Asahi Super Dry
Asahi Breweries Ltd
- From:
- Asahi Breweries Ltd
- Japan
- Style:
- Japanese Rice Lager
Ranked #59 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 67
Ranked #39,579 - Avg:
- 2.85 | pDev: 23.86%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 669
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Tuesday at 12:01 AM
- Added:
- Feb 15, 2002
- Wants:
- 40
- Gots:
- 443
SCORE
67
Poor
67
Poor
Asahi Super Dry was a direct result of extensive market research which indicated a consumer preference for a more palatable beer with less maltiness, relatively high alcohol content and a light aftertaste, that paired well with the changing Japanese diet. With this insight Asahi used its brewing knowledge to develop a beer with a crisp bite, refreshing taste and clear finish to satisfied this requirement. Code named project FX, Asahi engineered a highly attenuated, highly carbonated pilsner. The later renamed product, Super Dry began sales on March 17th 1987 and gave birth to the dry beer category. The market success spawned similar competitor products and initiated what was known as the “Dry Wars” in Japan and a brief marketing fad for dry beers internationally. However Asahi has stood the test of time and now years later Super Dry continues it legacy as the world’s premier dry beer.
Special Yeast - Asahi # 318 is the proprietary ingredient used to give Super Dry its “dryness”. This special strand of yeast produces high attenuation during fermentation in conjunction with the choice grains.
Finest Ingredients – Asahi uses select grains and hops sourced worldwide based on strict criteria to maintain flavor consistency and promote sustainability. Barely with high starch content and both noble style bitter and fine aroma hops are key contributors to Super Dry’s smooth taste.
ABV 4.9-5.2% (Depends on package type and location)
IBU 20
SRM 4
Special Yeast - Asahi # 318 is the proprietary ingredient used to give Super Dry its “dryness”. This special strand of yeast produces high attenuation during fermentation in conjunction with the choice grains.
Finest Ingredients – Asahi uses select grains and hops sourced worldwide based on strict criteria to maintain flavor consistency and promote sustainability. Barely with high starch content and both noble style bitter and fine aroma hops are key contributors to Super Dry’s smooth taste.
ABV 4.9-5.2% (Depends on package type and location)
IBU 20
SRM 4
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by drtth:
Reviewed by drtth from Pennsylvania
3.71/5 rDev +30.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev +30.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
The beer pours out into a Duvel glass a clear bright golden amber color with a 1/2” white head that recedes slowly but visibly to a reasonable ring around the glass and an island of foam and thin layer of foam on the liquid. Sipping creates sheets of foam that mostly slide back down to the liquid but leave some scattered patches of foam and small speckles of lacing. The thin layer of foam on the surface persists quite well for much of the beer.
The aroma is dominated by the grains (barley and rice) with very little in the way of hops showing. What hops that do show have a lightly grassy character.
The flavor begins with a bit of grainy sweetness that quickly turns dry while allowing some light notes of hop flavors and a slight touch of dry bitterness to show.
The mouth feel is on the light side, clean and crisp and having a moderate level of carbonation. The finish begins early on as the light sweetness quickly begins to fade allowing a touch of light grassy hop flavors and a hint of bitterness to show. Then everything turns quite dry and then quickly disappears in the short dry ending of the finish.
Overall this is a fairly nice, lightly favored beer that at one level is not particularly challenging and so could be quite refreshing when it's hot outside. I'll be having more, but mostly because I bought a six pack so I could sample it more than once in order to give it a fair review since it has to compete with such intensely flavored beers as IPAs and Imperial Stouts. On the whole, for some folks, this beer would fall comfortably into the category of what might be called "a lawnmower beer.” It does provide a simple refreshing way to vanquish thirst. But on the other hand, thinking of it only that way could lead us to ignore it’s subtle complexity. Not surprisingly this beer seems perfectly suited to pairing with Sushi.
Nov 07, 2016The aroma is dominated by the grains (barley and rice) with very little in the way of hops showing. What hops that do show have a lightly grassy character.
The flavor begins with a bit of grainy sweetness that quickly turns dry while allowing some light notes of hop flavors and a slight touch of dry bitterness to show.
The mouth feel is on the light side, clean and crisp and having a moderate level of carbonation. The finish begins early on as the light sweetness quickly begins to fade allowing a touch of light grassy hop flavors and a hint of bitterness to show. Then everything turns quite dry and then quickly disappears in the short dry ending of the finish.
Overall this is a fairly nice, lightly favored beer that at one level is not particularly challenging and so could be quite refreshing when it's hot outside. I'll be having more, but mostly because I bought a six pack so I could sample it more than once in order to give it a fair review since it has to compete with such intensely flavored beers as IPAs and Imperial Stouts. On the whole, for some folks, this beer would fall comfortably into the category of what might be called "a lawnmower beer.” It does provide a simple refreshing way to vanquish thirst. But on the other hand, thinking of it only that way could lead us to ignore it’s subtle complexity. Not surprisingly this beer seems perfectly suited to pairing with Sushi.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by jmci9880 from Washington
3.24/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
3.24/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
L- light and straw colored, very standard
S- Light znd sweet with a slight astringent note
T- very crisp, and Dry is a great word to describe it. Sharp taste but not in a bad way. Rice beer.
F- Very effervescent! Easy drinking though.
O- Not the greatest Japanese beer but a thoroughly pleasant experience. Light enough to have a few after a hard days work. I am pleased.
Mar 12, 2026S- Light znd sweet with a slight astringent note
T- very crisp, and Dry is a great word to describe it. Sharp taste but not in a bad way. Rice beer.
F- Very effervescent! Easy drinking though.
O- Not the greatest Japanese beer but a thoroughly pleasant experience. Light enough to have a few after a hard days work. I am pleased.
Reviewed by The_Snow_Bird from Michigan
3.21/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.21/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a light clear amber color with a white head that goes away quickly. Has a apple and tropical fruit smell to it. Not dry like I was expecting with a light malt taste.
Mar 03, 2026
Reviewed by aeranu from California
3.03/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.03/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A Japanese classic. Not as good as the draft version you’ll find only in Japan, but the US version still fits the bill for enjoying a Japanese style lager.
Feb 14, 2026
Reviewed by Mikehicks100 from Canada (ON)
2/5 rDev -29.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2/5 rDev -29.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Bought in the Philippines and brewed in China. No idea if the beer brewed in Japan would be better or not.
Poured some foam, then disappears quick. Regular beer color and smells lightly of malt. Taste is bland. Good carbonation. There is a hint of beer flavor but that's it. Very generic macro beer tasting. I'd only get it again if I had too. Beats Red Horse anyday. Overall the options for beers in the Philippines are not very good compared to other countries.
Feb 13, 2026Poured some foam, then disappears quick. Regular beer color and smells lightly of malt. Taste is bland. Good carbonation. There is a hint of beer flavor but that's it. Very generic macro beer tasting. I'd only get it again if I had too. Beats Red Horse anyday. Overall the options for beers in the Philippines are not very good compared to other countries.
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