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/
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