The beers of Futenma: Sapporo

I'm back after a three week stint in Korea where I could only drink for about 5 days due to operational concerns. However, I was able to go out in town and try Hite, which is practically the only major South Korean beer having 55% of the beer market share. It's a good pale lager, but I don't have one in front of me so I can't give you a review. What I can give you a review of is SAPPORO, which is probably my favorite major Japanese beer (I'll get into Japans growing micro brew scene another day). The brewery was founded in 1876 by the Hokkaido Development Commission during Japans rapid modernization. Seibei Nakagawa became it's first brewmaster after studying brewing in Germans and almost immediately created their flagship lager which was named for the town in which it is produced. Ten years later, in 1886, the company was privatized and became the Sapporo beer company. They merged with Osaka brewery to form Di-Nippon in 1906 and monopolized the beer market until the end of WWII. After the war the companies split up, Osaka became Asahi and Sapporo became Nippon breweries. In 1956 they resumed production of Sapporo lager and eight years later changed their name to Sapporo breweries. They started Sapporo USA in 1984 and started a brewery in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I've had the Sapporo in America, it's a good beer, but it has a bit of a different finish than the Sapporo in Japan. Alright, enough talk, lets pop the top.

and my heathen frosted mug

From the can, it has a malted, yeasty nose. After pouring it in the super traditional Orion mug, it has a light foamy head with large beads, it is however, not long lasting. It has a golden color and respectable life within the mug. It has a more cereal nose from the mug, but maintains a touch of yeastyness. Mouthfeel is light medium body with low acidity. It has a smooth apple finish, but I can't seem to find the words for it's flavor. Malt cereal I suppose. It is a little hoppy, but it's not particularly noticeable. Having had this beer many times before, I cannot tell you what conditions give this beer a creamy finish and aftertaste. I'm going to let the beer warm and see if that doesn't do it.

I know I've commented on Radio Moscow before, but I'm listening to their 2009 album Brain Cycles and I'm loving every minute of it. It has much more of a blues rock sound that Magical Dirt, but it still stays stoner rock. But in other news, I was stuck in Oita, Japan for a couple of days and found one of the best pieces of Engrish I have ever seen, and I was able to purchase it so here it is...

I think they meant the bird of prey

for posterity

Back to the beer, it's gained a little bit of creaminess, but not a great deal. If anything, the cereal is more pronounced. I've finished it, as far as macro brews go, Sapporo is alright by me. It's an enjoyable and high quality beer. I give it my blurry seal of approval