Spice Beer turns up the heat in autumn

Asahi Spice Beer

Brand: Asahi Breweries

Price: 230 yen

Place of purchase: 7-11 Convenience store

Rating:

Autumn temperatures are finally here, and it's time for dishes and drinks that warm your insides. Asahi piloted Asahi Spice Beer way back in 2024 in extremely limited quantities, with only a few hundred 6-packs. Last year, the brewery released it widely. Blink, and you'll miss it, as this is a seasonal beer. The beer, 5% alcohol by volume, is infused with jalapeño peppers. It pours like a standard lager, golden and with a decent foamy head. The aromas are earthy, and the bitterness comes with a hot pepper kick.

Asahi Spice Beer is priced on the low end for premium malt beers. It's worth a try in autumn if you're into novelty beers and like a bit of heat. When I cracked the can, I didn't catch any jalapeño aroma, but as soon as I poured, a slight herbal scent wafted up. On the first sip, it seems like a typical Japanese lager, but when it hits your mid palate, you'll experience the heat. The pepper heat isn't fiery to those used to spicy foods. It's an interesting variation on Japanese lager, with some earthy flavours preceding the heat.