Asahi Premium Belgian Ale

Formerly brewed at Asahi Breweries
Style: Belgian Ale
Tokyo, Japan

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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The globe trekker series (a stricter translation might be "World Beer Travels" series is placed alongside Japan’s macro heavy weights in the refrigerator, with a price tag to match. My challenge for Asahi’s Premium Belgian Ale was to test whether it held up against the deeper flavors of the Suntory Premium Malts and Yebisu. Compared to most of Japan’s other easy access canned lagers, this Belgian style brew brings more sophistication, more malts, more flavor, and more earnestness. On the other hand it’s still a close match for Japan’s mass market pale lagers, and I suspect would pale in comparison to other lighter Belgian style ales. Still, this is an affordable drink for sessions, and makes a symbolically effective bridge between a Belgian beer style and Japan’s noble tradition of fried and salty foods. Gyoza and Belgian style light flavored ale - yes.

Can. put it in my Westvleteren glass just in case it is as good as the blonde! Malty aroma, similar to Asahi’s regular beers, plus slightly estuary fruits, a bit spicy. Not bad. Pale blonde with a fast-vanishing head. Sweet malts, some honey, citrus, cereals. Interesting malt like a pils, though fruity, slightly spicy. wheat also used? Relatively clean and balanced, though no hop flavor really. Nice light bitterness at the finish. A bit too grainy, but decent. I would take it over a Leffe Blonde.