Beer vs Happoshu

Just to keep the beer theme for this month rolling along, I thought I might quickly explain the difference between the Japanese beer and happoshu (the other Japanese beer).

Happoshu is a low malt (sometimes no malt) beer. With Japanese beer taxation based on % "malt content", beer brewers have been experimenting with low malt brews as a means of keeping costs down and passing those cost savings on to the consumer. For this reason you'll find a standard-sized can of happoshu about 50yen cheaper than its full malt counterpart.

As the techniques for brewing happoshu have improved with time, the taste has increasingly mirrored the taste of full malt beers, though it is still some way off according to seasoned beer consumers.

Japanese brewers spawn new varieties of happoshu faster than Japanese car manufacturers produce new models, so you will have to consume a few barrel loads of brew before you settle on your favourite (or decide that its altogether not for you).

Please tell us your favourite Japanese drink by taking the poll on the right side of this page.