Sake
Sake is classified into many categories based on the degree to which the rice has been polished and the addition of distilled alcohol. If you’re interested in the names of sake I recommend, feel free to skip this section.
Different types of Sake
Jyunmai Daiginjyo is the highest sake rank.
Jyunmai(純米) means Pure Rice, No distilled alcohol is added.
Daiginjyo (大吟醸): Rice polishing rate is less than 50% (more than 50% of rice surface is removed).
Special (特別): Rice polishing rate is less than 60% or made by special methods.
Honjyozo (本醸造): Rice polishing rate is less than 70% and less than 10% of distilled alcohol is added. Honjyozo tend to be dry and mellow compared to Pure rice Sake.
Normal Sake (普通酒) is least expensive but not necessarily worst tasting sake.
Jyunmai Daiginjyo is not necessarily the best tasting sake. You should try different types of sake and find out your favorite sake.
I want to introduce you to well-known Sake in Japan. You should be able to buy these at large supermarkets and liquor stores.
Left: Kubota Senjyu（久保田 千寿）Ginjyo (吟醸) is Dry and smooth
Right: Hakkaisan（八海山）Special Honjyozo (特別本醸造) is also dry and smooth.
Jyouzenmizunogotosi (上善如水) Jyunmai Ginjyo (純米吟醸) Pure rice, pure taste, fruity, light, simple, smooth and mild. This sake is usually sold in a clear bottle.
Fukii Pure Rice (ふきい 純米) Fireworks bottle. very smooth and light taste. This beautiful bottle is good for souvenir.
Koto Jyunmai (Pure rice) Ginjyo (古都 純米吟醸). Koto means the old capital (i.e. Kyoto). It is made by local sake maker, Sasaki Syuzo (佐々木酒造), in Kyoto. Smooth and light taste, semi dry.
Koden Special Pure Rice (香田 特別純米酒)
Pure, smooth, and light taste. Slightly sweet.
Koden is produced by Hakurei Syuzo located in Miyazu City, Kyoko Prefecture.
LIFE Premium Pure Rice Daiginjyo (純米大吟醸)
LIFE is the name of a major supermarket chain, and this sake is produced by Takano Syuzo, a sake brewery, and sold under the LIFE brand. It is very smooth and light, and one of the least expensive Pure Rice Daiginjyo sakes. I highly recommend it.
Japanese Beer
I am going to introduce popular beer brands in Japan. They are all well balanced and taste good, but luck distinct characteristics.
Asahi Super Dry is the most popular beer in Japan. You can find it in most supermarkets and convenience stores.
Kirin Ichiban Shibori is my favorite beer. Very smooth and good aroma.
Yebisu Beer. In my opinion Yebisu Beer tastes richer than other beer brands I introduced here.
Sapporo Black Label is also a popular beer in Japan. This beer is smooth and light. Easy drinking beer.
Yebisu Premium Black is a dark beer. This beer has a rich taste and is very smooth for a dark beer.
There are many local micro-breweries in Japan, such as Nagisa Beer in Shirahama, Wakayama. If you love beer, you should try local beer when you find one.
Low-malt beer and Quasi beer
According to Google AI:
“Low-malt beer, also known as happōshu, is a Japanese beer-like beverage with a malt content below 67% and is subject to lower taxes than regular beer. A quasi-beer is a broader term for low-malt beer or “third-category” beers (like Shin Ganru) made with less malt or no malt at all, also to avoid higher taxes on traditional beer.”
In short, they taste like beer and are cheaper than beer due to a lower tax rate.
Honkirin (本麒麟)
It is quasi beer tastes like real beer. The mild bitterness of the German hops is noticeable, and richness is similar to that of beer.
Nodogoshi Nama (のどごし生)
It is low-malt beer, or happōshu, and tastes smooth and light. Nodogoshi Nama tastes good, but Honkirin tastes more like beer than Nodogoshi Nama.