The 10 Best Craft Beers in Japan
Looking to move beyond the “Big 4” of Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory? Japan has a dedicated and industrious craft beer culture as well! Check out these artfully brewed craft beers, ranked based on user reviews over at BeerAdvocate.com!
By Nicholas Rich
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4. Suruga Bay Imperial IPA — Baird Brewing Company
As its name would imply, Suruga Bay is an Imperial IPA. Also referred to as a “Double IPA,” imagine your standard IPA on steroids: more robust, more booze forward, and even hoppier. Which is to say that this medium-bodied beauty is strong, with an amber pour that has enough hops to knock your socks off. It’s available throughout the year and is 7.5 percent ABV.
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3. Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout — Kiuchi Brewery
The Espresso Stout is an Imperial Stout. These are typically brewed with coffee or chocolate, barrel-aged, and tend to have higher hop levels and residual sweetness. Hitachino Nest's Espresso Stout is brewed with well-roasted espresso beans, and pours a beautiful chocolate color. The taste is the same as its nose: a dark, malty espresso, which makes it a perfect beer to end a meal on. It has rotational availability, and is 7.5 percent ABV.
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2. Hitachino Nest Celebration Ale — Kiuchi Brewery
Kiuchi’s Celebration Ale is a Winter Warmer, typically seasonal, boasting a malty sweetness accentuated by a wide variety of spices. It has a brownish-orange pour, a sweet malty base with a wheat finish, and a nose like you wouldn’t believe. It's spiced with orange peel, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla beans. It’s available during the winter, and is 9 percent ABV.
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1. Hitachino Nest White Ale — Kiuchi Brewery
Perhaps Kiuchi’s most popular brew, the Hitachino Nest White Ale is a Witbier, which is a Belgian-style ale with a cloudy appearance and a spiced, wheaty yeast flavor. The White Ale pours light and cloudy. It has an energizing mix of coriander, orange peel and nutmeg on the nose, with a crisp and refreshing finish that goes great with a slice of orange in the summer. It’s available all year, and at 5.5 percent ABV, it’s a beer that begs you to have more than one.
