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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin 2008 #11

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The Golden Week holiday is set to begin in Japan and we are kicking it off with the release of two of our staple spring seasonal beers: Four Sisters Spring Bock and Daidai Dark Wheat Ale.

(1) Four Sisters Spring Bock (ABV 6.0%):

Baird Four Sisters Spring Bock is brewed in the spirit of a German Maibock, albeit one of the type that was brewed centuries ago in the city of Einbeck and that was noted for its generous use of malted wheat. Four Sisters Spring Bock sports a deep copper-gold color and enjoys a sweet floral nose from aroma additions of Sterling hops. In the mouth, a rich malty flavor will introduce itself before quickly giving way to an extremely smooth, dry finish in which a hint of
honeyed-malt flavor and estery alcohol character lingers.

(2) Daidai Dark Wheat Ale (ABV 5.0%):

This is a wonderfully unique fruit ale that combines the spriteness of malted wheat, the richness and depth of roasted specialty malts (caramel wheat and chocolate wheat), and the fantastically spicy-minty aroma and citrusy flavor of Japanese Daidai fruit (courtesy of additions of freshly squeezed Daidai juice and shaved peels). This original ale epitomizes our brewers’ proud commitment to creativity and innovation in the crafting of beer!

Both ales are now being served at the Fishmarket Taproom in Numazu. They will be available at fine Baird Beer retailers throughout Japan, as well as at our online store, beginning Wednesday, April 30 (bottle size 633 ml).

Crafting fine beer is a privilege and a joy. Good brewers pursue a career in this profession out of love and the promise of internal satisfaction. At times, though, external recognition is important too. The greatest form of peer recognition in craft brewing comes with the awarding of medals at the semi-annual World Beer Cup competition. Baird Brewing is thrilled to be part of a strong Japan contingent that, collectively, took home ten medals from this prestigious competition. We were awarded bronze medals for two of our beers: Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale (unfiltered/cellared category) and Nide Beer – The Ale (cream ale/lager category). Both of these ales will be available for purchase at our online store (reserves of the Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale are extremely limited).

It is now definite; the grand opening of our Nakameguro Taproom will occur on Saturday, May 10. Beginning May 10, the Nakameguro Taproom will be open everyday from 11:30 am to 11:30 pm. The location is the Nakameguro GT Plaza (2nd floor) situated right next to bustling Nakameguro station (Toyoko and Hibiya lines) (Tel. 03-5768-3025). Please help us to make this a smashing new contribution to the increasingly vibrant culture of craft beer in Tokyo.

Finally, a remainder: the business hours for the Fishmarket Taproom during Golden Week will be as follows:

-Open from noon to midnight on Tuesday, April 29; Open as normal (5:00 pm to
midnight) Wednesday-Friday (April 30-May 2)
-Open from noon to midnight Saturday-Tuesday (May 3-6)
-Closed for business on Wednesday, May 7

Cheers!
Bryan Baird
HOMEPAGE

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At long last, I can start writing articles about some of the best micro beers in Shizuoka and in Japan!
Bryan Baird in Numazu City has deservedly won praise from all over the country for contributing so much to beer and micro-brewing!

My first tasting concerned “Rising Sun Pale Ale”

Bryan Baird Brewery: Rising Sun Pale Ale
Draught/nama Beer
Ingredients: Barley Malt, barley, hops.
Alcohol: 4.5 degrees
Contents: 300 ml

Clarity: smoky
Colour: rich dark orange
Foam: long head, thick steady foam
Aroma: Yeast, bread, oranges
Taste: Dry. Steady dry tail. Sharpish. Oranges

Overall: A beer suited for any food, especially meat, sausages and the like. Can be appreciated cold in summer on its own, though. Refreshing and satisfying.

Bryan’s comments: “This quenching brew is crafted in the American West-Coast style. It sports a beautiful soft citrus hop aroma, which gives way to a round, honey-fruit flavour. The finish is crisp and refreshing”>

HOMEPAGE

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin 2008 #10

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Thanks once again to the fruitful efforts of our friends at Four Hearts Cafe in Kofu, Yamanashi prefecture, we have been able to brew two delicious fruit beers which we are releasing today: Yamanashi Apple Ale and Yamanashi Budo Ale.

(1) Yamanashi Apple Ale (ABV 6.6%):

This is the second consecutive year we have brewed this wonderfully sprite and piquant ale. The recipe consists of base malts (Pils, Wheat, Carahell), Japanese Sudakito sugar, light hopping and, of course, fresh apples from Yamanashi prefecture. The result is a dry, highly attenuated ale with a stealth alcohol punch. The color is sunshine-gold. The aroma is the
faintly sweet one of ripe autumn apples. The flavor is light, spritzy and fruity. The finish is sweetly tart. You most definitely will reach for a second.

(2) Yamanashi Budo Ale (ABV 7.1%):

This is the maiden batch of a terrifically robust grape-infused ale.
Similar to the Apple Ale, the recipe is defined by base malts, Sudakito sugar, light hopping and, in this case, grapes harvested in Yamanashi prefecture. This time the highly attenuated, dry and quietly strong ale presents itself in a deep, bullion-gold color tinged with a rose hue. The
rich, opulent fruit aroma is coy in revealing its identity as is the robust fruit flavor. The unveiling of the grape as fruit comes in the slight but unmistakably vinous finish. This is a true Japanese Ale, where the “honne” lies hidden beneath the “tatemae.”

Both ales are now being served at our Fishmarket Taproom in Numazu.
They also will be available on draught at select Baird Beer retailers in Japan.
No bottles are available.

The Golden Week holiday is fast approaching. The business hours for the Fishmarket Taproom during Golden Week will be as follows:

-Open from noon to midnight on Tuesday, April 29; Open as normal (5:00 pm to midnight) Wednesday-Friday (April 30-May 2)
-Open from noon to midnight Saturday-Tuesday (May 3-6)
-Closed for business on Wednesday, May 7

Finally, mark your calendars for a grand opening of our Nakameguro Taproom on or around May 10. A definitive date and details will be forthcoming shortly.

Cheers!
Bryan Baird
HOMEPAGE

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin 2008 #9

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Spring has arrived and it has brought with it two new Baird Beer seasonal brews: Pacific Porter & Imperial Belgian Red Ale.

(1) Pacific Porter (ABV 6.6%):

This is the Baird Beer version of a Baltic Porter (a strong dark beer fermented with lager yeast that has enjoyed historical popularity in Baltic region countries). The color is deep copper-brown. The aroma is soft, round and fruity with a hint of chocolate. The body is chewy but not thick.
Subtly sweet flavors of caramel and milk chocolate are highlighted magnificently by an underbelly of nut and pit fruit character. The overall impression is one of smoothness and balance.

(2) Imperial Belgian Red Ale (ABV 8.1%):

This is a Belgian-style ale fermented with a blend of two yeasts. Additions of Japanese red sugar serve to add color, lighten the body and dry the flavor by increasing the alcohol content. Brewed in June 2007 and packaged in November 2007, Imperial Belgian Red has been dry-hopped with English East Kent Golding and Fuggle hops. At packaging, it was kraeusened with our
Angry Boy Brown Ale. The color is bright copper-red and a berry-like fruit aroma wafts from the glass. The body is light and zesty and the finish is dry but pleasantly fruity with a tinge of alcohol warmth.

Both beers are new being served at our Fishmarket Taproom in Numazu and will be available at fine Baird Beer retailers throughout Japan. The bottle-conditioned versions (360 ml bottles) are set, also, to be sold direct to consumers via our new eStore. The new eStore will be up and
running on Tuesday, April 8. Credit card payments will be accepted at the new eStore and all bottle-conditioned Baird Beer year-round and seasonal brews will be sold through it. The eStore is the official one of Baird Brewing but will be managed and run (including order fulfillment) by Nide, Inc. Please visit the store, kick the tires and let us know what you think
(HOMEPAGE).

The winds of change are blowing strongly here in Spring 2008. So strongly, in fact, that they are carrying with them across the Pacific Ocean to the United States the first export shipment of Baird Beer. 850 cases of Rising Sun, Red Rose, Angry Boy, Kurofune, Carpenter’s Mikan and Temple Garden Yuzu are now in transit to New York Harbor. The importer is the Shelton Brothers (HOMEPAGE) which specializes in the discovery, importation and sale of first-rate small brewery beers from all around the world. This is their first go at a Japanese craft beer but it won’t be the last. If you live in the United States, shoot these guys an email to find out how to get your hands on some very limited Baird Beer.

Finally, we still are hunting for passionate individuals to work at our new Nakameguro Taproom (set to open on May 10). The work will be satisfying and the potential for upward movement great.
Cheers!
Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE