Orion Premium Draft Beer
Orion Beer Co., Ltd.

Orion Premium Draft BeerOrion Premium Draft Beer
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From:
Orion Beer Co., Ltd.
 
Japan
Style:
Japanese Rice Lager
Ranked #35
ABV:
5%
Score:
72
Ranked #27,827
Avg:
3.11 | pDev: 20.26%
Reviews:
148
Ratings:
376
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 18, 2024
Added:
Dec 11, 2002
Wants:
  20
Gots:
  75
With an even more refreshing taste, a new draft beer was born in the summer of 2015, the same year draft beer celebrated its 55th birthday. The backdrop to the primary color designs, a tradition in draft beer, is a cool, crisp color of champagne gold. The three stars and our logo proudly stand out, and the champagne gold color expresses the fine quality and refreshing sense of beer. The design incorporates the “red sun”, “blue skies”, and “navy blue seas” of Okinawa in the color scheme.
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Ratings by Grundle20:
Photo of Grundle20
Reviewed by Grundle20 from Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +35%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
I don't think I've reviewed a Japanese rice lager, nor do I have much experience with them, but I'm assuming this is basically a Japanese spin on American macro lager brewed with rice. As such I will attempt to review this beer subjectively given those criteria.

Appearance:
The beer is straw yellow in color with just a touch of haze. There's a pretty decent two finger creamy white head to the beer. Although the head displays little lacing, this is offset by the mildly impressive staying power.

Smell:
With very little power to the scent only a touch of sake like odors are detected. I've had a few encounters with rice beers as of late so I'm now almost positive that this is the smell of fermented rice, so I will simplify this to, "The beer smells faintly of rice." If you really bury your nose in to the beer a kiss of hops can be picked up at the back.

Taste and Mouthfeel:
Again with the sake like rice flavors, they almost come across as cidery in nature. There's a mild tartness up front with an even wash of overripe apples over the back of my palate. From front to back there is a sweetness to the beer, very similar to that of a 40oz. In the finish there is faint floral hop character but it only pops in for just a moment. The aftertaste is clean.

Drinkability:
I must say that I would take this beer over a BMC standard lager just about any day. There's more flavor and less nasty aftertaste which consequently makes for a pretty drinkable beer.

Bottom Line:
By comparison to American macro lager I find this beer to be a step above. I find it odd given the fact that similar ingredients and processes are most likely used. Then again I've been to Japan before, and they do love rice so perhaps it's centuries worth of experience with fermenting rice beverages that gives this beer the edge. It's really not that bad, not quite a Prima Pils but not a beer to scoff at.
Jul 03, 2007
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by Roejogan from Canada (BC)

Feb 18, 2024
 
Rated: 4.01 by beerrat from Virginia

Dec 09, 2023
Photo of C-Stockwell
Reviewed by C-Stockwell from Rhode Island

3.77/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
L: very nice transparent gold with white head
S: faint maple syrup
T: peppery, banana, and cream
F: very good carbonation

$5 for a 750mL bottle, tastes good for a generic rice lager, and goes well with food. Very good beer and way better than Sapporo.
Dec 02, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by Luca2020 from Massachusetts

Nov 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.21 by Mclusal from Colombia

Nov 25, 2023
 
Rated: 3.33 by 2beerdogs from California

Oct 08, 2023
 
Rated: 3.33 by ScrantanDave from England

Sep 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.4 by Rollmeaway2loadout from Illinois

Aug 20, 2023
Photo of TryThemAllOnce
Reviewed by TryThemAllOnce from California

3.84/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Purchased a six pack of 350ml cans at Mission Wine & Spirits (Woodland Hills, CA). Canned in May 2023.
Poured clear light golden with minimal foam or lacing. Smell was unexpected, almost suspect that a cigarette smoker was somehow too close to the process. The taste and feel were pretty nice and typical of a rice lager. There's another variant at the store I may try. Based on this can I'm not going back for more of these.
Aug 03, 2023
Photo of ivanbrew
Reviewed by ivanbrew

5/5  rDev +60.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I have tried this beer out of a big bottle definitely has a nice Golden clear color well carbonated smells slightly like malt Nice crisp bitter finish it’s definitely a perfect beer for summer time to cool down
May 23, 2023
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

3.79/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottle purchased from Shojo in Boston, MA.

This one pours a clear golden yellow color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

This smells slightly grassy, with a crisp breadiness and some lemon.

This is solid, especially with spicy food, as Shojo does so well. It’s slightly lemony, with a grassy bitterness, and a watery but smooth finish. It tastes like most Japanese light lagers, but does the style justice.

This is light bodied and clean, and really drinkable.

This has a time and place, and both of those things applied to me here!
Apr 08, 2023
 
Rated: 3.6 by eluvah from New York

Apr 04, 2023
 
 
Rated: 3.27 by Ananabiya

Mar 20, 2023
Photo of imveryshort112
Rated by imveryshort112

5/5  rDev +60.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
ya dog thjs shits bussin
Feb 27, 2023
 
Rated: 3.15 by Eychung from New York

Feb 02, 2023
Photo of cakebutt
Rated by cakebutt

2.64/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
like a normal Japanese beer with a stinky aftertaste. not into it.
Sep 13, 2022
 
Rated: 3.41 by khargro2 from Tennessee

Sep 07, 2022
Photo of DisgruntledVet
Reviewed by DisgruntledVet from Texas

5/5  rDev +60.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I drank this daily while in Okinawa. I miss it. I have to go to Houston to get it (6 hour drive) It taste a whole lot better while chilling on the beach listening to the waves.
Sep 02, 2022
Orion Premium Draft Beer from Orion Beer Co., Ltd.
Beer rating: 72 out of 100 with 376 ratings