Beer Testing - Round 13 (Ohanami Edition)

In celebration of sakura season, we did a little beer sampling.  Yebisu went for its second title defense against 4 other beers.

Defending Champ

Name: Yebisu

Origin: Tokyo, Japan

Alcohol: 5%

Price: USD2.56/can USD0.73/100mL

With a score of 8/10, this beer won convincingly during the last Battle Royal.

Challenger 1

Name: Kirin 1000

Origin: Tokyo, Japan

Alcohol: 5%

Price: USD1.42/can USD0.41/100mL

This 3rd grade beer has the "gift of mineral" (magnesium). Apparently, the water has a hardness of "1000", hence the name.  And I assume giving it an "endless clear" flavour.  But it doesn't really taste like alcohol.  It kind of tastes like ginger ale?  Final score 5.9/10.

Challenger 2

Name: Asahi Strong Off

Origin: Tokyo, Japan

Alcohol: 7%

Price: USD1.42/can USD0.41/100mL

We've seen pervious challengers labeled as "Strong", as well as others with the "Off" designation.  None of them were good, so with this 3rd grade beer being both Strong and Off, it looked to be doubly bad.  And we were right. Although it boasted a "rich and satisfying taste", it was really light and fizzy.  It also claims "60% less sugar", so you may think this is a good beer if you're on a diet.  But actually, when you read the label, it has the same amount of calories as a regular beer.  Bad taste and deceptive weight loss benefits means a final score of 4.25/10.

Challenger 3

Name: Suntory Relax

Origin: Tokyo, Japan

Alcohol: 5%

Price: USD1.29/can USD0.37/100mL

The slogan here is "The harmony of 7 hops for relaxing time." You'd think with all that harmony, and the picture of the rainbow on the can, you would be relaxed.  But the smell immediately throws you off - it smells like vegetables - like parsley.  Another bland 3rd grade beer.  Too bad, I kind of liked the whimsical can design.  Final score, 4.4/10.

Challenger 4

Name: Yebisu Silk

Origin: Tokyo, Japan

Alcohol: 5.5%

Price: USD2.47/can USD0.71/100mL

Fighting out of the same camp, Yebisu Silk is the newest edition to the Yebisu family.  Sporting a slick white design, and a .5% alcohol advantage, this looked like it might be the one to take out the champ.  However, it was a little wheaty tasting, and while although definitely a competent beer, it lacked the refinement of the original classic Yebisu.  Nice try young buck.  Final score 7.5/10. 

Again, the defending champ, Yebisu, makes simple work of the competition.