No doubt needing to explain why they can label beers such as Style Free and Blue Label as zero sugar while they still contain carbohydrates, this special page lays out the definitions for the different carbohydrate categories.
炭水化物 (tansuikabutsu) carbohydrates plus fiber
糖質 (toshitsu) carbohydrates (alcohol, long chain sugars, short chain or simple sugars)
糖類 (torui) simple sugars (mono- and di-saccharides)
The zero sugar refers to the third category simple sugars. This includes most sugars of popular concern such as glucose and fructose. I doubt most customers are interested in this degree of detail, but it seems reasonable to me.
http://www.asahibeer.co.jp/customer/tourui-toushitsu/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Asahi Blue Label is Asahi's 3rd category variation on its popular Style Free zero sugar 2nd category beer. It promises a crisp taste which is well worth drinking. アサヒブルーラベル
http://www.asahibeer.co.jp/bluelabel/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Caramel Brown is a 3rd category beer which uses North American bitter hops, European caramel malt and is produced using decoction mashing. This product has a limited run. サントリー デコクション製法
http://www.suntory.co.jp/beer/caramel/about/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
While this is a straight forward favorite, probably world-wide, two small things do strike me as worthy of mention. Although brownies are available if you look hard enough, many if not most Japanese need to have the exact nature of a brownie explained to them. Not a cookie, not a cake, a brownie. Also, there is no basic chocolate ice cream available from Haagen Dazs. Plain vanilla is fine, but chocolate requires further categorization. ハーゲンダッツ
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/products/minicup/chocolate-brownie.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
