Premium price mediocre ale

Premium Malts Kaoru Ale

Brand: Suntory

Price: 200 yen

Place of purchase: 7-11 convenience store

Rating:

Suntory Breweries produces nearly two dozen beers in their Premium Malts line, but this is the only ale that they've continuously produced since the early 2000s. These beers come and go, but this one appears to appeal and stick around. The beer is probably meant to compete with the craft and premium beer market which is dominated by ales. That's what is implied in the name, kaoru, scented. What you get is a fluffy head on a blond ale with a light citrus aroma, a modicum of hoppy flavor, a little floral scent.

As far as golden ales go, the Premium Malts Kaoru Ale is not bad. I wouldn't go out of my way to get this one again. While it does have a pleasant citrus and floral scent to it, there isn't much to it. It's got very little body and just a little hoppiness. The alcohol quality stands out a bit since it's higher than the typical 5% mass-produced beers. There's nothing to really distinguish it in the range of pale ales available in Japan. For a premium price, I expected something a little more distinctive.