the beers of FUTENMA: Orion Southern Star

Tonight I review Orion Southern Star. This is a little different then their flagship Orion Draft (which I just acquired two cans of, review to come), it has less of a barley taste and flavor wise is akin to an American light pilsner, if American light pilsners were exclusively made with expensive spring water (like Fiji or Poland springs).

I have had this beer many times before, but I will try to look at it with fresh eyes, if I can. I have the 10th anniversary can, which has the Kerama blue design commemorating Kerama Shoto National park. It's actually got a pretty cool ocean life disign, but enough about that. On the can it says "Orion Southern Star is a liqueur with a refreshing light taste, delicately flavored with hops", like I said, light beer flavor. Now to pop the top and pour it into the super traditional Orion mug.

It has a mild musky nose from the can, not unlike a Miller Highlife. It has a barley aftertaste, it's just a little more than slight, but not as much as you find in Orion Draft. It's mildly acidic, but other than that it's mouthfeel is similar to good bottled water. the head starts out large, but quickly dies down to being practically non-existant. The beer itself has a golden amber color, but almost no bubbles, combined with the watery mouthfeel you can tell this is not a very carbonated beer. It certainly goes down easy.
So, to all 12 of my readers, sorry I haven't posted in a minute. I was sick most of last weekend (although I did get to finally do the battle sights tour I wanted to do last time I was in Okinawa) and work has required a little extra time on my part, I typically don't talk about my work directly on the internet (for obvious reasons) so that's all I'm going to say about that. But I'm mostly well now, not much else to report in that regard. What else is going on with me? I bought a 1970's navy A-1 extreme cold weather jacket to use as a riding jacket whenever I get a bike. I need to clean it, but it's in great condition.
Final thoughts on Orion Southern Star? It's OK. Allot of the guys out here like it, which is understandable considering it's along the same lines as the cheap beer they are used to drinking but of significantly better quality. Like all of Orion's brews, it's a simple, unfettered beer that can be relied upon. The Japanese seem to have acquired a taste for lightly flavored beers as of late, and that is the market this beer is going after. I'm not crazy about this one, but I'm not disappointed either.