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pFriem Japanese Lager

pFriem Family Brewers
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🌍 United States · Rice Lager · One of 11 Rice Lagers in hopIQ

pFriem Japanese Lager follows the Japanese practice of brewing a German-style lager with rice, which lightens the color and dries out the body. Pilsner malt makes up most of the grist, and Perle, Tettnang and Saphir give it a pronounced floral side. It pours champagne-pale under dense, snow-white foam. The aroma opens with shiso plum, fresh bread and violet; the palate carries jasmine rice, green tea and wildflowers into a sparkling, very dry finish. It has been part of the year-round lineup since 2024.

ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter20 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold4

AWARDS

Bronze · 2026
World Beer Cup
Rice Lager
Gold · 2023
World Beer Cup
International Lager
Gold · 2020
Great American Beer Festival
International Pilsener
Silver · 2024
European Beer Star
Beer with Alternative Cereals
Gold · 2024
Oregon Beer Awards
International Lagers
Gold · 2024
Brussels Beer Challenge
★Bronze — World Beer Cup (Rice Lager)
★Gold — World Beer Cup (International Lager)
★Gold — Great American Beer Festival (International Pilsener)
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 Rice Lager.
Hop character
floral
herbal
Malt character
bready
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best American Lagers→Featured inThe Best American Beers→

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for pFriem Japanese Lager

◎ Appearance

Pours a champagne-pale gold with exceptional clarity and brilliant luminosity. The head is dense and snow-white, settling into a persistent collar that clings to the glass with fine, delicate lacing. Carbonation is crisp and visible throughout, lending the beer an animated, effervescent character.

champagne-paledense white headcrisp carbonationexcellent clarity

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with a striking floral and fruit-forward character, leading with shiso plum and violet notes. Fresh bread and yeast-driven aromatics provide grounding warmth, while subtle herbal undertones suggest the thoughtful use of noble hops. The overall profile is clean, delicate, and inviting—neither aggressive nor shy.

shiso plumviolet floralsfresh breadnoble hop delicacy

◐ Taste

The palate is refined and structured, opening with jasmine rice and subtle green tea notes that speak to the rice adjunct's contribution. Wildflower honey and herb notes emerge mid-palate, supported by restrained bitterness from Perle, Tettnang, and Saphir hops. The body is light and dry, never thin, with clean malt character providing backbone without heaviness.

jasmine ricegreen teadry bodyfloral bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is sparkling and very dry, with noble hop bitterness carrying cleanly through the aftertaste. No sweetness lingers; instead, a mineral-edged dryness and delicate floral memory persist, inviting the next sip.

very drysparkling finishclean hop bitterness
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of pFriem Japanese Lager

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 pFriem Japanese Lager

About Rice Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Rice Lager?

Rice 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 Rice Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dry, floral, crisp character as pFriem Japanese Lager will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Rice Lagers in hopIQ

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