Asian beer gives an extra kick.

Names like Singha, Sapporo, Hite and Kirin Ichiban are perhaps ones you have come across before. What they have in common is that they are the names of Asian beers. Beer in Asia goes back many years, and the first beer was brewed around 6,000 years ago. However, they only reached Europe in the 20th century, when modern breweries in British India, Indonesia, China and Japan exported their products westward. There the breweries used European methods to brew the beer, which were more efficient than the methods they had used previously.

Although Denmark is a big beer nation, China has been number one when it comes to being the largest beer producer, and they have held this position since 2001. They produce on average just over 46.5 million kilolitres of beer each year.

Japanese beers - Classic pilsner

In Denmark it is typically Classic or pilsner that dominate when we talk about beer. In Japan it is the pilsner that is the most widespread beer type. Some might think the most common alcoholic beverage in Japan is sake, a rice wine made from fermented rice, but surprisingly it is beer that is the overwhelming favorite. Beer accounts for just over two-thirds of the country's annual alcohol consumption, with a consumption of 187.37 million kiloliters in 2012. That corresponds to 3% of global alcohol consumption that year.

In Japan there are also seasonal beers. For example, there are autumn beers, which typically have a higher alcohol content than the regular beers on the market. These beers are decorated according to the season, with pretty leaves for autumn or snowy landscapes for winter.

Sapporo beer from Japan.

A popular beer brand is Sapporo, which was founded in Japan in 1876. That makes it the oldest beer producer in Japan, and the brand is still loved by many to this day. However, the brand does not have its breweries only in Japan. Sapporo also has breweries in Canada and in Wisconsin, USA, which produce beer for the whole world.

In the early years of the brewery's existence there was intense competition in the market, and a couple of other rivals — such as Japan Beer Brewery, Osaka, and Kirin — made it a challenge to win first place among the Japanese population. This led Sapporo to join forces with Osaka and Japan Beer Brewery, where together they were stronger in the market. They essentially gained something close to a monopoly on beer sales in Japan until after World War II. Later the company split up again, and became two: Nippon Breweries and Asahi. Nippon continued producing the bestselling Sapporo and Yebisu beers.

Asahi beer directly from Tokyo

Asahi It is a company based in Tokyo, Japan. Although their beer is one of the brand's best-known products, their business activities encompass much more. Beer accounts for just over 40.5% of their business, while overseas trade, soft drinks, food products and other businesses make up the remaining 59.5%. Asahi It today also has the largest market share in the beer market across Europe. In particular, it holds 44% in the Czech Republic, 32% in Poland, 36% in Romania and 18% in Italy.

One of the most popular beers from Asahi is their Super Dry, which is said to have transformed the Japanese beer market. It resembled North German beers more than other Japanese beers, and its launch led to a greater demand for dry beers.