Phase Three P3 Japanese Style Rice Lager 4Pk

Phase Three P3 Japanese Style Rice Lager 4Pk is a 4.2% ABV craft rice lager brewed with pilsner malt and jasmine rice by Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, Illinois. It carries a strong 3.8 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 1,000 reviews, reflecting broad enthusiasm for its clean, delicate character.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.2%  |  Origin: Lake Zurich, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Japanese-Style Rice Lager  |  Brewery: Phase Three Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Phase Three Brewing Company operates a 3-vessel, 15-barrel steam-powered brewhouse in Lake Zurich, Illinois. P3 is built from a mash of premium pilsner malt with a generous proportion of jasmine rice, then spiced with noble hops in the kettle. What distinguishes this lager from many American rice-adjunct beers is the use of whole jasmine rice, which requires a specialized cereal mash process to gelatinize the grain before its fermentable sugars can be extracted — jasmine rice is not available in pre-flaked form, so this step adds both labor and nuance that shortcuts with processed rice adjuncts simply cannot replicate.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh straw and light grain open the nose, followed by a fragrant, delicate rice sweetness. Faint herbal hop notes round out a clean, inviting bouquet.

Taste: The entry is soft and bready, with honeyed biscuit and wild grass leading the way. Mid-palate, subtle lemon zest brightens the profile while whispers of green tea and violet carry underneath. A refreshing hop bite and lively carbonation keep everything crisp and balanced.

Finish: Clean and snappy, with toasted cereal fading quickly into a dry, palate-cleansing close. The low ABV ensures zero heaviness — just a zippy resolution that invites the next sip.

How to Drink P3 Rice Lager

Serve ice cold in a tall, narrow glass to concentrate the delicate rice aromatics and maintain carbonation. This is a beer designed for straightforward enjoyment — poured fresh and cold. A Michelada benefits from P3's clean base, letting lime, hot sauce, and Clamato shine without malt interference. A Shandy pairs the lager's light body with fresh lemonade for a warm-weather crusher. A Beer Highball (lager topped with sparkling water and a lemon twist, popular in Japanese drinking culture) highlights P3's rice-forward subtlety in an ultra-refreshing format.

Best For

• Pairing with sushi, ramen, or other Japanese cuisine
• Warm-weather cookouts and backyard sessions where drinkability matters
• Introducing craft beer drinkers to the Japanese rice lager style
• Stocking a fridge for game day with a low-ABV, high-flavor option

Frequently Asked Questions

What does P3 Rice Lager taste like? P3 drinks exceptionally clean with soft bready notes of honeyed biscuit, wild grass, and lemon zest, underscored by hints of green tea and herbal hops. It finishes dry and snappy with high carbonation and no lingering sweetness.

How does P3 compare to Asahi Super Dry? Both are rice-forward lagers with clean, dry finishes, but P3 uses whole jasmine rice processed through a cereal mash rather than industrial rice adjuncts, giving it a more fragrant, nuanced grain character. Asahi Super Dry is also higher in ABV at 5.0% compared to P3's sessionable 4.2%.

Is P3 good for pairing with food? Its clean profile, low bitterness, and dry finish make it an excellent table beer, particularly alongside lighter fare like sushi, dumplings, grilled seafood, and salads where a heavier beer would overwhelm the dish.

Where is P3 Rice Lager made? P3 is brewed at Phase Three Brewing Company's facility in Lake Zurich, Illinois, on a 3-vessel, 15-barrel steam-powered brewhouse.

What foods pair well with P3 Rice Lager? Sushi and sashimi benefit from the beer's clean, palate-cleansing carbonation. Grilled shrimp or yakitori work well because the lager's light body won't compete with charred, savory flavors. Edamame with sea salt mirrors the beer's subtle grain sweetness. Light salads with citrus vinaigrette complement the lemon zest notes in the profile.

What sizes does P3 come in? P3 Japanese Style Rice Lager is available in a 4-pack format.

Is P3 worth the price? P3 positions as a craft alternative to mass-market Japanese lagers, and the specialized cereal mash process using whole jasmine rice justifies a modest premium over mainstream rice lagers while remaining firmly in everyday-drinking territory at 4.2% ABV.

Why P3 Rice Lager?

The defining detail here is the jasmine rice itself. Because whole jasmine rice is unavailable in pre-flaked form, Phase Three runs a dedicated cereal mash to gelatinize the grain before extraction — a step that most breweries using rice adjuncts skip entirely. The result is a more aromatic, texturally refined lager than what flaked or processed rice can produce. With over 1,000 Untappd ratings averaging 3.8 out of 5 and individual BeerAdvocate reviewer scores reaching 4.29, P3 has earned genuine credibility as a craft interpretation of the Japanese rice lager style, brewed with uncommon attention to ingredient integrity.