I heard that the Suntory brewery famous for The Premium Malt’s is in Musashino, so I went to see it. Premium Malt’s is delicious even as it is, and I had high hopes since you can taste it fresh, straight out of the brewery. It is a bit removed from the city, but the way to the brewery is not that hard to find; a lot of people visit, though, so it is best to book in advance.
Goods on display at the entrance
There were lots of fun novelty products. You wait near the entrance, and when your booked time comes, the brewery tour starts. You get a detailed look at everything from the ingredients to the production process.
Brewing barley
They said they use a top-grade barley called Diamond malt, grown around the Czech Republic.
I tried a few grains.
The moment you chew, a nutty, toasty flavor comes out. Fascinating.
Hops
This is the ingredient that gives beer its characteristic bitterness. The aroma was really strong.
Fermentation tanks
These are the tanks where the malt is fermented. The barley is turned into a wort first, then goes into fermentation, and after fermentation it is aged.
This is where the beer is filtered.
The brewery is spotless.
A cross-section of the filtration unit.
The canning line
It was a holiday that day, so the plant was not running. That wrapped up the brewery tour.
Tasting Suntory The Premium Malt’s
After the tour there was a tasting session. The snacks are limited, but they serve up to three glasses of beer per person. (Go as a pair and that is six..) I tried the Premium Malt’s and it was a whole different world. The smoothness of the foam is on another level, and the herb-like, tingly flavor of the aroma hops comes through intact. It was so good for a beer from a giant corporation that I was genuinely surprised.
Snacks
The snacks could not be refilled, so I only managed four glasses of beer.. The snacks at my seat vanished in no time, and the folks at the next table had hardly touched their Premium Malt’s and had plenty of snacks left, so I quickly requisitioned some and ate them. I felt a little bad about it, but the beer was just that good, so what could I do..
Malt’s, the non-premium one
This one is not bad either, but compared to the Premium Malt’s the flavor falls well short.
The ladies giving the explanations
Their beer-pouring skills were no joke. They also showed us how to get a good head of foam from a can of beer. Apparently you have to pour it in at almost a 90-degree angle.
The way back to the station
The weather was gorgeous. Could not have been a better day for drinking good beer.