traces its beginnings to the establishment of the Osaka Beer Brewing Company in 1889. The Asahi Beer brand was launched in 1892 and the following year garnered a Grand Prix award at the Chicago World’s Fair. The company opened its first beer hall in 1897 and in 1900 released Japan’s first bottled beer. The company merged in 1906 with Japan Beer Brewery Ltd and Sapporo Beer Co to form Dai Nippon Breweries.

In 1949 Dai Nippon Brewers was divided into Asahi Breweries Ltd and Nippon Breweries Ltd as part of the government’s Economic Decentralization Act. In 1958, Asahi released Japan’s first canned beer under the Asahi label.

In 1982, Asahi signed an agreement with Lowenbrau of Germany and began licensed production and sale of the beer in 1983. In 1988, Asahi signed an agreement with Bass Exports of the UK and began the import and sale of Bass pale ale.

In 1987, the brewery released Asahi Super Dry, causing a sensation in the Japanese beer industry. Super Dry experienced explosive sales that eventually pushed Asahi ahead in the market. It is now positioned neck and neck with Kirin beer for sales in Japan.

Asahi further solidified its position in the Japanese market in 2009 with the import of the popular Hoegaarden Belgian white ale on draught and in bottles.

Asahi currently produces a wide range of beer products, mostly in mass-market lager styles. Many are of the popular low-malt variety called happo-shu, which are taxed at a lower rate than regular beer. Asahi stout, released in 1935, is still brewed today as an 8% alcohol by volume (ABV) beer, broadly in the foreign extra stout style. Asahi Kuronama Black, a 5% ABV dark lager, appeared in 1995 and is sometimes found outside of Japan. The Asahi Beer Hall, designed by the French architect Philippe Starck in 1990, is one of Tokyo’s most eye-catching modern buildings.