It’s well-known that Japanese people have a sincere appreciation of the four seasons. Having grown up in Northern California, where the seasons are essentially limited to two: warm and cool, I find the heightened awareness of the changing of the seasons in Japan rather endearing.

There are, however, instances in which this obsession with seasonal changes goes a bit too far. Case in point: the sheer number of people that I have met who seriously believe that Japan is unique in the world as the only country with four seasons is astonishing. Seasonal food products are another example; in Japan, seasonal items extend far beyond fruits and vegetables into things ranging from tea to potato chips to chocolate. Most of these items are hardly distinctive and tend to sit inconspicuously on supermarket shelves until their time is up and the next batch arrives to fill their place

There is one seasonal product, however, that due to its overwhelming divinity, holds a special place in my heart and a special roll in my ever-burgeoning gut. The product of which I speak (or, um, write) is none other than Kirin’s Akiaji (”Taste of Autumn”) beer. Forget about the temperature outside, the changing of the leaves or the so-called “equinox”, this is what signifies the arrival of autumn:

Yes, folks, autumn has come and it’s in the form a tasty malt beverage made from the finest ingredients and now available in your local store for just ¥218 for 315ml or ¥286 for 500ml. With a distinguished, rich flavor and at 6% alcohol, this truly is the Nectar of the Autmnal Gods.