Aeon, Suntory to launch Y100 beer-like drink

Tuesday 30th June, 02:30 PM JST

TOKYO —

Supermarket chain operator Aeon Co said Monday it has co-developed with Japanese brewer Suntory Liquors Ltd a ‘‘third-category’’ beer-like drink that it will start selling at a starting price of 100 yen in late July.

Aeon, the operator of Jusco and MaxValu supermarket stores, plans to roll out the private brand beer with a price tag about 20% lower than similar drinks of other major brewers on the back of consumer demand for cheaper products amid the economic recession.

Kyodo News Service

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Latest 15 of 21 Total Comments Show All

Mark_McCracken at 04:55 PM JST - 30th June

It sounds delicious-like.
escape_artist at 05:41 PM JST - 30th June

It may be partly Japan's archaic laws hindering more widespread homebrewing (compared to other developed, beer-drinking countries) that keeps on allowing the big beer-like companies like Suntory to keep creating this likely health-questionable schlock.

Companies should be forced to list all the ingredients in these so-called 3rd category (i.e., uncategorizable) liquids. Wouldn't surprise me if these concoctions come from the beer-like companies' laboratories, too. I mean, albeit flowers, Suntory is involved in genetic manipulation.... What's to stop them at just flowers as long as they can find people willing to buy what they make...

http://www.florigene.com/about/whoweare.php

Since Suntory Group also owns Tipness fitness clubs, maybe there's actually a wider corporate plan here in developing this stuff...
some14some at 05:50 PM JST - 30th June

In order to promote govt campaign for eco points, this beer should be sold at 100 eco points only (no cash in any currency). i am sure Japanese consumers will buy !
whitepocky at 10:26 PM JST - 30th June

Has it got anything to do with Japan's craze for inventing 'the world's smallest, thinnest, cheapest crap'!!! In all my travels, I can't say any particular Japanese brand rates highly on my radar of 'Good Alcoholic Beverages'. Yebisu is not too bad though...
SwissToni at 10:39 PM JST - 30th June

Drinking beer is very much like making love to a beautiful woman. You take your time and choose the one you want, strip the outer wrapping and lay her down somewhere dark, and then only when youre ready....pop the seal.

Go for the real thing and stay away from cheap facsimiles.
Den Den at 10:47 PM JST - 30th June

I think Australian or Chinese breweries should sue them for stealing their recipes.
benhur at 10:48 PM JST - 30th June

#

Altria at 02:53 PM JST - 30th June

How about making real beer for 150 yen a can?

ditto..
MildredRoper at 10:58 PM JST - 30th June

SwissToni sounds like a charming felow with a good taste in beverages unlike my useless husband who drinks brown ale , yuck!!

This beer sounds horrid, cheap and nasty, no thank you!!
30061015 at 03:14 AM JST - 1st July

‘‘third-category’’ beer-like drink

What the hell is it made of, 4th category Suntory "beer-like" ingredients?
Scrote at 09:01 AM JST - 1st July

This stuff is as much "beer-like" as meths is "vodka-like".
SebastianFlyte at 02:59 PM JST - 1st July

Its all the same.
notimpressed at 04:03 PM JST - 1st July

but..its made for the Japanese palate. SO dont worry, keep buying import beer like me.
sfjp330 at 04:06 AM JST - 3rd July

They must be desperate to find a cheap high in Japan. They should make it from horse or cow manure and probably taste better than this stuff. What a difference, the price of the Budweiser beer in the U.S. is about Y80 each or about Y1,000 yen for 12 pack.
Sarge at 09:33 AM JST - 3rd July

"How about making real beer for 150 yen a can?"

Heck, they make real beer for less than that - the government slaps around 75 yen tax on it, driving the price up over 200 yen.
saborichan at 11:38 AM JST - 7th July

Apparently it's going to have 5% alcohol, so I wonder if it will replace One Cup Ozeki as the bum's drink of choice?