Sapporo Reserve Beer is a premium lager from the Japanese beer pioneer. It’s also one of the few all-malt beers of the major brands.
In this post, you’ll learn where to find Sapporo Reserve, what it tastes like, and get service and pairing recommendations.
Sapporo Reserve is classified as an international pale lager— just like its sibling Sapporo Premium. Malted barley is the only grain used in Reserve, making it a more robust beer.
Sapporo has five breweries in Japan, which brew mostly for the domestic market. Breweries in the US, Canada, and Vietnam supply much of the beer on the export market.
Where to Buy Sapporo Reserve
This Sapporo beer can be harder to find than Sapporo Premium, especially at restaurants and bars.
Luckily, retail options are more abundant. It always helps to start your search online. You can get an idea of pricing and potentially some leads on local retailers carrying it.
Japanese markets are a great option, and so are Asian retailers with decent beer selections. Big outlets like Total Wine, Costco, and Binny’s are also good bets.
One of the easiest ways to get Sapporo Reserve is by delivery. Every state has different laws for shipping alcohol, and availability will vary. But if it’s allowed, you may not have to leave your house. Compare prices and availability with our sponsored retailers below. We may earn commissions on purchases through these links.
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Tasting Notes for Sapporo Reserve
This is a golden-yellow beer with moderate intensity, a supple texture, and a dry finish. Moderate hop bitterness levels and carbonation make for a fairly smooth drinking experience.
Specific tasting notes include toasted malt, blueberry, Meyer lemon, wet concrete, and saline. Besides the toasty grain, these flavors are discreet. Admittedly, blueberry is a surprising flavor.
The most similar Japanese beer to Sapporo Reserve is Kirin Ichiban. It’s also an all-malt lager from one of the biggest breweries.
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Serving, Storing, and Pairing Sapporo Reserve
Sapporo Reserve is a lager and should be served cold or chilled. Ice-cold temperatures will make this beer taste lighter, whereas a slight chill will allow more aromas and flavors to be enjoyed. This result can be achieved instantly by pouring fridge-temp beer into a room temperature glass.
On the subject of beer glasses, all beer tastes better when served in a glass. This is true of Sapporo Reserve as well. Shaker pints are a solid choice. They allow the aromas and flavors of this lager to shine.
For the best beer-drinking experience, we highly recommend Spiegelau Craft Pilsner and Libbey Stockholm Pilsner glasses. We may earn a commission from purchases made through these links. Both are under $30 and are top producers of beer glassware.
All beer needs to be stored cold unless it will be consumed within days. Sapporo Reserve is no exception. Refrigeration allows a longer shelf-life. But even cold beer can deteriorate rapidly, so fresher is better. The quality of Sapporo Reserve will start to fade after about a year— even with proper storage.
Another storage risk to be mindful of is light damage. Light contact can allow skunky aromas to develop. Cans and kegs are safe, however, so Sapporo Premium won’t be affected by this phenomenon.
While Sapporo Premium may be widespread across Japanese restaurants and bars, Sapporo Reserve is harder to find. It offers strong pairing potential with a wide range of cuisine.
Stronger flavored fish like mackerel and salmon shine with this all-malt lager. It’s bubbles and hops scrub the palate and transform fishy flavors into more umami. Salad and Sapporo Premium are another good match. Finally, fried food, especially pork and chicken, is particularly nice with this semi-malty beer.
Sapporo Reserve Technical Information
Style: International Pale Lager
Mash Bill: 100% malted barley
Hops: unknown
ABV: 4.9% IBU: 18
Brewed year-round
About Sapporo Beer サッポロビール
Sapporo is the original Japanese beer brand— founded in 1876. Seibei Nakagawa, the original brewer, is an iconic figure in Japanese beer history. He would introduce German brewing techniques to Japan, founding the industry. Nakagawa is like Japan’s beer version of Masataka Taketsuru.
Sapporo has remained one of the major beer producers in Japan to this day. Much of their export market product is brewed outside of Japan. North American Sapporo beer production now takes place in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and in Vietnam.
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Learn More about Sapporo Beer and its History
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Beer Books That Will Expand Your Knowledge
If you want to take your beer knowledge to a higher level, books are a valuable resource. Below are our top two recommendations. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
For general beer knowledge, Tasting Beer by Randy Mosher is our number one recommendation. Mosher covers everything you need to know about the world of beer, including major styles, ingredients, and history.
Brewed in Japan by Jeffrey Alexander is the top book on beer in Japan. It’s the best source to learn the story of Japanese beer.
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