Miyajima Beer (Caramel Blonde)

On my way back from Hiroshima, I discovered a new beer that I had never heard of, Miyajima Beer.  I saw it at the station and since I’m a sucker for trying new types of beer, I thought I would give it a try.  I was sadly disappointed.  It was a ji-biru and not a craft beer that I had hoped to have.  Then again, it could just be that I didn’t enjoy the beer because it isn’t the style that I like.

Hiroshima Shinkansen Platform

The Caramel Blonde is, as the name says, an infusion of caramel into a blonde beer.  The colour, from what I could make out from the can, was definitely not a blonde.  It was darker due to the caramel but the flavour was too sweet.  There was no hop flavour to the beer and I was a bit disappointed.  It felt like I was drinking a sweet American beer, and not something I would enjoy these days.

Miyajima Beer, Caramel Blonde

Miyajima Beer has the potential to improve and I only tried one of their beers.  This by no means makes me an expert or an authority on their beers.  I can only say that based on my own personal preferences, the Caramel Blonde is not my drink.  I might give them another try, but compared to Kure Beer, if I had to make a choice, I’d choose Kure Beer.

Bonus Photo: Kuedon, a yurukyara from Shirahama, Wakayama. Visiting for the day, I think.

Note:  Ji-biru is synonymous with craft beer in Japan, but that is changing.  Ji-biru is literally translated as “local beer” and is often a gimmick of a local town trying to get people to buy souvenirs.  Craft beer, as a name in katakana, is growing and serious companies are trying to use it as a mark of quality.

Information

• Miyajima Beer (Official Site – Japanese Only)
• Miyajima Beer (Official Facebook Page – Japanese Only)