1. Asahi Black Beer
The topic of this piece revolves around Asahi Black Beer cans. The author received this product as a request from an acquaintance traveling to Japan. It was purchased at a Japanese convenience store, but the exact price isn’t known. Typically, a can of beer costs around 150 to 200 yen.
Asahi Black Beer has a volume of 350ml, an alcohol content of 5%, and contains 47kcal per 100% serving. The label describes it as a Munich type, with the Japanese characters for “Asahi draft beer, black draft” written on it prominently.
According to a translation, Asahi Black Draft Beer, born in 1982, is beloved in homes and pier halls for its smooth taste and aroma.
The product’s label lists its ingredients as malt (foreign/domestic), hops, rice, corn, and starch.
2. Tasting Notes
In terms of taste, Asahi Black Beer has a decent amount of carbonation, with foam dissipating quickly. Its color is reminiscent of both beer and cola. The aroma is mildly alcoholic with a nutty scent. Tasting reveals a noticeable carbonation and nutty flavor, ending with a slightly bitter, dry finish, reminiscent of Asahi’s signature dry beer taste.
3. Asahi Company
Asahi is a company ranking third in the world in terms of beer sales volume. Founded in 1889, it initially operated under the name Dai-Nippon Beer Co., Ltd., later splitting into Asahi and Sapporo. Asahi, with its main hub in Osaka, historically dominated the Kansai region of Japan.
During Japan’s high growth period, as growth shifted to Tokyo, Asahi’s market share began to decline, especially with the entry of Suntory into the beer market. However, with the release of Asahi Super Dry in 1987, it experienced a significant resurgence.
4. Overall Review
Summarizing, it’s hard to consider this a must-try product for those visiting Japan. However, for beer enthusiasts with a sense of curiosity, it might be worth trying at least once. Nevertheless, it’s challenging to find a beer that gives quite the same sensation among those the author has tried.