Aiming to Create the World’s Greatest Beer in Taste and Aroma
- The challenge of refining the taste and aroma in pursuit of the "ideal beer" continues.
The man behind the development of The Premium Malt’s, Ryuzo Yamamoto, had a single dream – that of creating the world’s greatest beer. Taking the pilsner of the Czech Republic and Germany, countries with a long tradition of brewing, as their "ideal beer," he and his team began their research. For 10 years they worked to create a beer with world-class features – a superlative, delicate hops aroma and a firm body with a flash of proud bitterness.
Suntory’s employees take pride in their role as brewers, a pride that extends to responsibility for every aspect of the manufacturing process, from ingredient selection and brewing, all the way to product delivery.
- The Premium Malt’s captured the Grand Gold Medal in the Beer category at the Monde Selection for three consecutive years: 2005, 2006 and 2007.
The Premium Malt’s won Japan’s first-ever Grand Gold Medal in the Beer category at the 2005 Monde Selection international food and beverage competition held in Europe, the very birthplace of beer. The Premium Malt’s won the award again in 2006 and 2007. Capturing this prestigious award three years in a row* represents a significant internaThe Premium Malt’stional endorsement of Suntory’s excellent brewing techniques and superlative quality.
To give people outside of Japan the chance to drink The Premium Malt’s, Suntory began exporting the beer in quantity in 2010, so the beer can now be found in restaurants in Germany and in many locations in the United States. We plan to continue expanding sales to allow The Premium Malt’s to develop into a global standard.
The challenge of refining the taste and aroma in pursuit of the "ideal beer" continues.
* Awarded to The Premium Malt’s medium-sized bottle.
Choosing 100% Natural Water
- All Suntory beer, happoshu, and new-category beverages brewed in Japan use 100% natural water.
- Suntory builds plants in locations with natural water that is ideal for the production of beer, happoshu, and new-category beverages.
Suntory insists on using only natural water for our beer, happoshu and new-category beverages. Natural water brings out the inherent goodness of the ingredients so that customers can experience their full essence. We thus build our plants in locations with abundant natural water to take advantage of an excellent balance of minerals and ions for production of our beverages. The water is drawn from deep wells and has been filtered through many geological layers over long periods of time. Suntory will continue to produce all of our beer, happoshu, and new-category beverages in Japan with 100% natural water, ensuring only the finest quality for our customers.
Committed to Making Beverages that Add New Value
- Kin-Mugi, Jokki Nama, Diet Nama, MD Golden Dry, alcohol-free beer-flavored beverage All-Free
- Promoting R&D activities aimed at creating new value for customers.
Suntory’s ongoing R&D efforts are inspired by a desire to create products that offer new value and new ways for people to enjoy them.
Suntory established the happoshu market in 1994 with the introduction of Hop’s Draft, a low-malt beer that won over customers with its good taste and low price. We followed this success with the launch of Magnum Dry, which established its own market position as a "dry" happoshu. Later, in response to health-conscious needs Suntory introduced Diet Nama (draft), a low-calorie happoshu. Other popular products we have developed are Jokki Nama (mug draft), which uses corn as its basic ingredient, and Kin-Mugi, which features a delicious barley taste. With these products, Suntory has brought new value to the new-category beverage market as we continue to build a strong reputation for excellence.
Suntory has also developed new products in the non-alcoholic beer-flavored beverages category, in which demand is rising. In August 2010 we released the world’s first*1 no-alcohol, no-carbohydrate*2, zero-calorie*2 beer-flavored beverage, All-Free, which has since become very popular.
*1 In the beer-flavored beverages category, according to Suntory investigation.
*2 In accordance with nutrition labeling standards.
