Japan's Kirin Ichiban

There's always something about the Japanese and in the way they make their products. One would almost always expect a proper ritual of sorts before they do things; and one definitely can count on the quality of everything they make. Perhaps it is pure discipline at mastering the art of making things; but then again it is perhaps also a product of pure will that they go through every conceivable detail they can think of.

The very first time I tried this beer was in 1995 at a bar called Brannigan's along Annapolis in Greenhills. Imported beers weren't the norm at bars nor at supermarkets back then, so I jumped at the opportunity to take my first swig of a beer brand that was very hard to come by. I remember paying a hefty 190 pesos or something around that amount for a bottle. But it was worth it. Like everything made by the Japanese, this beer was nothing like I ever tasted. I would've blogged about it back then, but 1995 wasn't exactly that period in Philippine history where phones and Internet access was available everywhere. (Yes, I was one of a not-so-small group of people who went through high school and college without a phone in the house, although this is perhaps another story altogether.) It wasn't until today that I got to try Kirin again.

I helped myself to 4 bottles last April at DFS Subic. Each bottle set me back 1.75usd, so considering I paid more for the same at a higher price 14 years ago, I just couldn't complain.

This has the best-looking amber bottle I've run my fingers on so far. At 330ml, it wasn't large but one word comes to mind - aerodynamic, plus it was very light and very well put-together. It simply wasn't your typical San Miguel Pale Pilsen amber bottle, not even the Jamaican Red Stripe bottle either. There was Japanese precision and craftsmanship written all over it. There were no bubbles or waves on the bottle surface, and the bottom was only slightly thicker than the rest of its body.

At 5.5% alcohol, it should start to kick in after a few minutes if Kirin's taste grows on you quickly, and it will. It has definitely a certain sweetness to it, even for one who has not acquired the taste for beer. It is a draft beer, after all, but San Miguel Draft and MGD never tasted this good. I'm down to my last bottle as I write this, and because I'm also trying to cut down on my beer intake, I'm definitely going to miss Kirin.

What I can do, however, is to try and convince you to try it, in case you haven't already.

Until then, please make sure you finish your freakin' beer.