Japanese Beer: Where To Buy And What To Know

Japanese beer is a fermented alcoholic drink made from grain, yeast, and water. It was introduced to Japan by Dutch traders in the 17th century, and the first brewery focused on the local Japanese market was established in 1869 in Yokohama. Today, there are many popular Japanese beer brands, including Sapporo, Kirin, and Asahi, which can be purchased online from websites such as Total Wine & More, GotoLiquorStore, and Drizly, or from large alcohol outlets and Asian grocery stores.

Japanese beer online retailers

If you're looking to buy Japanese beer online, there are several retailers that can help.

Total Wine & More

Total Wine & More offers a large selection of Japanese beers, including popular brands such as Sapporo, Kirin, and Asahi. They carry a variety of lager, ale, and non-alcoholic options, so you're sure to find something to your taste.

GotoLiquorStore

GotoLiquorStore partners with local stores to fulfill orders, so you can get your Japanese beer delivered from a shop near you. Just enter your address on their website to see pricing and availability in your area.

Drizly

Drizly promises to deliver your Japanese beer in under 60 minutes. Simply enter your delivery address to browse their selection and place an order.

The Japanese Bar

The Japanese Bar has an extensive list of Japanese beer brands and where to buy them. They provide links to online shops for each beer, although some of these links may be affiliate links, and they may earn commissions on purchases.

Amazon

Some Japanese beers, such as Yona Yona Pale Ale, can be purchased on Amazon.

So, whether you're looking for a crisp rice lager, a bold red ale, or a smooth craft beer, these online retailers should have you covered.

Japanese beer in physical stores

If you're looking to buy Japanese beer from a physical store, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, big-chain beverage stores like BevMo or Total Wine & More are likely to carry Japanese beer brands. You can also try stores like World Market. Additionally, Japanese and other Asian grocery stores are great places to find a variety of Japanese beers, including well-known brands like Sapporo and Kirin. If you're specifically looking for Asahi, you might need to search a little more, but it is available in the US market.

Japanese restaurants are also likely to have a few Japanese beer selections, and if you're looking for a place to enjoy a beer with a meal, this could be a good option. Keep in mind that some states have regulations around shipping alcohol, so if you're unable to find Japanese beer in stores, it may be due to distribution limitations in your area.

In Japan, there are several online shops that sell craft beer from various breweries, and some of these sites are available in English. For example, the Osaka-based Belgian Beer importer, Kiya - Belgian Beer Japan, has an online store in English with a wide selection of beers. The Rakuten Ichiba Beer Site also offers thousands of beer options, but searches must be typed in Katakana. Similarly, the Yahoo! Japan Shopping Beer Site offers a smaller selection of beers that can be sorted by price.

So, whether you're in Japan or another part of the world, there are options available to purchase Japanese beer from physical stores. You may need to explore a few different shops or websites, but with a bit of searching, you should be able to find what you're looking for.

Popular Japanese beer brands

Japanese beer is typically crisp, clean, and delicious, and it's even more popular in Japan than the national alcohol, sake. Beer giants like Asahi, Sapporo, and Kirin are household names overseas, and Suntory joins these brands to make up the country's top four beer producers.

Asahi

Asahi Super Dry is Japan's most popular beer and is known for its refreshing, crisp, and dry taste. It's the perfect beer to pair with food as it won't overpower the unique flavours of your cuisine. Asahi is also behind Japan's first dry draft beer, Asahi Nama Beer MaruF, which was launched in 1986 and is known for its comforting, nostalgic feel.

Sapporo

Sapporo is Japan's oldest beer brand and one of the best-known Japanese beer brands worldwide. Sapporo Premium is a traditional lager with hints of sweetness and a very clean taste. Sapporo Black Label Beer is another popular brew from the brand, known for its long-lasting malt taste.

Kirin

Kirin is one of Japan's most beloved brands, with a history dating back to 1869 when Japan's first brewery was established. Kirin Ichiban is one of their perennial best-sellers, an all-malt lager with a dry taste and mild bitterness. Kirin Tanrei Green Label Beer, launched in 2002, is another top-selling beer known for its affordability, richness, and sharpness.

Suntory

Suntory is known globally for its whisky, but it also excels in brewing beer. Suntory The Premium Malt's is an award-winning pilsner crafted using carefully selected malt, hops, and 100% natural water. It's easy to drink, with a higher ABV than some of its major brand competitors.

Hitachino Nest

Hitachino Nest is a well-known craft beer brand in Japan, with offerings like the Nest White Ale, Nest Red Rice Ale, and the Classic Ale, an English-style Japanese IPA.

Orion

Orion is Japan's fifth-largest brewery and is less well-known outside of the country. Their premium draft beer is naturally carbonated and slightly acidic, with a light but complex malt character.

Echigo Koshihikari

This beer brand uses short-grain rice as a primary ingredient, specifically a variety of rice called Koshihikari, which is grown in a region known for producing some of Japan's highest-quality rice. The result is a light-bodied, smooth, and crisp rice lager.

Japanese beer styles

Beer in Japan mostly comes from the country's four major breweries: Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo, and Suntory. These breweries produce beers in a variety of styles, including lagers, ales, pilsners, stouts, and more. The most popular styles of Japanese beer are ale, pilsner, and lager. Within these styles, there are many different approaches, flavour profiles, and alcohol levels. Here is a closer look at some of the unique Japanese beer styles:

Happoshu (or Happōsei)

"Sparkling alcohol" or "bubbly alcohol" in Japanese, Happoshu is a beer-like beverage with lower levels of malt, typically around 25 percent. This style of beer gained popularity due to its reduced tax rates, as taxes on malt grain play a role in the types of beers available in Japan. Happoshu has a similar taste to a pilsner, and can be considered a low-malt pale lager. It usually contains between 4-6 percent alcohol and is cheaper and lower in calories than the average beer.

New Genre/Third Beer

Also known as "third-category beers" or "new genre", this style of beer is made without any malt. Instead, brewers use alternative sources of starch and sugar such as pea, soy, and wheat, creating an extremely light beer with less alcohol and flavour.

Craft Beer

Japanese craft beer varies from city to city and is often modelled after international styles, ranging from fruity and dark beers to hoppy and aromatic ones. Osaka and Tokyo are known for their vibrant craft beer scenes, with a focus on locally produced beers as well as imports from the US and Europe. Yoho Brewing, founded in 1996 in Nagano, is one of the oldest and most popular craft brewers in Japan, known for its Tokyo Black Porter.

Rice Lager

Although most Japanese beers are made with grains like hops, malt, barley, corn, oats, and wheat, Japanese breweries such as Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo also create rice lagers. These beers are light, dry, and crisp, similar to Budweiser and Coors. One of the most acclaimed rice craft beers is the Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale, which combines a red variety of rice used in sake with barley.

Japanese beer and food pairings

Japanese beers are widely available online from specialist retailers and can also be purchased from local stores via delivery apps.

Now, onto the important part: food pairings. When it comes to Japanese beer and food pairings, sushi is a popular choice. The light, dry, and crisp nature of Japanese lagers, such as Asahi Super Dry, Kirin Ichiban, and Sapporo Premium, pairs well with the delicate flavours of sushi and sashimi. The lager's dryness and crisp finish make it an ideal palate cleanser, similar to the role of pickled ginger in a sushi meal.

For those who prefer a more traditional pairing, a Japanese lager like the Orion Draft Lager from Okinawa is a great choice. If you want to branch out, a pilsner or blonde ale can also complement sushi well. These beers typically have a light, dry, golden, and balanced profile, enhancing the subtle flavours of the sushi without overwhelming them.

When pairing beer with sushi, it's important to consider the role of umami, the "fifth flavour" that adds depth to dishes. Beers with roasted malt, such as stouts, porters, dunkels, and black ales, can enhance the umami flavour in sushi, particularly in ingredients like soy sauce, seaweed, and raw fish. However, it's crucial to choose a stout with a lower ABV and a light mouthfeel to avoid overpowering the dish.

For those who enjoy a "hoppy" beer, IPAs and other strongly flavoured beers are not ideal for sushi as they can amplify the heat from wasabi or spicy sushi rolls. Instead, a yeasty hefeweizen can be a good choice, with its light body and thick mouthfeel that complements the texture of the fish. The light citric acidity of a hefeweizen also enhances the saltiness of the soy sauce, while its clove spice pairs well with the wasabi.

Belgian tripel beers are another option, particularly when pairing with fatty fish like tuna, as they cut through the oiliness without overwhelming the meat. Overall, when pairing beer with Japanese dishes like sushi, it's best to choose lighter beers over heavier, darker options to avoid overpowering the delicate flavours of the cuisine.

Frequently asked questions