Winter beer

Beer brewers in Japan are always offering special beers. One of the most common is season beers for spring, autumn, Cherry Blossom season, and starting at this time of year…winter beer.

Around this time last year, I bought Kirin’s winter beer…and today, I bought a case of Asahi 「冬の贈り物」 (“Winter Gift”) beer.

(Actually a 発泡酒 (low-malt liquor)...but tastes like lager beer to me)

Do beer brewers in your country sell “seasonal beers”? Do brewers outside of Japan sell 発泡酒 (low-malt liquor) that is similar in taste and appearance to lager beer…but cheaper?
Have you ever tried a Japanese 発泡酒 (low-malt liquor)? What do you think of them?

Autumn beer

In Japan most of the major beer brewers offer “seasonal” beers ever year. Special beers in specially designed cans of spring, summer, autumn and winter.

It’s just a gimmick to help sell beer, of course. But I don’t mind, I usually like to try them when they come out with a new one every year.

On August 25th, Kirin Beer began selling 「秋味」 ビール (“Autumn Flavor” beer).

As I mentioned in a post last year, Suntory Beer sold their autumn beer (called 「秋生」 (“Autumn Draft”)) on that same date last year (2009 August 25).

The design of the Kirin and Suntory beer cans look quite similar.

Do beer brewers in your country offer seasonal beers like this? Are they popular?

Suntory

7-11 Japan and the department store chain that owns it, 「イトーヨーカドー」 (Ito-Yokado) are selling Suntory 「ゴールド・ブルー」 (“Gold Brew“) 発泡酒 (low-malt beer) for only ¥100 (about US$1.00) per 350ml can.

So I bought a case of them from 「イトーヨーカドー」 (Ito-Yokado). ¥100 / can X 24 cans = ¥2,400 (about US$24). A pretty good price, and the beer tastes good too!
350ml cans are a bit small though…I usually buy a case of the 500ml “tall boys”.

I know Suntory is a beverage company that makes beer, whiskey and some soft drinks…but did you know that they own Pepsi Japan and Gatorade Japan too?

Gatorade Sports Drink is originally a Florida* company? (*I grew up in Florida, USA).

Gatorade was created by the University Of Florida. Initially it was created for the University of Florida‘s football team…the “Gators“. Hence the name, “Gatorade“.

The only reason I know this is because my sister graduated from the University of Florida.

I wonder if other U.S. college football teams drink Gatorade and if they know it’s a “Florida Gators” drink?

In Japan, beer brewers release seasonal beers…ie: brews for the Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Winter.
On August 25, Suntory will begin selling their 2009 Autumn beer, called 「秋生」 (“Autumn Draft“).
It contains 6.5% alcohol.