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Kirin Ichiban Kuro Nama

Kirin Brewery
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🌍 Japan · Dark Lager · One of 22 Dark Lagers in hopIQ

Kirin Ichiban Kuro Nama replaced Ichiban Shibori Stout in October 2017 and turned the darkest member of the Ichiban family from a top-fermented stout into a bottom-fermented dark lager. It is brewed from first-run wort with a newly selected speciality malt and filtered cold, both aimed at keeping astringency low. The beer is nearly black. Roasted malt brings notes of coffee, dark chocolate and bread crust, balanced by a gentle sweetness, and the finish is clean and dry rather than heavy.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
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 Dark Lager.
Malt character
roasted
chocolate
coffee
malty
bready
toasty
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kirin Ichiban Kuro Nama

◎ Appearance

Nearly black in color with a deep mahogany undertone when held to light. The head is modest but retains a fine layer of dense foam that clings to the glass with delicate lacing. Clarity is excellent, showing the precision of cold filtration without any haze.

near-blackfine lacingwell-filtered

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with roasted malt character—dark chocolate, coffee grounds, and toasted bread crust dominate the profile. Beneath these roasted notes sits a subtle sweetness that prevents any harsh or astringent edge. The overall aromatic impression is balanced and approachable rather than heavy or demanding.

roasted maltcoffee, chocolatesubtle sweetness

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and malty with immediate chocolate and coffee flavors that develop across the mid-palate. The bitterness is restrained, allowing the roasted character and gentle malt sweetness to remain in focus. The body is clean and dry, without the weight or tannic grip typical of stouts, finishing with a crisp edge.

chocolate, coffeedry, clean palatesmooth malt body

◑ Finish

The finish is notably dry and brisk, with no lingering heaviness or residual sweetness. Roasted notes fade quickly, leaving only a clean, slightly bitter aftertaste that invites the next sip.

dry finishquick fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Kirin Ichiban Kuro Nama

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

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Stein
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Kirin Ichiban Kuro Nama

About Dark Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Dark Lager?

Dark Lager is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Dark Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dry, roasted, clean character as Kirin Ichiban Kuro Nama will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Dark Lagers in hopIQ

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