The biggest mistake that North Americans make is in the pronunciation of this Japanese wine. Sake is a wine made from rice and can be sweet or dry depending on the variety and brand. The way it is served depends largely on the season. It's meant to be sipped and enjoyed like wine. The Japanese word for beer is the same as in English, but with Japanese pronunciation.
Japanese beer is much stronger than American beer, and in our opinion, much better.
Japanese brands are fairly common in North America - such as Kirin, Sapporo, and Asahi. Beer comes in large, 1-liter bottles and is meant to be shared with a friend. It's not cool to order a big bottle in a restaurant and keep it all to yourself. Also, never pour your own beer. First, pour some for your friends, and hand the bottle over to them to fill your glass.