This week, I found myself in a little park around Nishi Shinjuku station at night. Summer isn't quite set in, and the looming arrival of a DOUBLE TYPHOON to the Kanto Region resulted in this evening featuring unsettling breezes hinting at ominous weather on the horizon. Yet that was still days away, and in this moment, everything felt nice.

I thought, "a beer would be killer right now."

Thankfully, a nearby Seven-Eleven boasted a handful of new brews to try and see if they could become part of the seasonal rotation. First up was Asahi's somewhat confusing Ega Beer. It's produced by comedian Egashira 2:50, though the real selling point of it is how this drink reflects the silly man's own love of beer. This is "beer for beer lover's," though what that amounts to is a slightly heartier sip with a touch more bitterness than most konbini staples but still a whole other zone away from like an IPA. It was fine, but also nothing special and not worthy of a higher price tag.

Much better was the Sapporo Beer Garden Summer Pils. Modeled after a variety sold at the Sapporo Beer Garden up north in Hokkaido, this drink aims to capture the taste of "a beer enjoyed under the Hokkaido summer sky." That's a bit poetic, but the light and easy-to-drink flavor of this does seem ideal for the warmer months ahead. It was hitting the spot on a breezier night, so it might be even better for the sweaty times in the near future.