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Kirin Ichiban

Kirin Brewery
Japan·Pale Lager
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Kirin Ichiban, sold in Japan as Ichiban Shibori, is an all-malt lager made only from the first wort that runs off the mash; the second runnings are never used. With the recipe change of August 2026 the brewery moved from decoction to infusion mashing and rebalanced its Saaz and Hersbrucker hops. It pours a clear gold. Soft bread and cereal notes lead, joined by a light honeyed malt sweetness, a gentle spicy and floral hop character and a hint of fruit, before a short, clean finish with restrained bitterness.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
cleanbreadyfloral
clean
bready
floral
noble hop
malty
honey
Aroma
The nose leads with soft bread and cereal notes, revealing the malt-forward character of this all-malt brew.
also:spicy hop,fruity
not found:hoppy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kirin Ichiban

◎ Appearance

Kirin Ichiban presents a brilliant clear gold, characteristic of a well-crafted pale lager. The beer pours with a modest white head that settles to a fine lacing. Carbonation is evident but restrained, lending a composed and refined visual presence.

clear goldfine lacingmodest carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with soft bread and cereal notes, revealing the malt-forward character of this all-malt brew. A light honeyed sweetness emerges beneath, complemented by the delicate spicy and floral signature of Saaz and Hersbrucker hops. A subtle fruity undertone rounds out the bouquet without demanding attention.

bread, cerealnoble hops, floralhoney, subtle fruit

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and approachable, with bready and malty character taking the foreground. The mid-palate develops a gentle honeyed sweetness balanced by the spicy-floral noble hop profile, creating a harmonious tension. Bitterness remains restrained and integrated, allowing the malt foundation to remain the focus throughout.

clean, breadybalanced malt and hopsrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is short and clean, with lingering malty notes fading into a whisper of noble hop spice. The aftertaste leaves no harsh edges or astringency, only a sense of refreshing clarity.

short, cleanmalty fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
77
Appearance
82
Finish
75
Serve at 4–7°C

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

Stein

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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Kirin Ichiban

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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 clean, bready, floral character as Kirin Ichiban will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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