Well well well! It has certainly been awhile since I last posted a beer review on here. I’ve got a whole host of reasons (excuses really!) of why there haven’t been any reviews. None of those excuses include any bouts of sobriety, so realistically there should have been a steady stream of reviews rolling through. Anywho, I’m back from a month away in Japan (and Korea and Taiwan) and have fewer reasons not to write. So I thought why not give a couple of thoughts on some Japanese craft beer before heading back into regularly scheduled service of disappointing contract brewed supermarket beers and delicious, lovingly crafted, independent brews.

First up for you is a rice lager from what is considered to be Japan’s first microbrewery; Echigo Beer Co. Echigo is based in Niigata, on the North coast of Japan’s main island, and is an area particularly known for the quality of it’s rice, and as a result the quality of it’s sake (rice wine) and beer. The name of the beer itself, Koshihikari, is actually the specific type of rice used in the beer. Relatively strong, when compared to most European lagers, this beer comes in at 5% ABV.

The beer pours a classic, clear golden colour. I couldn’t get much head on my pour but I’m also not using the greatest glassware. You take what you are given in an AirBNB! Lightly carbonated with a good fizz to it, the beer has a light, refreshing aroma with a little pineyness to it. Incredibly crisp to taste. Super clean drinking, you get the classic malt flavours you expect from a lager with a light hop providing a little citrus flavour to it.

A quick note on the can art: Much like the contents of the can, the design of the label is clean and clear. The design of the goat surrounded by a laurel of hops was design by a German woman, who the founder met on trips to Germany. She was a picture book artist and used a male goat as it symbolises vitality, harvest and business prosperity in Germany (according to the Echigo Beer website).

I love a rice lager. In fact it’s probably my favourite type of lager as the added rice, alongside your typical malts, makes the beer even crisper and easy drinking. We had great weather in Tokyo and so these went down a treat. The light, delicate flavour also makes it an ideal companion to many Japanese cuisine staples whether it be a sushi platter or a big bowl of ramen. I never saw this on draft sadly but perhaps one day I’ll make it to Niigata to try it at their brewpub straight from the source.

Score: 8/10

Thanks for taking the time to read this review! It’s good to be back writing and looking forward to hearing what you think if anyone reading has had this beer before. Cheers!

Additional Information:

Style: Rice Lager

Hops: Not Available

Malt: Not Available

IBU: 16

ABV: 5%

Gluten Free: No

Vegan: Not Available

Location: A Japanese Supermarket

Price: Approx 500Yen (Roughly £2.50)