Kirin Heartland

Brewed by Kirin Brewery Company
Style: Premium Lager
Tokyo, Japan

Serve in Lager glass

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

This beer reminds me of Sleeman’s in terms of taste and packaging. It seems to be mid-way between craft and macro. A good lager, crisp, clean and slightly hoppy. It’s about 300 yen for a 500 ml and is the best of the macrobrews in Japan in my opinion.

On tap at Kirin bar in Tokyo. Came in a footed pilsener glass, showing its clear amber body and tight white head. Couldn’t detect much in the way of aroma. The taste was light malt with a more pronounced hoppy note over the top. Crisp finish. Pretty standard lager really.

Bottle from Yamaya. Strong pils hopping from the get go. The aroma diminished somewhat within a few minutes. Clear pale yellow with fine carbonation. Well-balanced initial, slightly metallic in mid palate, with a bit of a sweet finish. Medium body. A very drinkable lager, maltier than most, from a Japanese major.

Rated Apr 2008. Head is mostly diminishing. Body is light to medium yellow. Aroma is lightly malty (grain), trace hops (herbs), with a note of metal. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly to moderately bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, moderately bitter, slightly husky. Light to medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation, metallic.

Big green bottle brought back from Japan and shared by Keir- thanks again, Keir! Pours a clear golden color with a small, fizzy white head. Massive skunk aroma. Seriously, it smells like a skunk sprayed straight into the bottle. Also some grass and straw, but sheesh. The flavor isn’t as bad, with corny, grainy malts, dry wheat, and straw. Light-bodied, with medium carbonation and a dry, grainy mouthfeel. But oh man, the skunk is overwhelming.

33 cl bottle @ Kemby’s, Hiroshima. Bottled 07/2011, BBE 03/2012?. Rated on 14.09.2011
Aroma is fresh and slightly hopped. It has some grainy malt. Flavour is a bit stale with some grainy malt and sweetish corn. Dryish finish. Feels like an attempt from a big brewer to make ”premium” beer.

On tap at Castle West, Kyoto. Clear pale golden, decent head. Malty aroma and flavours, slightly sweet. Run-of-the-mill industrial lager.

Dark yellow colored, little white head. Hopped and grassy aroma with decent crispy pilsner touch. Thin to medium bodied. Flavor is similar with fruits and lemon in start, aftertaste turns to hopped, even some Saaz can be found... Have I been too long in China since this tastes good...

Bottle. Pours a pale gold with quickly disappearing white head. Smoother than I expected. Not a bad beer, but kinda boring.

Clear golden. Grassy hoppy with a mild maltiness. Good mouthfeel. Mild flaviour, grassy hops, some maltiness, light sweetness.