Now that's more like it!!!!

Ah…I can smell The Premium Malts from here. Ever since I cracked the first one of these a few years ago, I was hooked. Pay no mind to its world-wide acclaim. If you are holding a bottle or can of The Premium Malts, you are holding the Grand Gold Medal winner at the Monde Selection world quality festival. Oh wait, I almost forgot! You are holding the Gold Medal winner for the past three years running. That’s an accomplishment that Asahi, Kirin, and even the “King” back in the US can’t hold a candle to!
But like I said, never mind about that! I’ve tasted some “award winning” beers that tasted like they had been brewed with a bronze medal, much less deserved one. Keep in mind, Miller Lite has a huge marketing campaign in the US which states that it is a four time Gold Medal winner. (Miller Lite won in the category: Best American-style Light Lager…which is the same as me winning a Gold in the category: Best Slightly-Balding Chubby Kentuckian in Aichi. There ain’t too many of us out there, and of the few of us that exist, why do we deserve a medal???) ( For the record, The Premium Malts won in the category: Group I: low fermentation beers.)
And like I said, never mind that! You are holding a great tasting beer. Suntory’s The Premium Malts has (surprise surprise!!!) flavor!!! It may sound simple, but it is a statement that can't be said about the other major brewers in Japan. Of the other big three, none of them mass produce a beer that can compete with The Premium Malts. It is refreshing, has a great body, great taste, and is available almost anywhere in Japan. The downside? It is pricey!!!! At about 323 yen a 500mL can, The Premium Malts costs about 60 yen (about 60 cents in today’s crappy market!) more per can than other “premium” beers like Super Dry and Kirin Lager and Kirin Classic. Yikes!
According to Suntory, The Premium Malts uses 20% more malt and twice as many aroma hops (Chech Saaz aroma hops) as its other beers. That must be where all the taste (and price increase, thanks taxes!!!!!!) comes from!

Last year, Suntory offered The Premium Malts, Black—a very tasty dark version of the beer. If you were lucky enough to snag one of these babies, you were in for a real treat…but alas…the Black Malts is no more. Damn you Limited Edition!!! Suntory used aromatic black barley malt to give the beer its dark flavor and color, and in my opinion, it was spot on!
If you’ve got the money, try one of The Premium Malts today. There is a less expensive version, The Malts, but go ahead and spend the extra 60 yen and try something Premium for once. You deserve it don’t you?
If you are lucky, you can find a few bars that have The Premium Malts on tap. If you are in Tahara, try Torihiro near Mikawa-Tahara station. They have The Malts on tap, and it goes well with some grilled chicken hearts and yaki-onigiri. You’ll thank us later.

Here’s a toast…To The Premium Malts!!!