Sapporo Breweries- Sapporo Reserve: East meets Wes!

So last weekend my girlfriend made the plans. She decided that she wanted to go to H-Mart in Niles, IL. I asked her what H-mart was and she answered, “A giant Asian Wal-Mart.” We fought through Saturday Chicago traffic and made our way to H-mart. Imagine a Wal-Mart where you can’t read any of the packages and you will have a good idea. I held my breath and ran past the pre-packaged squid and fish cakes straight toward the beer aisle.

I heard Japan has an emerging craft brew scene and I was dying to scoop Jason on a new brand of beer. Unfortunately they only had American craft brews and Asian macro brews. I grabbed a couple cans of Sapporo Reserve only because I hadn’t seen that particular variety before. Reserve poured the same color as any American pilsner, straw colored with an abundance of carbonation but very little head. The aroma boasts no hops, but has a very sour maltiness. It smells like day old Miller High Life.

I am not going to waste any time on this crap. It is bitter, sour and gross; the very definition of fizzy yellow water. If you like Busch Lite here you go. I am just glad to know that macro brews suck in foreign countries as well. I can’t wait to tell my grandkids what used to pass for beer. Sapporo has been around since 1876, it is time to let your guard down gents. Don’t let the sexy, shiny, exotic can fool you. I expect more from a country that invented square watermelons.

ABV: 5.2%

Consumed: Pint Glass

Verdict: Skip it!