Opened: 1869

Contributor: Jacob Sjúrður Hansen

Japan's biggest brewer contracts with Molson Breweries of Canada for North American production. Michael Jackson sings the praises of Kirin's Altbier, Black Beer, and Stout in his New World Guide.

Jacob Sjúrður Hansen writes:

Kirin had the majority of the beer market for decades with more than 60% until the start of “The Great Beer Wars” in 1988 when Asahi and Sapporo started their massive beer campaigns to gain more market shares. Since 1998 Kirin has been the second biggest brewer next to Asahi. Kirin has close relations to the Mitsubishi Bank Corporation.

Updated: February 12, 2021

• 2021-02-08: Kirin terminates billion dollar joint venture with Myanmar (Craft Brewing Business)
• 2021-02-03: Kirin still owns a majority stake in Myanmar and Mandalay breweries, which fund Myanmar military (Craft Brewing Business)
• 2011-10-12: Japan’s Kirin wins in court to take control of Brazil beer maker Schincariol (Washington Post)
• 2011-04-07: Kirin To Hike Beer Output During Summer To Make Up For Quake-Damaged Plant (Wall Street Journal)
• 2011-01-24: Coming to America: Kirin Beer With No Alcohol (Wall Street Journal)

• Classic
  European-Style Pilsener

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• Free
  Non-Alcoholic (Beer) Malt Beverage

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• Gokunuma
  5.50% abv.

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• Green Label
  European-Style Pilsener
  4.50% abv.

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• Ice+Beer
  Australasian, Latin American, or Tropical-Style Light Lager

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• Ichiban Shibori
  European-Style Pilsener
  5.50% abv.
  • Date: June 20, 1996 (#1540)
    Package: bottled
    Place: Yasu's Kona Sushi, Kona HI
    Score: 13½ points
    Overall Impression (2½)
    Yellow, fairly low carbonation, OK head. Malty aroma, some mercaptans. Sweet, with bitter tinges. DMS? Brewed by Molson in Montreal and Vancouver "from the first pressing of the finest ingredients", whatever that means.