A new brew has popped up at Epcot’s Japan pavilion…and it’s a little hard to get your head around!
Frozen Beer (well…it’s only sort of frozen…but more on that later) has made its continental United States debut in Epcot recently, and I had a chance to try it.
Frozen Kirin Beer in Epcot's Japan
Here’s how it works: while the beer underneath is completely liquid at all times, the head on the glass is essentially super aerated and chilled — a frozen foam of beer, pretty much. This protective foam works as a mini-refrigerator, keeping the liquid beer beneath colder for longer.
The head slowly melts back down into liquid beer if you wait long enough, but it does stay in tact for about 10-20 minutes in my experience.
Frozen Foam on the Head of the Beer
It’s a bit hard to work around to get a sip of the liquid beer (if you’ve had butterbeer in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, you have an idea of the phenomenon); but it doesn’t alter the taste of the brew.
My review? It’s definitely an interesting novelty, and at $8 a glass it isn’t more expensive than regular Kirin Draft beer (yet). But when they call it “frozen beer,” I — and I think a lot of other people — are expecting something completely different than a liquid draft beer with a colder head than before.
That said, as long as it doesn’t raise too much in price over the cost of a regular draft beer, it’s still worth a try. Head over and impress your friends with the only “frozen” beer for miles! 😉
You can get it at Epcot’s Kabuki Cafe, Tokyo Dining, and Garden House.
Will you try the “frozen” beer in Epcot’s Japan? Let us know in the comments below!
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Would it be weird to drink this with a straw?
Erin — Ha ha! I think that might almost be my preference! 😉
I just had this for the first time at Tokyo Disney Seas last week! I wonder if they brought the idea over from Japan or if it debuted in both parks recently. Not something I’d pay a ton extra for, but a fun novelty when it’s the same price.
No, no, no. This is wrong on so many levels to a real beer drinker. When you serve beer so icy cold – you lose at least half the flavor of it. You might as well buy one beer and ask for an ice water. Then mix them together and you have two half priced beers. This frozen head beer will have less flavor than a light beer.
Sounds interestion. I’ll have to try it next week when I’m there.
We just passed on this yesterday in favor of another Grapefruit beer. We thought it was something like a slush, which would have bee intriguing. I would have been disappointed with this as described.
By the way, that grapefruit beer near Germany is fantastic!
Alan, as a beer advocate myself, one thing to keep in mind… do you really want the full flavor experience of Kirin? If I’m drinking Kirin, go ahead and numb up my tastebuds.
Jess — Thanks for your review! I’ll bet Disney had it in Japan for a bit before trying it in the States; would be interesting to find out, though! Any great eats in Tokyo Disney Sea we need to hear about?
Alan — Ha ha! The vehemence! Point noted.
Otis III — Let us know what you think!
GG — Yep, “frozen” to me means something other than this. I need a pic of the grapefruit beer, by the way — if you have one, send it over!
Casey — Hmm…another point noted!
Oh, we missed it! We’ll have to try it next time!
Casey – I agree about Kirin and also include beers like Corona and Corona light, all light beers, and many others of that ilk. Any beer served that cold is basically tasteless. I just do not like numb taste buds. This frozen head thing is just a gimmick.
Alan – I have a wine cooler just to keep my ales at around 44 degrees, so I hear you on proper tempurature. That is why I usually stick to lagers when I go out. Much better at the colder temp at which they serve them.
I tried this yesterday at the outdoor bar in Japan and it was awesome!! It may seem like a novelty here but it is VERY popular and “normal” in Japan. It’s super cold and a little icy…a perfect treat on a hot day.
i’m Japanese and I always get one when I’m in tokyo disney sea. I also get the spicy pork ribs that they sell in the same place.. they go so well together!!
It does lose some flavor, but some japanese like their beer really light and really really cold so its pretty popular here 😉
I’m with my wife in the Tokyo Dining restaurant as I type this. You cannot order it here. You have to go outside to get it.
Brad — Strange! I got it in the restaurant in November. I wonder why they’d take it off the menu there. Thanks for sharing your experience!
The waitress didn’t know either. She took our dinner order but came back a few minutes later to tell us she couldn’t get the frozen beer.
brad p — Interesting! I wonder why they took it out of the restaurant! Thanks for the heads up!
We are sharing one as I type this. I noticed that they do a normal pour from a normal Kirin tap,and it has little to no head, then over to another machine to add the stiff frothy head. It’s not unlike a softserve dispenser. The head tastes like beer so is likely made of Kirin. You can use a spoon to put some in your mouth and it remains creamy therefore as long as you would typically keep it there, but the beer is no different from beer.