golden Ale

                                                                                       ABV: 5.5%

                                                                                       Bravo Hops

Color:  golden yellow with a white head

Nose:  floral with a slight hint of citrus

Taste:  malty and somewhat bitter hoppy taste

Grand Kirin The Aroma is a decent beer that is readily available at most convenient stores in Japan.  It is a smooth dry beer with a somewhat bitter hoppy flavor.  It is a premium version of the mainstay Kirin Ichiban.  The slight citrus notes are noticeable with drinking this beer.

Grand Kirin Browny                                               Style: Amber Ale

                                                                            ABV: 6.5%

                                                                             Czech Hops

                                                                            Roasted Caramel Malt

Color:  a light copper brown with an off-white head

Nose:  slight caramel notes

Taste:  smooth, slight caramel malty taste

Grand Kirin Browny is a decent attempt at a brown ale from a macro brewery.  It is a light smooth beer with roasted caramel notes found throughout the beer.  This is a trying to be a traditional Japanese brown ale in that the flavors are not completely overpowering but are noticeable. 

Grand Kirin Hop Fruity                                           Style:  American Pale Ale

                                                                             ABV:   5.5%

                                                                             Nelson Sauvin Hops

Color:  pale orange yellow with a white head that dissipates quickly

Nose:  slight citrus and vegetal notes

Taste:  slight hop flavor coming the Nelson Sauvin Hops

        smooth yet sweet flavors coming from the malt

Grand Kirin Hop Fruity is the latest release in the Grand Kirin line.  As of this review, it is an exclusive at Family Mart.  This beer tries to be an American pale ale, but it misses the mark.  However coming from a macro brewery, it a decent major label beer that is trying to be different.  The hops need to be a little more pronounced in it, and this will help to counteract the sweetness from the malts.

Grand Kirin Mild Rich                                    Style: Wheat Ale (Weizen)

                                                                   ABV: 5.5%

                                                                   Galaxy Hops

Color:  Pale golden color with a white head

Nose:   Fruity citrus notes with an orange and wheat presence

Taste:  Creamy bready slight medium carbonated body with some hops

        popping in the background

Grand Kirin Mild Rich is an exclusive beer that can be found in Lawsons.  They also have a special twin pack with Grand Kirin (the original) and Grand Kirin Mild Rich.  The Mild Rich is good attempt at a wheat beer.  The classic characteristics of orange and wheat that are typically found in wheat beers are found here, but they have a underwhelming presence.  This is a smooth medium body beer with citrus notes in the background.

Grand Kirin (the original)                                   Style: Premium Lager

                                                                       ABV: 6%

                                                

Color:  golden amber with a white head that dissipates quickly

Nose:  sweet malty aroma

Taste:  sweet malt taste with a light crisp body

This is the first beer that Kirin released in its Grand Kirin line.  Its is a light crispy malty lager.  There is a lot of carbonation found in this beer.  Compared with the Kirin Lager, the Grand Kirin is smoother and less dry.  It is a decent lager but nothing worthwhile. 

For more information on the Grand Kirin line, check out http://www.kirin.co.jp/products/beer/grandkirin/

Japanese Craft Beer Series: Visiting Monster Island with Kaibutsu-jima Beer (かいぶつ島ビール)!

 Ever want to visit to an island full of monsters without leaving your house or the bar?  Tsurumi Brewing (鶴見酒造) from Tsushima, Aichi, Japan has the answer for you with their Kaibutsu-shima Beer (かいぶつ島ビール).  Tsurumi Brewing has been operating since 1873 as primarily as a rice wine (日本酒 nihonshu or sake to those people living outside of Japan) brewer.  In the recent years, this brewer has been branching out with different products such as this beer, shochu, mirin (sweet rice wine that is used primarily for cooking). 

On a recent trip to my local liquor store near my work, I was looking for something to get the night start on the right foot.  When looking through the beer case, I found this beer.  I was intrigued by it at first because I have never seen before.  Then, I looked at the label to find out where this beer was from.  I was surprised to learn that the beer was brewed in Tsushima.  I did not even know that Tsushima had a brewery.  I was very curious to find out how this beer tasted.  So, I decided to buy it.  I am always looking for a new beer to try especially from the local area. 

When I got home, I took out my favorite beer glass and proceed to open this beer into my glass.  I discovered the following things.  The nose of this beer is malty and full of bread and slight caramel notes. The head of the bread is a thick tan colored head.  The beer has a dark brown color to it.  This beer is very malty in taste.  If you are fan of vintage or strong ales, this beer would perfect for you.  I noticed that some local beers tend to be the same style.  It is easy to drink.  Typically malty beverages have a strong taste.  Initially, the beer follows the same characteristics of a malt beverage, but it quickly fades away.  This is not your typically Japanese beer like Sapporo or Asahi.

I give a lot of credit to Tsurumi Brewing for releasing this beer to the public.  I am always trying to find beers from small breweries as opposed to those released from the major breweries.  If you can find this beer, give it a try.  It is a decent beer. 

For more information regarding Tsurumi Brewing, check out http://www.tsurumi-jp.com/index.html