Kirin vs. Sapporo vs. Asahi - Japanese Lager Showdown!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- In this video, Nate tastes three iconic Japanese-style Lagers and chooses a favorite.
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About Tree House Brewery & Nate:
Tree House Brewery, a world-renowned craft brewery, was founded in 2011. It has matured into a six-facility operation where we aspire to make the best beverages possible and serve them in the most comfortable and memorable environment possible. It is the largest direct-to-consumer brewery on Earth. Our locations are in Charlton, Sandwich, Tewksbury, and Deerfield, Massachusetts, for retail sale of our beer, spirits, coffee, and more. In Woodstock, Connecticut, we feature a varied menu of house-made beer and inventive cider. Soon we will open our sixth location in Saratoga Springs New York.
Nate is our co-founder, founding brewer, and CEO.
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Just came back from Japan. I am a fan of their beef, whiskey, and beer. What else is there in life.
The Japanese (Like Apple ?) are good at taking a great idea and making it better ! I'm a fan of those top 3 as well, but still prefer Texas beef, Kentucky Whiskey and American Craft beer ! 😛
Drifting then eating and drinking
🛞💨🤙
When I lived in Taipei, they sold Asahi in massive aluminum jugs with a screw-on top in the shape of a dragon's head, with an articulating lower jaw, so that when you poured beer, the jaw opened, and beer vomited out of the dragon's mouth. Anywho long story short I poured a LOT of dragon-vomit Asahi straight into my willing maw.
They used to sell it like that in Japan too! I remember getting them from a beer vending machine. The jug was huge. I think it was still called Asahi Dry back then.
that sounds incredible- need to get one and make a video
I can't get enough of these tastings and all your videos. Cheers thanks Nate you guys are awesome.
I work for a brewery out in Orange County CA and we have a pretty darn good Japanese style lager, very underrated style in my opinion! Love all the content coming out of this channel btw pls keep it coming!
🙏🏼🙏🏼
Gotta be BL Hanamachi right? My absolute favorite 😉
I suggest that you did a showdown of the rice largers like 5 months ago! Love the content on the channel. Nate, the characteristics of these three are exactly what I love about them. Keep up the great content.
we're always listening!
For macro/international lagers. These are some of my favorites.
no doubt! thanks Darwin!
I always get excited when my corner liquor store orders the giant Asahi cans that I personally refer to as "Salaryman Size"
I love these Bierprobes! Keep them coming.
Will do!
I really want you to try the beers that Hitachino Nest makes, their Yuzu Lager, Belgium white, and red beers are all awesome!
They once made Nipponia, an imperial pilsner with all-Japanese ingredients that could stand up to any other.
Yes! The white ale is my favorite beer right now. Hitachino Nest is wonderful.
Once again we agree on taste, Asahi is my fave.
nailed it!
Would you consider doing blind tastings of IPAs from different states and ranking them? Or cities even. We have great beer here in Tulsa, Oklahoma! Especially where I work at American Solera!
Love these videos so much. And as someone who works in the craft beer industry, I have to hand it to you for being so good at this. You really make it fun and educational. Keep ‘em coming!
As always, great video. Still waiting for a stout (dry stout, imperial stout, or barrel aged) tasting.
Love your comments, have really enjoyed Japanese lagers too!
If you can find it it would be interesting for you to try Orion. It's the local craft beer on Okinawa Japan. It's gotten bigger in recent years but it's still fairly regional so not sure if you'll find it. It's well known to many service members that passed through Okinawa at one time or another.
Very interesting and a lot of fun watching this👍🏻👍🏻
Glad you enjoyed it
Had my first taste of Asahi, And I love it. I’m really looking forward to trying the other Japanese beers too. As the Japanese would say, Kanpai! 🍺
I was actually drinking Kirin at the moment of watching this. I like all 3!!
me too - hard to go wrong
Glad to see this tasting. Asahi is (was?) my favourite. We used to get the Japanese brewed product, but when it switched to the Italian I was disappointed. I suggest you try the version brewed in Japan sometime, there's a difference that I am sure you will appreciate. I find Kirin more close to the German style and Sapporo also depends where it is brewed.
I actually went to Japan this spring and returned with one small can of Asahi that I can't open. I'm going to put it in the wine closet downstairs with my 3 Fonteinen 😆
whaaat... where was this video friday... I was literally checking google and reddit for the best of these three.
well, now we have it for the future! I hope you made a good choice.
Would love to see Sapporo premium malts, love those 3 but after a recent trip to Japan, was blown away by the premium malt.
Love these vids!
Thanks Squatch!
I’m Japanese born in Japan but raised in Oregon and worked in Japan as an adult.
Compared to so many variations of beers we see in the US, all major Japanese lager beers tastes the same. Distinguishing major Japanese beer is like trying to distinguish the difference between the Pinot noirs from different winery from same region, as opposed to all the different beers we get in the US is like trying completely different grapes from different regions of the world.
I’m not saying Japanese beers are bad but the difference are so subtle that I don’t care which one I drink, they’re all the same to me…..
Very well said I agree after drinking and really liking both Asahi and Sapporo
Orion Beer brewed in Nago City Okinawa is another great beer. To me it’s a little bit heavier than these three. It is still a great Japanese beer. Another Very popular mass produced beer in Japan that is almost impossible to get here in the states is Suntory . Americans are familiar with their whiskey but the beer is a staple at Japanese bars.
Orion and The Premium Malts are awesome. Unfortunately both are available in limited markets here in the States; I’ve only seen Orion out West in AZ and Premium Malts in NYC (on-tap only)
Came here hoping for Orion. My brother turned me on to Orion after he was stationed in Okinawa. One of my favorite hard to find beers.
@@tzieserOrion is available at a few places in Maryland. I know a couple of places in Ellicott City that stock it regularly, and a restaurant in Glen Burnie has it. There are probably others.
I recently picked up an all malt version of Sapporo brewed at the Stone facility that Sapporo now owns. It's called Sapporo Reserve Beer and it certainly is a step up.
I will have to look for it?
i can see this on video is the treehouse brewery in massachusetts. i have not tried your beer yet heard positive compliments about the quality i stay in Hudson you probably heard of Medusa brewery. eventually i will make my way around. you guys also bought the Tewksbury country club. is that a full function and club member only
Try Hitachino - actually brewed in Japan an imported. My favorite!
Big fan of your tasting videos and I really look forward to them! Some of the other tasting videos from other content creators come off as pretentious but your videos are always objective and respectful of other brewers. I worked in restaurants for a large portion of my life and always hated the "beer snob" attitude. I love that you appreciate a well crafted beer but don't turn your nose up to a Coors light or a PBR. Great content!
Japanese rice lager recommendation: Komorebi Sencha!
Oh wait…you guys make that one 🤔 😅
Side note: sipping on a Moher Mocha while watching. I don’t even like BA Stouts but man is this tasty 🍻
Komorebi is leaps and bounds better than these. I know taste is subjective, but there is a freshness and brightness to Komorebi that sets it apart to our palate. I wish we had it available right now!!
In Japan there are really 6 big domestic beer options. You guys missed out on Suntory Premium Malts, YEBISU, and Kirin Lager beers. Kirin Lager and YEBISU are both alternative options from Kirin and Sapporo, respectively - Suntory Premium Malts however is from a different company that at least should have been included in this comparison.
That's right! Suntory Premium is my favorite Japanese lager by far. Not that I don't like the others. Suntory Premium malts is just my perfect lager.
Big fan of Asahi but all 3 are great.
agreed!
I would love to see ranking some rauchbier next
noted!
I never liked beer early on until I had Sapporo it became my gateway into enjoying beer, now I drink about any beer 🍺
Hi my name is Yoshi. I"m a Beer Nommelier in NY. I reviews beers from all over the world. I went to your brewery one time and I really enjoyed your beers. I have a question. When you talk about classic acetaldehyde apple fermentation characteristics, what does it taste or smell like? One day if I can collaborate with this channel, that would be awesome. Cheers!!!
Missed out not having Orion
Asahi is my favorite japanese beer! It's so damn good, especially when paired with japanese or asian food
Amazing tasting. I have never been able to pick up banana in a Japanese lager. I'll keep trying.
That’s a cool shirt, looks comfortable. who makes it?
I agree
I think you need to compare some of the US craft rice lagers to these 3 Japanese legends. Other Half's Snaps rice lagers comes to mind!
we were sad to not have our own to try at the time. hopefully will in the future!
As a Taiwanese living in Taiwan now, my favorite one among these three is Asahi
BTW, I recently tried Nado Lager from Coronado Brewing. It’s freaking awesome, probably my favorite Japanese style rice lager so far. On the other hand, it would be really cool that Nate can have ratings on Golden Medal Taiwan Beer and Classic Taiwan Beer (Taiwan Beer is the name of the company)
Yeah, would be interesting his take on Taiwan beer ... not sure it would be that great. It's good, (and cheap in Taiwan, NT $ 35 ? ) but I've seen Taiwanes drink it with dried plums and maybe best with or after "stinky dofu" 😛
@@steveh4114 TBH, I am not the huge fan of Taiwan Beer it’s not that fresh in most of the time and it’s sometimes contain metal smell lol
Nate keeps getting more jacked every video 🤣
It's like our mainstay lagers in the US...but just damn better.
Wish Orion and Suntory we're here though.
would be v interested in seeing u compare trappist dubbels or tripels (chimay, westmalle, rochefort, etc). especially since their price tends to run a bit higher, would be a good comparison for value's sake
noted - thanks for the suggestion!
Asahi Super Dry is my favorite of the big 3 as well. Halfway Crooks in ATL makes a really nice riff on it called “Super Super Turbo Turbo”.
good to know!
I live in Guelph Ontario and we have a Sapporo brewery here "Sleemans". That Sapporo is very different than the 650ml SS cans we get from Vietman.
I would love to say ours is better but... It's not 😔
Not sure if anyone else said it, but Yebisu (gold can with big boy and a fish) is probably the best Japanese lager I've had. I'm pretty sure it's only brewed in Japan.
good to know - will try to get our hands on some!
Sappro is brewed in the Richimond, isn't it? It seemd that the factory is Stone's one.
Great showing
thanks Dave!
Should have tried Orion 🤘🍺
Interesting i prefer Asahi over Sapporo as well but they are really close i have them at my buddies 🍣 restaurant
I really like Sapporo Black.
Yeah both that and the Reserve in those funky 22oz cans are a go to.
Totally agree these are all fine beers. Whenever I’m at a hibachi restaurant, I’m more than satisfied with any of these.
Asahi is my favorite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fun Fact: Harrison Ford has starred in a bunch of wacky Kirin ads that are a great watch sometime
i will have to look them up!
This made me want sushi and some hot saki! Can’t help it!
hell yeah
Who won the fathers day give away?
I don't recall off the top of my head, but they have picked up their goodies at our Tewksbury location.
Good and Fun. Thanks for the ID of where they are brewed. I think when they are brewed at the source (the original brewery, or one operated by the brewery) they taste different/better. These beers are essentially contract brewed. Would (does) Treehouse brewing give your recipe and procedures to a nearby Bud or Coors brewery to make your beer ? -- I think not -- (not yet ?). I don't have the tasting palate that you do, but I think I can tell the diffence of a Heineken brewed in the Netherlands to one brewed in Canada or the USA or Italy. I refuse to buy Import beers (Stella, etc.) that are made in the USA or Canada, or Italy or anywhere that is not their origin ... and pay more for their "import" status. Cheers ! ... keep up the good work and fun/ entertaining ... informative videos. 😀
it could be fun to try to source the same beer brewed in many different places and do a side by side
Kirin USA was made by AB at one time in the LA area (not sure about now). Kirin Ichiban Shibori in Japan is noticeable cleaner and better tasting.
Sapporo Dark is really good
Need!!
Sapporo and Asahi tastes the same for Mez but I think I like Asahi more due to the crisp feel is more than Sapporo personally
Nate, you need a gavel. One strike on your custom tasting table to mark the end of the tasting.
Hell yea
helllll yeah
Asahi for sushi, Sapporo for crushing.
Kirin is 100% malt, no rice. Not sure about the other two.
Indeed, i knew this and spaced on it. they claim to only use first runnings which is interesting and highly inefficient- i wonder what they do with the remaining extract
@@treehousebrewcothink they use for cheaper beers (or beer like products “happosho”) in their range. That beer is Ichiban Shibori - which means first pressing (Kirin is the brewery).
@@treehousebrewcoKirin Light? 😂
@@treehousebrewco I tasted their malt extract as part of their Yokohama brewery tour. It's astoundingly rich and sweet.
Try Australian Lager
will do!
lol, what was on your shirt?
water?
@@treehousebrewco it's inside out? Thought there might have been a logo or something.
The big difference is Japanese domestic beer is mostly unpasteurised, so they're unfit for export. Also means these would have less flavour.
🍻
HI ELLEN
My favourite beer is japanese beer Asahi
Second would be German
Third Czech pilsner
Forth will be American
Haven't watched the vid yet, but man i've been super disappointed in Japanese beer. I moved to Tokyo from the states in February and I havent had a good beer since I moved here.
I thought Sapporo was Vietnamese
I'll pass on all three. I did just have a King Julius which I highly recommend.
👍🏻👍🏻