Echigo-Brau

Down in Tahara on this past Sunday, DH and I picked up some Echigo Beer from the local Atsumi Foods. The gold can was a pilsner and the silver can, I think, is a kolsch. I determined this from the taste and the German-esque crest on the can that read "Land Brauerie Egicho-Brau." These beers were not expensive by Japanese standards. I think we paid 268 yen for each can. On the other hand, these beers were not great, but solid. The main thing that seperates the gold pilsner from a Japanese lager is the can it comes in and not the taste. I could have bought a Suntory Premium malts for a few yen less and been just as happy... but let's not split aluminum coins here. This being Ji-Biru, and not a Macro, makes it taste better for the same price.

The silver can, that I will refer to as a Kolsch from now on, is a little different. a traditional Kolsch is made with an ale yeast at colder temperatures and this beer fits that flavor profile. It was refreshing and light like a light lager, but had a softer, fruitier taste. I think Echigo uses some wheat recipe or they have a really good German Ale yeast that brings a wheatier flavor out. I am trying to think about this beer from an objective point of view. Kolsch beers should be drank in the summer when it is hot and you need to be refreshed. It is winter now and I preferred to be refreshed by a swallow of bourbon, hence my need for objectivity.

Bottom line of it is this: The gold pilsner is a taste alike to other Big 4 top quality pilsners, specifically, the Premium Malts, but as it is the same price, go with Echigo if you can find it. If you see the silver can, mark that store, because you will want to find it again when the weather heats up and your throat is parched.