Koshihikari Echigo Beer - Uehara Shuzou Co. Ltd. / Echigo Beer Pub

shivtim

Georgia

2.1/5  rDev -35.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Another bottle picked up at the Buford Highway Farmer's Market.

Poured into a pint.

Clear gold, foamy bright white head. Still. Macro-ey.

Nose is strong rice, sweet and sticky. Some ethanol.

Taste is standard rice lager. Rice, metallic, some stale hops on the end. Some generic sugary sweetness.

I'll avoid this one!

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 01:50:02 | More by shivtim

laituegonflable

Australia

1.4/5  rDev -56.9%
look: 1 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Pours a pale golden colour, clear and still. Head was white and existed at one stage, now it's disappeared. Looks rubbish, frankly.

Smells sweet and adjuncty. Yum. Lots of corn and honey and rice, with some blandness and shitness thrown in. Not much to enjoy, not even much to look for. Pretty poor.

Taste is also pretty poor. Bland on the front but also sickly sweet with lots of honey and white sugar/sucrose added. Corn, grain, pearl barley - yeah I guess it tastes rather like livestock feed. Very little to appreciate here, in fact very little not to make me go on a murderous rampage through a crowded shopping mall. Take note, breweries: brew better beer. It could save lives.

Decently full body, bit of carbonation at the end. It's what I'd expect stylistically, therefore it's alright.

Bland, overly sweet. Bad beer. Bad, bad beer. Naughty.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 05:57:34 | More by laituegonflable

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

500ml bottle, not so surprisingly available at many places throughout Hawaii, given the preponderance of Japanese tourists here. The Kanji characters on the label are quite different from the can pictured on this entry.

This beer pours a crystal clear pale golden yellow colour, with one skinny finger of thin foamy bone-white head, which leaves very little discernible lace around the glass as it logically bleeds away in barely more than an instance.

It smells of rice grain adjuncts, a bit warm, with mild grassy hop undertones. The taste is a little more generically grainy, but with a still healthy (?) rice husk character, a slight warming, and very subtle grassy hops.

The bubbles are pretty average, i.e. not noticeably different from its very numerous peers, the body a medium-light weight, its only claim coming from a somewhat tacky, pithy character, one which does no favours to the unfairly burdened smoothness. It finishes rather blandly, a combination of semi-sweet rice pudding, and subtle earthy, weedy hops.

Not really all that bad; however, this offers nothing beyond the underwhelming norm - soul-sucking, quasi-sickly grain, crispness an ironically foreign concept, and overall just another lost chance at cross-culture beer knowledge enhancement.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 06:43:42 | More by biboergosum

flagmantho

Washington

2.53/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from 500mL bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: very pale yellow hue with a clear body and nice effervescence. Head is a very thin layer of bubbly white foam. Not super impressive.

Smell: lightly plastic-smelling malt aroma; pretty light, but there's enough aroma in there to be not-great overall.

Taste: very light, dry flavor. Not exactly malty; just sort of plain and flavorless. It's not especially flawed, though, and "flavorless" is pretty much the goal of a rice lager.

Mouthfeel: light body with a big dose of carbonation. Not creamy, but definitely sparkling ... it's at least interesting.

Overall: despite this beer's flaws and relative lack of flavor, it is stylistically accurate and pretty easily drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 21:48:39 | More by flagmantho

hreb

Washington

2.58/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Half liter bottle. Beer pours extremely pale straw/yellow with a medium white head and big bubbles. Almost no aroma, but sweet -- reminds me of apple juice that way.

Very little flavor, too. A little bit of dryness, and a more than a hint of corn syrup sweetness. I guess it's inoffensive, and pretty drinkable, but not good.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 04:21:09 | More by hreb

lacqueredmouse

Australia

2.38/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 1 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Served to me blind by @LaitueGonflable, who purchased it recently in Hong Kong.

Pours a very clear and really disappointingly light-bodied yellow colour, with only a touch of white foam around the edges of the glass. No lace, not body, and a pitiful single stream of carbonation from one nucleation point in the glass. Looks like macro shite.

Nose is pounded with ricey adjuncts, leaving wet grain nothingness. To be fair, there's a touch of greenness to the brew, giving a lift above the abysmal, perhaps a touch of hops that really wants to break through. But really, this is a beer of nothingness—it smells like a mildly more potent Asahi or something. Rice, way too much rice.

Taste is clean and clear, but that's about as good as it gets. Again, there's husky rice characters giving a mild sweetness and a very blatant emptiness, and just the touch of hops to bring it into the realms of "is-it-ok-I-don't-know!", but it's really weak and disappointing, really. It's light and drinkable enough, but really, it's not very good at all.

Really? What is this? My only opinion is that it's a very generic pale brew brewed to be quaffable and devoid of flavour by someone who knew what they were doing. It's not unpleasant, it's not offensive, it's not undrinkable: it's just goddamn boring as shit.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 23:42:21 | More by lacqueredmouse

WillCarrera

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A- Pours a dark yellow / golden color with a bubbly white head that dissipates quickly.

S- Lots of semi-sweet rice grain smell, mild hops and fruitiness.

T- Light grains, semi-sweet malt, some grassy hops in the background. A bit above average for an Asian lager.

M- Light bodied but not watery, well carbonated, crisp feel.

O- A nice, drinkable brew, goes well with sushi, definitely on par with the big name Japanese beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 07:00:10 | More by WillCarrera

CoalPorter

North Carolina

2.95/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a short pint glass at my favorite sushi place.

A - Fizzy white head dissipates fast, color is deep golden yellow

S - typical notes of light malt

T - Refreshing and clean, but dominated by the rice character

M - very fizzy and light

O - a better sushi-lager than I've had in a while

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 14:57:43 | More by CoalPorter

Absumaster

Netherlands

2.9/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A yellow golden color with a settling head.

Smell has a little sulfur and cooked vegetable inside. Not the best of smells, but after some sips the beer grows on you. The initial smell blends together in the beer.

Taste is bland. There is the vegetable taste and a light grainy taste. Further than that, nothing really sticks out. A very low bitterness and a total absence of a yeast profile. No off-flavors, but capitol bland. Mouthfeel is thin. Great for binging, I guess.

Serving type: can

08-09-2011 13:08:35 | More by Absumaster

mactrail

California

3.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Plain, slightly vegetal lager. Very light bodied. Delicacy is perhaps the best feature. Slight maltiness. Less sweet than some rice lagers. Just a touch of hops and a pleasant bitterish aftertaste. Is it my imagination or does this really taste like rice?

My impression is this is less flavorful than even the big japo-industo brews. Not that it's bad, just would hope for a little more sparkle. Quite drinkable but but not worth the extra price. From a Sunflower Market in Santa Fe.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 05:09:21 | More by mactrail

broken22

California

3.75/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nothing washes down sushi like a good old Japanese Rice Lager.

Pouring this beer out it springs to life. A decent head forms and dies away fairly fast. The color of the beer is a very light yellow. The smell of the beer is that mix of malt and rice with a slight bitterness to it. These beers usually taste like they smell and this one is no different. The flavor is light with a mix of malt and rice with a slight bitterness to it. The carbonation is medium to heavy and the beer continues to release co2 like champagne. The overall body is very light and the mouth feel is the same.

Overall this beer is satisfying. It pairs perfectly with foods that have very subtle flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2011 02:53:54 | More by broken22

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.53/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From the 500 ml. bottle. Sampled on April 23, 2011. The pour is a golden-yellow tone with a lot of carbonation building up to a two inch fizzy white head that diminishes in short order. There are malts in the aroma along with rice and cane sugar. The medium mouthfeel has a slick, creamy texture to it. Lots of sugar and malts in the taste as well with a slight hop bite at the end. It reminds me of a sweeter Becks.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2011 23:32:11 | More by puboflyons

drabmuh

Maryland

3.68/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle received in the most difficult (Fedex wise) trade ever conducted between womencantsail and I. Beer poured into a stein.

Beer is yellow and clear with a white head that disappears immediately. Carbonation is large bubbles, steady, moderate. Looks OK but headless.

Aroma is sweet and pilsnery with a mild vegetal sense but not off putting.

Beer is sweeter than expected, mildly grainy at the finish, light in body, mildly carbonated on the palate, overall nice in feel and flavor. Not offensive, overall weak in body and flavor, everything tastes muted on this beer. I'll drink the whole 500 ml but nothing too special here. This used to be the #1 Japanese rice lager, which is why I wanted to review it, but it is currently the #2 and I don't think I can recommend it enough to bump it up to #1, looks like I'm off to Canada!

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2011 02:51:18 | More by drabmuh

BerkeleyBeerMan

California

3.85/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: light yellow golden color with no head. Medium-carbonation.

Smell: Grainy sweet rice smell. Slight citric fruitiness. It smells very fresh. Mild hoppiness. I smell hints of grass.

Taste: very mild carbonated sweet and malty. A little bit more kick from the hops than the usual Japanese rice lager. Very smooth and refreshing. Pale characters. Good balance. Light grape taste. Finishes well but slightly pale.

Mouthfeel: Light but well balances. Perfect for washing down a meal. Compliments Sushi very well and is especially good pair with pickled dishes.

Drinkability: very good with food. Slightly sweet. Very satisfying. One is enough.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2011 04:31:58 | More by BerkeleyBeerMan

notchucknorris

California

3.38/5  rDev +4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Very pale and clear yellow in color. Almost no head.

S: Very light smell of pale malts and some steamed rice.

T: Slightly sweet and malty with a hint of citrus. Pretty average, but I'd rather have this than a Sapporo or Kirin. A good sushi beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2011 17:29:07 | More by notchucknorris

kflorence

California

2.98/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured into a clay glass, so I could only see the color on the pour. Overall it was very light, like many other Japanese lagers. A good amount of head adorned the top of the brew, but they were simply carbonation bubbles and quickly dissipated into nothing.

S: Definitely lots of rice and grains on a sweet malt backbone. Some grass. Maybe a hint of hops.

T: Much like the smell, this is just another typical Japanese lager, though it's definitive characteristic is definitely the rice. It's almost like a blend of very mild sake and a lager beer.

M: Light in body, thin and carbonated on the tongue. Reminiscent of many other lagers. A bit on the watery side, but still a little substance.

D: Drinkable and refreshing, but overpriced in the states and not as good as some of its competitors. It was a fine companion to sushi and soup, but failed to live up to my expectations.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 01:38:01 | More by kflorence

womencantsail

California

3.75/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer pours a clear straw color with a finger or so of white head that dissipates somewhat rapidly.

S: You definitely get the rice on the nose and it provides a nice lightness to the beer. Some mild malt aroma and maybe faint notes of floral hops. Certainly some lager yeast to the nose. Overall, it sort of smells like a decent Helles.

T: Sweet grain and bread to begin with. There is quite a bit of rice and perhaps some corn flavor as well. A light fruitiness to the palate and a light floral and grass hop contribution. The lager yeast is again present.

M: The body is light to medium with a high level of carbonation.

D: I thought this was actually pretty good. A really clean and easy to drink lager.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 23:56:52 | More by womencantsail

Kakaraht

British Columbia (Canada)

2.75/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours pale with a nice head that has little retention and no lacing.

S: Nothing, maybe a faint malt.

T: Typical of its style, it has a graininess to it with faint hop character.

M: Light body, good carbonation and a little dry.

D: It is a pretty average beer. I won't be getting it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2011 22:55:16 | More by Kakaraht

WestValleyIPA

California

2.63/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Poured from a 500ml bottle into my Zatec fluted glass. Had no idea what I was getting into, as it's kinda hard to tell from the bottle. Though maybe I'd get lucky and stumble across a Hitachino competitor or what-not. Then I poured it. Didn't even give it a whiff yet, and as I was putting the glass down got a nose-full of adjunct sweet herbal nastiness. Fizzy yellow beer (for wussies). Got about a finger of very quickly dying white tacky head. Smells sweet, grassy, ricey, and like you'd expect from Japanese beer. Taste is overbearingly sweet. Giving me a headache. Overcarbonated on the mouth. Hard to drink. Hope I can finish the pint. Not good. Maybe if I had some spicy food to go with it.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2010 07:29:12 | More by WestValleyIPA

jrrs

California

3.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

reminds me a bit of asahi, but asahi sometimes is a bit funky, whereas this has a nice simple style/character to the finish.

purchased at Berkeley Bowl (West) in berkeley, ca.

am strongly wishing i did have some sashimi to eat this with right now. a slightly sweet/slightly creamy fish would be a perfect match.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 21:58:19 | More by jrrs

HeabyMetawHunta

California

3.48/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

A - light gold / almost on the total yellow side - white head which quickly disappears with no lace

S- Very little of anything coming through - couldn't pick up much of anything beside that malt -

T- Crisp - once again not much coming through, not explosion of flavor besides very little malt, dry finish ; very easy to enjoy with sushi - doesn't stand out but enjoyable

m- light and thin- carbonated- tasted very good in between bites (i had lobster and enjoyed them together very much)

D- overall, a good beer with food- wouldn't drink it on its own, but i will be drinking this next time i head to the same sushi bar

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2010 22:07:42 | More by HeabyMetawHunta

Gobzilla

California

3.58/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured a golden yellow with almost no head and no lacing what so ever.

S: wheat and malt aromas and not much else to speak on.

T: slight skunky wheat with nothing much as to talk about.
Pretty crispy beer though.

M: light body with good carbonation and a crsip finish

D: great session beer but not much else. Have had this beer numerous times and always drink lots of it.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2010 06:08:10 | More by Gobzilla

Florida9

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Clear golden yellow in color. Pours with an extra fizzy, big bubbled head that fizzes itself out of existence, leaving not even the slightest bit of surface coating. Visible carbonation.

S: Corn. Grain. Rice. with a little bit of grassy hops.

T: Mildly sweet toasty grains. Delicate and simplistic. Finishes with a very light hop bitterness.

M: Lighter bodied with heavier carbonation.

D: A slightly better version of the standard Japanese beer, but at $6 for a 500ml bottle, the price isn't justified. However, it pairs well with Japanese food and managed to cut the saltiness of my miso ramen soup. Personally, not my favorite style (basically just an adjunct lager), but this beer is what it is supposed to be.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2010 02:42:12 | More by Florida9

1759Girl

California

3.73/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3

Hmmm... methinks that some of the reviews might just be people venting about their dislike for the style. I for one am not a fan of Japanese rice lagers, but what can you do? I have to be fair and appreciate them or their style, right? And I have to have SOMETHING to wash down the sushi when a restaurant fails to have a good nigori sake on their menu.

Let's get to the nitty gritty>

Appearance>yellow, huge bubbles, no head, clear very lively. Pretty average for it's style though usually there is a bit more head and lacing.

Smell>great. rice, grain,.. no metallic aroma.. extra bonus

Taste> super grainy, like a bowl of cereal or hippie bread. not complex. Crisp refreshing. Perfect for it's style

Mouf- a little too carbonated.

Drinkability> I guess.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2010 04:03:05 | More by 1759Girl

Dentist666

Russian Federation

3.1/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

0.35l can with label saying Land Brauerei Echigo-Brau ))
Pours pale golden beer, off-white liquid with big bubbles head, almost no lingering. Luscious apple aroma with significant tartness.
Classic lagers' taste, almost no hops, even weak malt, moderate carbonation, dry palate. Nothing special, only refreshes and let you indulge on the hot day.

Serving type: can

04-11-2010 10:42:40 | More by Dentist666