Sapporo Black 22OZ Can

Sapporo Black 22oz Can is a German-inspired Schwarzbier-style dark lager brewed with roasted malts, bottled at 5.0% ABV in a 22 oz oversized can. Produced under the banner of Japan's oldest beer brand, this dark lager stands apart from the typical pale, rice-forward Japanese beer profile with its emphasis on roasted grain character and medium body.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.0%  |  Origin: Japan (U.S. production: La Crosse, Wisconsin)  |  Style: Schwarzbier / Dark Lager  |  Brewery: Sapporo Brewing Company (est. 1876)

Production & Heritage

Sapporo Brewing Company was established in 1876 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, making it the oldest beer brand in Japan. The Black expression draws on the German Schwarzbier tradition, relying on roasted dark malts to produce its deep color and toasted grain flavor. U.S. market cans are contract-brewed at City Brewing Company in La Crosse, Wisconsin, using a grain bill that includes malted barley, rice, corn, and hops. The 22 oz can — a format Sapporo has made iconic — delivers the same bold, wide-mouth pour the brand is known for, here filled with a notably darker, more malt-driven liquid than its flagship Premium Lager.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Charred grains and lightly roasted coffee open the nose, followed by a subtle hint of dark chocolate. There is a mild nuttiness underneath, keeping the aroma inviting rather than heavy.

Taste: The palate enters with semi-sweetened dark chocolate and moves quickly into roasted coffee tones at mid-palate. A round, smooth sweetness balances the roasted bitterness, giving the beer a fuller mouthfeel than most standard Japanese lagers while remaining decidedly easy-drinking.

Finish: Medium in length, the finish starts semi-bitter with lingering coffee and toasted grain, then mellows into a dry, clean close. There is no cloying sweetness or heavy residual flavor — it wraps up with the crispness you would expect from a well-made lager.

How to Drink Sapporo Black

Pour into a chilled pint glass or drink straight from the wide-mouth can; a cold serve around 40–45°F highlights the roasted malt without muting the subtle chocolate and coffee notes. In cocktails, this dark lager works well in a Black Velvet (layered with dry sparkling wine for a toasty, effervescent contrast), a Michelada Negra (its roasted depth pairs naturally with lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire), and a Beer Float (poured over vanilla ice cream, the coffee-chocolate character creates a dessert-style drink with built-in carbonation).

Best For

• Introducing dark lagers to someone who usually sticks to lighter Japanese beers
• Pairing with grilled meats at a backyard cookout or yakitori night
• Adding variety to an Asian beer tasting lineup alongside pale lagers
• Unwinding after a long day with a single, satisfying large-format pour

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sapporo Black taste like? Sapporo Black delivers roasted coffee and semi-sweetened dark chocolate flavors balanced by a gentle sweetness and a clean, dry finish. It is medium-bodied and smoother than most craft stouts, with a lager's characteristic crispness.

How does Sapporo Black compare to Sapporo Premium Lager? Sapporo Premium Lager is a pale, rice-adjunct lager with a light, crisp, and neutral grain profile, while Sapporo Black is built on roasted dark malts that introduce coffee, chocolate, and toasted grain notes absent in the flagship. Both share a clean lager finish, but the Black expression has noticeably more body and flavor complexity.

Is Sapporo Black good for beginners? Yes — at 5.0% ABV and with a smooth, lightly sweet palate, Sapporo Black is an accessible entry point into dark lagers for drinkers unfamiliar with the style. Its roasted character is present but restrained, avoiding the heavy bitterness of porters or stouts.

Where is Sapporo Black made? Sapporo Black is a product of Sapporo Brewing Company, originally founded in 1876 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Cans sold in the U.S. market are brewed under contract at City Brewing Company in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

What foods pair well with Sapporo Black? Yakitori and other charcoal-grilled skewered meats echo the beer's roasted malt character. Teriyaki-glazed salmon benefits from the slight sweetness and coffee undertone. Ramen with a rich tonkotsu broth finds balance with the beer's carbonation and dry finish. Dark chocolate desserts amplify the cocoa notes already present in the beer. Smoked barbecue brisket matches the charred grain flavors note for note.

What sizes does Sapporo Black come in? The most widely available format is the signature 22 oz (650 ml) can, which features Sapporo's distinctive wide-mouth opening designed for a smoother pour.

Is Sapporo Black worth the price? Sapporo Black positions as an affordable import dark lager, priced comparably to other large-format Japanese beers. For a 22 oz single-serve can with more flavor depth than a standard pale lager, it represents solid value within the import beer category.

Why Sapporo Black?

Sapporo Black occupies a genuinely uncommon niche: a Schwarzbier-inspired dark lager from Japan's oldest brewery, widely available in a large-format can. Most Japanese beers exported to the U.S. compete in the pale, light-bodied lager space, making this roasted malt expression a real outlier on the shelf. The 22 oz wide-mouth can delivers a generous single serving with a pour experience few competitors replicate. For anyone who enjoys clean lager drinkability but wants more character than a typical pilsner or rice lager provides, Sapporo Black fills that gap with restraint and balance rather than excess.