Asahi Super Dry

Last Updated: 3/22/2021

If you like beer but sometimes find it too bitter and filling, Asahi Super Dry should be on your radar. It’s a classic Japanese beer that’s great with a wide range of food. You won’t have to work hard to find it, either, and it’s easy on the wallet.

This post dives into this legendary beer from Japan. We discuss tasting notes, food pairings, where to find it, similar beers, and more.

Asahi Super Dry Tasting Notes

Asahi Super Dry is a hugely popular Japanese beer produced by industrial beer giant Asahi Group Holdings. It has a highly attenuated profile: dry with a moderate amount of alcohol.

Rice, corn, and corn starch are used in the mash bill, in addition to malted barley. Less malt means less sweetness and body. Rice and corn make for a soft texture and a very light flavor. The starch increases head retention. Hop presence is low. 

All together, Asahi Super Dry is a light, brisk, and firm beer. Its drinkability rating is high. Its low level of hop bitterness and high carbonation adds to these characteristics.

Bottles and most cans of Super Dry are pasteurized. Draft versions of this Japanese beer icon are slightly less common. Look for it on tap or in larger cans with the nama (生) label. These draft versions offer more character, body, and freshness. 

Where to Find Asahi Super Dry

This is as popular as Japanese beers get. Super Dry is available in Japanese restaurants and izakayas throughout North America. Retailers in large and mid-sized cities will often stock it as well. Look for Asian grocers if all else fails.

The Success of Asahi Super Dry

Super Dry is the most popular Japanese beer by volume.  hat’s impressive considering this macro brew was introduced in 1987. Its release was a huge success for Asahi and sparked a competition known as the Dry Wars (Dorai Senso, ドライ戦争).

The other major beer brewers Kirin, Sapporo, and Suntory all released dry beers of their own, with varied results. Super Dry remains the champion and has retained its market share despite the competition. 

Serving Asahi Super Dry

Serve Asahi Super Dry cold or chilled. The colder this lager is served, the drier and lighter it will taste. Let this Asahi warm up a bit after it’s served if you want to increase flavor.

As with all beers, using a beer glass will bring the best results. Shaker pints are a ubiquitous and solid option. Pilsner glasses are even better if you prefer an authentic drinking experience.

How to Store Super Dry

Store Super Dry cold if possible. Pasteurized versions will do fine at room temperature for a short period of time. Draft examples will deteriorate rapidly if not refrigerated.

All beers can be damaged by light. Keep bottles away from direct light to prevent skunky flavors from developing. Super Dry uses brown glass which protects against this— just not completely. 

This is a beer that should be consumed as fresh as possible. Even under the best storage conditions, it will deteriorate after 6-12 months after bottling.

Pairing Asahi Super Dry with Food

Food pairing is a strength of this beer. Most izakaya fare is a good match. Asahi Super Dry can withstand strong flavors, scrub them away, and leave you ready for the next bite.

Fried Japanese dishes like tempura, karaage, and tonkatsu are particularly nice matches with Super Dry. A glass of Asahi will also benefit the flavors of ramen, udon, or soba. 

Is Asahi Super Dry Gluten-Free?

No, Super Dry is not gluten-free. It’s a common misconception that Japanese “rice beers” are. And while this beer does contain rice (and corn), it’s also brewed with malted barley. This last ingredient is essential to beer-brewing and is the reason why almost every beer is not free of gluten.

Beers that are Similar to Super Dry

Asahi Super Dry is made in the International Pale Lager style. Other beers from Japan that are similar include Sapporo Premium (slightly sweeter), Kirin Ichiban (maltier, more flavorful), and Orion (more complex).

A microbrew from Japan that’s somewhat similar to Super Dry is Echigo Koshihikari Rice Lager. This complex beer is more expensive and harder to find.

Similar beers from outside of Japan include Miller Lite, Bud Light, Heineken, Amstel Light, Tsing Tao, Singha, and Tiger.

About Asahi Beer

Asahi Beer was founded in 1889 as the Osaka Beer Brewing Company (大阪麦酒会社). They are one of the largest breweries in Japan. Their most flagship product is Super Dry. It is a mainstay Japanese beer outside of the country.

Asahi had been smaller than Sapporo and Kirin for a long time. However, the success of Super Dry has made it a strong competitor to these other two traditional brands.

Asahi, like the other surviving marquise Japanese beer brands, relied heavily on German brewers, equipment, and ingredients during its formative decades. Germany influenced the fledgling beer industry so much that the Japanese public considered German beer to be superior to all others. Asahi and the other brewers touted German ingredients and know-how heavily in their marketing.

More recently, Asahi Beer and Orion have a partnership that has helped both beer breweries expand. Orion has helped distribute Asahi’s beers in Okinawa, In return, Asahi contract brews Orion Draft at some of its factories— increasing its domestic Japanese distribution. 

Read More About Asahi Beer

Label Translation  

Asahi Beer アサヒビール  Asahi アサヒ

Osaka Beer Brewing Company 大阪麦酒会社

Beer ビール  Draft Beer 生ビール

Super Dry スーパードライ