Kirin Ichiban is a Japanese-style pilsner with a smooth full-bodied and refreshing taste. Ichiban means number one a fitting name for a beer that uses only the first press of the wort. First press brewing is able to extract the most flavorful portion of the finest ingredients to create a distinctly crisp smooth and full-bodied beer.The Japan Brewery Company the forerunner of Kirin was founded over a hundred years ago in 1885. Just three years later in 1888 the brewing of Kirin beer began. 1990 saw the launch of Kirin Ichiban a unique brew made exclusively from the first press of the wort.