We have always been partial to practical education here at drinkingjapan.org. Why spend your precious time conjugating Latin verbs if you are not going to become emperor of Rome? And it’s a little too late for that, right? So, when we learn of a university project that engages students in an activity that is professional, creative, and has the potential to ignite the entrepreneurial spark among many of them, we take notice. This is especially true when the product is alcoholic, in this case beer. We have written about Asia Beer and the Asia University Hop Project before, so readers can do a search and find additional information.
We were one of the first people to taste Asia Beer 2024, as we took delivery of it on the day that it was released. Well, we can state unequivocally that this beer is better than many commercial brews that we have tasted and would most likely do well in a craft-brew competition. The color is an autumnal tawny. The abv is 7.5%, which is just about where it should be. The aroma has a hint of hops and shine muscat. The carbonation is subdued, and there is complexity on the palate—hoppy with a touch of sweetness. The year 2024 will go down as the year that the students at AU reached the pinnacle. They are clearly deserving of an A++++ grade, if there is such a thing.
Take that, you Latin conjugators!
Drinking Japan 