8 Best Tried and True Japanese Dark Beers in 2022 (Coedo Brewery, Sapporo Beer, and More)

Hideji Beer out of Miyazaki Prefecture is known for brewing with local fruit like mangoes and the citrus hyuganatsu, but this stout brewed with chestnuts is truly something else!

Kuri-Kuro fully embodies its chestnut namesake, from its rich aroma to the sweetness of its flavor. Reminiscent of the dessert Mont Blanc, this beer is so delectable that you'll wonder if it's even beer at all.

Our testers commented that this is definitely a beer that they'd recommend to a friend, and others commented that while it's close to a dessert beer, it has an elegant and satisfying taste. Surprisingly, we even had a few testers who aren't the biggest fans of beer, but they found this Japanese craft beer enjoyable.

We recommend pairing this beer with sweets like vanilla ice cream or chocolate for an after-dinner treat.

Shikkoku (Jetblack) is a dark beer brewed by Koedo Brewery in Kawagoe City, Saitama prefecture. This beer is a schwartz, which is a type of beer generally characterized by its rich flavor, and has its typical richness with notes of chocolate and cocoa.

But the flavor is not overpowering, making it easy to drink, so it will pair well with meals. It is the kind of dark beer you can savor slowly while enjoying sweet desserts such as pudding or flan. It would also go well with hearty flavors such as beef stew or grilled onions.

Kurosei, from mass-market producer Kirin, is part of their well-known Ichiban Shibori series of lager beers. The roasted malt gives it a deep, rich flavor with a slight aroma of chocolate and coffee. The beer has moderate bitterness and a full-bodied malt flavor but does not have an overly strong aftertaste.

It is easy to drink yet has a strong finish, so we recommend it even for those who have never had a black beer before. It is a refreshing dark beer that goes well with Japanese food.

Asahi Super Dry Dry Black is made with roasted and caramelized malt and has a thick, creamy head when poured. It is pretty light and has a sharp flavor for a dark beer.

There's a slight roasted taste and sweetness, but some black beer lovers said they would like it to be slightly richer and have a more substantial mouthfeel. We recommend it especially for those who do not drink beer often but would like to try dark beer for the first time. 

Wheat and Hops Black is the only 'daisan' -which means it contains less barley malt so it can be taxed at a lower rate, product among the beers in our article. However, the taste of black beer was reproduced so perfectly that the editorial staff who participated in the taste test were surprised when they found out it was a daisan. 

The sweetness of the malt flavor is very noticeable, though it was perhaps a bit overly pronounced. The bitterness is not too strong, and its taste doesn't stand out, making it easy to drink for anybody. We recommend it to those who want to try out Japanese black beer and are looking for one that comes with many cans they can share!

Sapporo's Ebisu Premium Black is marketed as a full-bodied black beer. This beer was highly rated for its fruity aroma of hops and the bitterness of the malt.

We found the combination created a well-balanced taste that everyone can enjoy. It does not have an overly heavy bitterness or body, and its flavor is great for your everyday enjoyment. 

Tokyo Black is a dark beer produced by Yoho Brewing, well-known for its Yona Yona Ale and Wednesday's Cat beers. In a nutshell, the Tokyo Black beer has a very well-balanced flavor. 

This beer has a mild roasted malt aroma, and the sweetness and bitterness typical of dark beers are smoothly balanced out. It has a taste that everyone can enjoy, but it may be lacking in punch for those who drink a lot of beer and enjoy more complex flavors. We recommend it for those just getting into dark beer.

Shiga Kogen Beer Porter uses Maris Otter, a malt considered the finest in England, as its base. The malt is moderately roasted and has a coffee-like aroma.

This beer has a smooth flavor and no lingering aftertaste. However, many said it was too mild and lacking in flavor, resulting in a lackluster rating.