Saporro

Before I begin the review proper, I would like to take a minute to talk about World Market. As I'm sure many of you have realized by now, I spend a lot of time in World Market shopping for beverages and glassware. I get a significant portion of my reviewing material from World Market, and I think that it is a wonderful and interesting company.

That being said, World Market is currently running a donation drive aimed at aiding in the relief efforts currently being enacted in Japan. I've had this beer for a while now, but I wanted to hold off on doing this review until the media hype about the natural disasters in Japan died down a bit. I did so intentionally, as awareness of these sorts of events tends to die down after the media has covered the initial impact and estimated costs. Japan is going to be suffering the effects of the damages incurred during the recent disasters for years to come, and I encourage those who are able to take advantage of the opportunity being presented by World Market, which brings me back to my original point. 

Until this coming September, World Market is donating all of its proceeds from all sales of items imported from Japan to aid in relief efforts overseas. I know that, in general, people are quick to scorn those who "need" incentive to donate to a cause, but it is a good way for a company to offer its customers a method of organically helping out through their regular spending activities. I encourage those interested in helping the cause a bit here and there to take advantage of this fairly unique opportunity, and Sapporo is a great place to start.

Sapporo is a great beer. In general, I prefer the flavor depth and strength of darker beers, but as far as light beers go, this one is probably one of my favorites. Sapporo definitely has a lighter taste, and is not entirely unlike many of the western lagers available in the U.S. However, Sapporo seems to have a cleaner, more crisp flavor than many American lagers, and leaves a much less yeasty aftertaste in its wake. Overall, it has a mild flavor, and strikes a good balance between the yeasty and hoppy sides of things, giving the beer a pleasant mouthtaste and a smooth, tasty finish.

Probably my favorite thing about Sapporo, though, is that the aftertaste does not seem to linger as long in my system as a lot of other beers of its type. Many American lagers along the same vein tend to leave me with "beer mouth" for a good while after consumption, but Sapporo does not have the same effect. As with all beers, the flavor does linger for a time, but it dissipates much more quickly than usual, particularly if enjoyed along with a meal or snack of some sort.

Although Sapporo is not necessarily anything special, it is an excellent example of its type. The flavors are pleasant and well balanced, it sits well "after the fact," and it is very easy to drink overall. This one is definitely one to try out, particularly if you have a taste for lighter beers.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: World Market [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $8.99 [Six pack]