Sapporo Premium 22OZ Can

Sapporo Premium 22OZ Can is a Japanese rice lager with 4.9% ABV, packaged in a distinctive 22-ounce silver can. Sapporo Breweries, founded in 1876, is Japan’s oldest beer brand, and this flagship lager earned a gold medal at the 2004 International Beer Competition in Australia and a silver medal at the 2019 International Beer Challenge in London.
Quick Facts: ABV: 4.9%  |  Origin: Japan (U.S. market brewed in U.S., Canada & Vietnam)  |  Style: Japanese Rice Lager  |  Brewery: Sapporo Breweries (est. 1876)
Production & Heritage
Sapporo Breweries was established in 1876 in the city of Sapporo on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, making it the oldest beer brand in the country. The brewery combines German-style lager brewing traditions with Japanese precision — a legacy that dates back to its founding during the Meiji era, when Japanese brewers studied European techniques. Sapporo Premium is brewed with malted barley, rice, corn, hops, and water; the addition of rice to the grain bill contributes the beer’s characteristically light body and clean finish. For the U.S. market, production takes place in facilities across the United States, Canada, and Vietnam under the same specifications as the original formula. Notably, Sapporo’s research division developed the now-famous Sorachi Ace hop variety in 1984 — pioneering biotransformation research into how yeast strains interact with hop compounds during fermentation, work that has since become standard practice in modern hop science.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: A restrained, grainy maltiness greets the nose first, followed by subtle floral and grassy hop notes. A faint lemony zest and herbal quality emerge with attention, giving the aroma a clean, understated character.
Taste: The entry is light and crisp, with lively carbonation that carries mild malty sweetness across the palate. At the mid-palate, rice-derived smoothness balances with delicate herbal and slightly minty hop accents. A touch of lemony brightness lifts the profile without dominating.
Finish: Clean and dry, with carbonation sweeping the palate for a refreshing close. Minimal bitterness lingers, leaving a subtle grain note that fades quickly.
How to Drink Sapporo Premium
Sapporo Premium is best served ice-cold, poured into a chilled glass to preserve carbonation and allow the subtle aromatics to open up. Drinking straight from the iconic 22-ounce can is equally common, especially during casual warm-weather drinking. A Michelada works well here — the beer’s clean, dry profile pairs naturally with lime juice, hot sauce, and Worcestershire. A Beer Shandy (half lemonade, half beer) benefits from the lager’s mild sweetness and bright carbonation. For a Japanese-inspired Hoppy Shochu Highball, use Sapporo Premium as the sparkling base with a splash of barley shochu — the rice character in both creates a cohesive, easy-drinking combination.
Best For
Pairing with sushi, ramen, or Japanese izakaya-style dishes
Backyard grilling sessions and warm-weather gatherings
Introducing someone to Japanese beer for the first time
Stocking a home bar with a reliable, widely respected import lager
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sapporo Premium taste like? Sapporo Premium is a light, crisp lager with mild malty sweetness, subtle grassy and herbal hops, and a clean, dry finish driven by lively carbonation and the smoothness imparted by rice in the grain bill.
How does Sapporo Premium compare to Asahi Super Dry? Both are flagship Japanese lagers, but Asahi Super Dry leans drier and more aggressively carbonated with a sharper, more neutral finish, while Sapporo Premium retains slightly more malt sweetness and a rounder, softer body from its rice-forward grain bill. The two are the most widely available Japanese beers in the U.S. market.
Is Sapporo Premium good for beginners? Absolutely — its light body, low bitterness, and clean finish make it one of the most approachable lagers in the Japanese beer category and a natural entry point for anyone exploring the style.
Where is Sapporo Premium made? Sapporo Breweries was founded in 1876 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. For the U.S. market, Sapporo Premium is brewed under the same formula at facilities in the United States, Canada, and Vietnam.
What foods pair well with Sapporo Premium? Fresh sushi and sashimi highlight the beer’s clean, dry palate. Tonkotsu or miso ramen benefits from the carbonation cutting through rich broth. Grilled yakitori skewers match the mild malt sweetness. Tempura pairs well because the crispness refreshes the palate between bites. Spicy Thai or Korean dishes are tempered by the beer’s light body and neutral character.
What sizes does Sapporo Premium come in? Sapporo Premium is widely available in the signature 22-ounce (650ml) silver can, as well as standard 12-ounce cans and bottles, and multi-pack formats.
Is Sapporo Premium worth the price? Sapporo Premium positions as a premium import lager, typically priced slightly above domestic macro lagers but in line with other Japanese imports like Asahi and Kirin. For the quality of brewing heritage and consistent execution, it represents solid value within the import lager tier.
Why Sapporo Premium?
Sapporo holds the distinction of being Japan’s oldest beer brand, and that 1876 pedigree is not merely historical decoration — it reflects nearly 150 years of continuous refinement in lager brewing. The brewery’s research credibility is underscored by its development of the Sorachi Ace hop in 1984, a contribution to hop science that has influenced brewers worldwide. The flagship Premium lager has earned international recognition including a gold medal at the 2004 International Beer Competition and a silver at the 2019 International Beer Challenge in London. In a category crowded with light lagers, Sapporo Premium stands on a verified track record of consistent, clean brewing — and the oversized 22-ounce can format makes it a natural choice for sharing or pairing across a full meal.