Beer review: Kirin Ichiban

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From Beers and Ears...

Kirin Ichiban

March 12th, 2012 by Jason In Walt Disney World Beer Reviews

Kirin Ichiban

Now I have to admit I did not have too much knowledge about this brewery or beer. Then on my trip to Trader Joe’s I found they have a few of these. I couldn’t help myself but pick a couple of bottles up since one of my favorite things about TJ’s is they sell the bottles individually not just by the six-pack. The one thing that caught my eye from the label was that this is a 100% malt beer. Unlike many other light lagers that add corn or rice to make the beer cheaper, I was looking forward to tasting this as I believe it could have a more prominent bread or toast like flavor. Let’s examine this beer details.

Aroma: Crisp clean malt sweetness. There is a faint bready character and almost unnoticeable yeast scent that adds to the bread aroma.

Appearance: This is like most other light lager in that it’s brilliantly clear. This has less bubbles than most light lagers (especially the Corona) and a thin white head that is staying through the tasting. It is lighter than the pale yellow of the Heineken, but more yellow/golden than the Corona from earlier today.

Flavor: The balance of this beer is a malt sweetness that last through almost all of the tasting experience, then at the very end there is a hint of hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: There is a light body, but you should find this to be a more enjoyable lager as the more pure ingredient selection will help provide the balanced experienced.

Overall: As expected the sweetness does have a different taste profile than the other light lagers I’ve tasted and reviewed recently. This is a higher quality beer than most american lagers and as I hope/expect from what the label says the beer is closely observed in the process from a Brewery rep at the A-B brewery in California. So as long as A-B doesn’t change the process this should be a good beer for years to come.

I’d say this is a good all-around beer that you can enjoy with just about any meal or for when your thirsty and want a light crisp refreshing beverage. Now hopefully I can scratch up enough time to review another beer tonight as I have a few more that I really enjoy in my fridge.

http://beersandears.net/2012/03/kirin-ichiban/

[DaveInTN 3,247]

That's a pretty good beer.

[Lil Lisa 53]

Bruce loves it.

[ftwildernessguy 778]

I always get a Kirin when I'm at Epcot.

[Chuggs 2]

For those of us that enjoy HOPS along with the MALT... the 50's Prime Time Cafe at Hollywood Studios carries Sierra Nevada Torpedo's...yummy! Hope they become available in more venues in the future...or beers of similar style.