Asahi Super Dry!!!

The Asahi Super Dry....The mythical beer that enkai's and the inside of Japanese fridges are made of. Even if you are new to Japan, the chances that you have drank some of the Super Dry are very, very high. At first many foreigners are surprised to see the Japanese drinking beer at all times, for all occasions. I was once offered a beer by one of my good middle-aged lady friends at 7:30 in the morning when we were embarking on a trip. As we say in Scott County, KY--"You can't drink all day unless you start in the morning!!"
Beer was introduced to Japan during the Meiji period by...you guessed it...The Germans. Chances are, if you are drinking a good beer anywhere in the world, the Germans had thir hands in making it somewhere along the way. Well, not literally I hope, but you get the picture. It took a while to catch on, but now beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in Japan, blowing Sake, Sho-chu, and others right off the island.
There are four "major" producers of beer in Japan: Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo, and Suntory. As Nate will tell you I am sure, they all fight to produce some of the worst beer ever created. Most Japanese do not have a taste for strong tasting beers, so once the Dry Wars were started in 1987...the Big Four have tried to cater to this lighter taste.
We could (and will!) write so much more about this, and so, I will leave it for later additions. Nate will enlighten us all on the reason for Japanese 100% malt beer, the Dry Wars, happoushu, and many more in-depth things about beer that Bud drinkers have no clue about. That being said....On to the Super DRY!!!!!

Asahi Super Dry is the flagship beer of Asahi Breweries, Ltd. Since it was introduced in 1987, it has remained a favorite of many Japanese, and quite honestly a symbol of all things Japan. You may be asking yourself, "What the hell is a dry beer anyways? How can something be dry that is already wet?" Nate will go into further detail on this, but to put it simply; Dry beers are lagers that have been fully attenuated and no remaining sugars are left in the wort. Translation: They sit a long time in a big tank where the yeast eats all there is to eat in the liquid (sugars) and craps out all of the alcohol. Wasn't that easy?

Asahi is a good beer for enkais and relaxing with friends, but don't expect it to knock your socks off if you are a flavorful beer lover. The Super Dry lives up to its name, leaving a dry finish with a light taste. It goes great with food as it is not overly filling, and its lighter taste won't overpower your food. This is very important in Japan, where the food can be somewhat "delicate."

To the casual beer drinker, or American light beer drinker, Asahi Super Dry will taste ok...but something will be a tad bit strange. Most likely it will be due to the rice and rice hulls that is used in the brewing process. Many American brews use rice, including Budweiser and High Life, but in the Super Dry the taste and smell is much stronger.

To the beer fanatics, the Super Dry will leave you wanting oh so much more. It has a slight (I mean SLIGHT) hoppy taste, and hints of sake come out when poured correctly. The correct Japanese pour is about 80% beer and 20% head, much to the astonishment of American beer drinkers. The finish is dry, but quickly fleeting, and you will find yourself taking sip after sip to try and remember what it tastes like. A little malty taste...but on the whole, not a lot going on. On the positive side, it doesn't leave any bad impressions...and that is the kicker--It doesn't leave much of an impression at all!

If you find yourself enjoying the Super Dry, you are in luck! It can be found in all corners of Japan from the urban jungle to the villiages in the mountains. Surprisingly enough, the price of Asahi will be around the same no matter where you buy it, outside of eating and drinking establishments that is. Many bars and eateries have the Super Dry on draught, which is way it is best enjoyed.

Raise your glass and toast your friends and co-workers with some of Japan's most famous brew!

KOMPAI!