ICHIBAN (ICHIBAN SHIBORI) ~ KIRIN

Kirin Ichiban Shibori is advertised as brewed with only hops, water and malt, and only using thing the first press off the wort. Sampled from a tin at my local ramen restaurant, the beer poured a clear light golden yellow with a thick white head, that lasted a while. The nose was very mild, but did have light notes of grains, sweet bread, herbals and a hint of sulphur. Like the nose flavour is super mild with a little malt sweetness, cereal, slight metallic taste, and whisper of grassy hop bitterness. The body is light, carbonation active and the finish is somewhat dry, with a little lingering bitterness. This in not comparable to micro brews, which I would take any day. Cold, wet and very mild, it was a good companion to my spicy ramen broth.