Flat, barley spirits flavored happoshu

Honkirin

Brand: Kirin Breweries

Price: 190 yen

Place of purchase: Belx Supermarket

Rating:

If you're looking for a budget beer-like drink, happoshu is an economical choice with low malt but touting beer qualities. The label is simply Honkirin in large gold kanji. What you get is a near-beer that approximates the color and body of an American pale lager. Kirin describes the brewing process as longer than for typical happoshu, depending on German Hersbruck hops for a fresh, hoppy taste with a bit of bitterness. It's 6% alcohol thanks to the addition of barley spirits. The beer pours with an adequate head of foam.

I'm not going back for this one. Honkirin is okay for the price, and I can imagine the appeal of the higher alcohol content for people after a bit more buzz. I have had better happoshu than this one. What surprises me is that this happoshu has been on the market for a few years and sells well. What got me down was you only get a bit of maltiness and hoppy fragrance and then it's gone. The barley spirits are pretty much all that's left at the end of your sip. It feels a little flat and like somebody poured beer into the glass you had shochu in a drink ago.