Kirin Ichiban Beer Review – The Number One

May 7, 2023 Cameron Mackenzie

Japan has a drinking culture different from most of the western world. Alcohol is about togetherness and celebration and is often consumed more casually. There is a reason Tokyo and Kyoto are some of the biggest tourist destinations yet seem to lack a large drinking culture. This means it may be surprising to some Japan's most popular drink of choice is not the countries famous Sake, but instead beer. Along with Asahi Super Dry, Kirin Ichiban is one of Japan’s most popular beers, both within the country and across the globe. The word ichiban means the first or best in Japanese, a name Kirin Ichiban lives up to with Kirin Brewers being open for almost 140 years making it one of Japan's oldest breweries.

The Kirin aspect of the beer and breweries names comes from a Chinese mythological creature called the Kirin, which was seen as a symbol of good luck. The story of the creature says that the Kirin appeared before the mother of the Chinese philosopher Confucius when he was born. Kirin Brewery decided to use this creature as their logo to create familiarity for their Japanese consumer’s. The logo also takes inspiration from the many European breweries which featured animals on their packaging and within their logos.

The brewery began in 1885 originally trading as The Japen Brewing company, changing to Kirin Brewery in 1907. The company set out with the goal of quality in mind, aiming to create high quality and enjoyable beer. The Kirin Brewery has also expressed an interest in focusing on the attention to detail and enjoyment within drinking beer, stating, ‘Attention to detail and refinement. When one explores life with mindfulness, the Japanese call it Teinei ni. It’s a lifestyle choice of awareness, refined simplicity, and discerning tastes.’ This idea of attention to detail was inspired by Japanese cuisine which often focuses on intricate details and flavours that add a lot to the dish. With this in mind, Kirin Ichiban was intended to pair well with Japanese cuisine, something it does incredibly well.

Kirin Ichiban was first introduced by the brewery in 1990 and has since become a staple. The beer stands out against other beers as it uses only the first press of the wort which again ties into the meaning of ‘first’ in the word ichiban. Needless to say, the brands name, logo and brewing methods all tie in incredibly and are well thought out. The creation of Kirin Ichiban was seen as creation of art, with it being zero exception to the attention to detail rule. The company stated, describing the beer, ‘Kirin Ichiban represents a rich culture of meticulousness. In a way, it is an art form of its own. We choose every ingredient and carry out every step of the process with awareness true to Japanese craftsmanship.’

This tie between Japanese and Asian culture as well as precise brewing give Kirin Ichiban the soulful feel that a beer brewed by a small brewery would have. It is clear that Kirin Brewery cares deeply about quality and staying true to their values when creating their beers. Since the debut of Kirin Ichiban in 1990, there have been some interesting variations of the beer. Kirin Ichiban Hop, Kirin Ichiban Kuronama and Kirin Ichiban Frozen, all of which are now widely available spin offs of the original Kirin Ichiban, each proving a slightly different quality.

In terms of flavour, the beer is smooth and rich without being too heavy. The beers lightness makes it the perfect pair for Japanese cuisine such as ramen as the beer can be enjoyed with the filling dish without adding any further feelings of fullness. It is also a great beverage for newer beer drinkers as the flavour is not too strong, in short making Kirin Ichiban enjoyable and light.

Soulful, historic, enjoyable, and light, Kirin Ichiban is a must try for seasoned beer lovers and even someone not too keen on beer, just looking to try something new.

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