Asahi Brewmasters Select

Brewed by Asahi Breweries
Style: Premium Lager
Tokyo, Japan

Wow, a pleasant surprise. Vaguely in the vienna style, if a touch light for the style. Burnt amber color, large bubbles and medium head. Aroma mostly of caramelized malts, with a touch of floral hops. Nice big caramelized palate, with an easy finish with enough hops for balance, no more. Turns out to be a nice tasting and easy drinking amber lager, with rounded caramel sweetness. A good partner to food in general, and in particular was really nice with smoked bbq ribs.

Bottle

Pours a lush gold, with a nice creme head and clinging lace. Aroma is rice, sweet/sour malt, and a tinge of hops. Very bready nose. Flavor is slightly spicy, with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a tinge of roasted malt. Palate is average, with equal parts water and slickness. I was very surprised at the quality of this, as I was expecting crap. Nice beer, one I would drink again in the right setting.

12oz bottle, slightly cloudy light copper color. Citrus notes, typical lager aroma otherwise. Medium-light bodied, great drinkability.

They do have the Vienna style likeness down with this one, albeit a little weird. Nose is faint sweet corn and caramel. A little bland and "bottle" tasting, cardboard perhaps, with some mild roast caramel malts. Not bad, but nothing to buy again.

Copper pour, big head, nice lace. Sour fruity aroma. Light carbonation, woody caramel sweetness. With a hint of honey and butter. Nice waxy flavor, candy, some rice? Surprisingly complex brew.

12 oz. Clear copper with a small, lasting disc of foam. Spots of soapy lace. Light aroma of spicy-sweet grain and caramel. Flavors of molasses, toasted nut and dry grain husk with a light orange-apple twang. Light-medium body is a bit watery and fizzy, but very dry. Not great, but very drinkable. Reminds me of some of the fair-to-middlin English bitters.

Upon the pour, a golden bronze color with an average head, creamy white, and after its erosion, the lace forms a thin concealing sheet. Nose is sweet malt, a very mild hint of hops; start is malt sweet with a touch of spicy bitterness at the back, light to medium feel. Prickly acidity, hops light but present, very dry lingering aftertaste, a drinkable beer, and one suited for a hot day, when the lawn needs a trim, or in my case when I wash off the rocks, desert landscape don’t you know. Lol

Sampled on 4/19/2009. This pale lager pours a deep orange gold color from a 12oz bottle. Medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is cereal and grain, with a touch of citrusy hops. A medium bodied Pale Lager. The malts are cereal and grainy, perhaps a touch of rice. The hops are floral. Nice balance. Some decent flavors is this one. Good carbonation. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet and malty.