hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Kirin Brau Meister

Kirin Brewery
Tap to rate
🌍 Japan · Pale Lager · One of 101 Pale Lagers in hopIQ

Kirin Brau Meister (ブラウマイスター) has been served on draught in bars and restaurants since 1993 and takes its name from the German master brewer title held by the Kirin brewers behind it. Part of the hops go in as whole dried cones, and the beer matures about half as long again as Kirin Lager Beer. At 5.5% it is a little stronger than the brewery's everyday lagers. A fragrant hop aroma with herbal and floral notes rises over a dense, malty body with bread and grain, the foam is fine, and the finish is full yet firm.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Pale Lager.
Hop character
hoppy
floral
herbal
Malt character
malty
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kirin Brau Meister

Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a bright, luminous quality characteristic of the style. A fine, persistent head forms and clings to the glass with delicate lacing. Carbonation is evident and well-integrated, lending visual liveliness without excess.

pale goldenclearfine foamwell-carbonated

Aroma

Fragrant and inviting, with prominent herbal and floral hop character that leads the nose. Beneath the hop-forward profile sits a supporting foundation of bread and grain malt, adding warmth and depth. The extended maturation has allowed these elements to knit together cohesively, creating an aromatic profile of notable refinement.

herbal hopsfloralbready maltrefined

Taste

The palate opens with a full, malty body dominated by bread and grain notes, establishing a substantial platform. Hoppy bitterness and herbal-floral character emerge across the mid-palate with good definition, providing balance and complexity. The malt sweetness remains restrained, allowing the hop character and crisp drying sensation to shape the overall impression.

hoppymaltyfull-bodiedcrisp finish

Finish

The finish is firm and enduring, with lingering hop bitterness and herbal notes that persist cleanly on the palate. A sense of refreshment accompanies the aftertaste, leaving no sticky residue.

firmhoppy aftertasterefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
75
+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Kirin Brau Meister

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C. Carbonation and crispness are the main event — cold preserves both.

Stein
Recommended for this style

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

Store cold and drink fresh. Lagers are at their crispest within 3–4 months.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Kirin Brau Meister

About Pale Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pale Lager?

Euro Pale Lagers are clean, refreshing lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 10–25. Soft malt sweetness, light hop bitterness and high carbonation make them supremely drinkable.

Finding a similar Pale Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, malty, floral character as Kirin Brau Meister will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Pale Lagers in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →