Sweet, malty happoshu

Kinmugi Kaeri Michi no Kinmokusei

Brand: Suntory

Price: 150 yen

Place of purchase: Bell Supermarket

Rating:

In anticipation of Autumn, Suntory released Kaeri no Kinmokusei. It’s a limited production happoshu in the Kinmugi near-beer lineup.The happoshu, resembling an amber ale type, uses a barley malt The product name and the label design evoke an autumn scene: your walk home at dusk with the scent of Kinmokusei, sweet osmanthus, wafting in the air. I’m a fan of barley malt beers and found this near beer to be quite flavorful, sweet, and lightly bitter at the finish. It’s much like other Kinmugi variations.

While Japan’s gradually changing the balance of tax on different classes of beer, the big breweries are starting to respond with variations on happoshu. This limited production happoshu, Kaeri Michi no Kinmokusei is part of that move. The low- malt beers have a lighter body than standard beers, but this one shines with an appealing aroma and tribute to amber ale. Some people turn their noses up at happoshu while others say they bring on bad hangovers. But for value, a nice barley malt happoshu is worth a try. Just don’t overdo it.