Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2010/11/10)

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

New Seasonal Releases: Country Girl Kabocha Ale, Bakayaro! Ale and Chotto Baka Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

An annual autumn rite of passage is the release of a deliciously down-to-earth Baird Beer best characterized by two words: simplicity, sophistication. Country Girl Kabocha Ale marks her 9th annual debut on Thursday, November 11 and this year’s version is as terrific as last year’s World Beer Cup gold medal winner. 2008 and 2009 versions will also be available on draught at our Fishmarket Taproom and the 2008 version will be poured along side the 2010 version Nakameguro Taproom.

Fall is perhaps the season in which the glories of full-flavored craft beer shine most alluringly. We seek to help demonstrate this point to you with the release of two additional fall seasonal brews: Bakayaro! Ale and his little brother, Chotto Baka Ale. Each of these will be available beginning Friday, November 12.

New Seasonal Releases:

Country Girl Kabocha Ale 2010 (ABV 6%):
Kabocha is a Japanese pumpkin-like squash the taste of which is elegantly sweet. The kabocha we use is grown in the Heda garden of our carpenter-partner-friend, Nagakura-san. We first cook it in order to gelatinize it, then we add it to our mash where the enzymes from the malt help to further break it down into simple fermentablesugars. Several characterful varieties of malted barley produce a hearty wort that when married to the kabocha yields a flavor partnership of great depth and balance. After fermenatation, re-fermentation and conditioning, the result is an earthy, rustic beer that manages to deliver an extraordinarily sophisticated yet subtle complexity of flavor. It is, to many resident beer enthusiasts, the flavor of fall in Japan! It is avail able both on draught and in bottles (633 ml).
Bakayaro! Ale 2010 (ABV 8.2%):
This insolent, snotty and mean-spirited brew is pungently hoppy and wickedly strong. High in malt gravity (1.080), bitter in hoppiness(90 IBU), aggressive in aroma (dry-hopping with Centennial), Bakayaro! Ale just doesn’t give a rat’s ass. We invite you to come in, have a pint and let those around know exactly how you feel. This year, for the first time, Bakayaro! also is available in bottles (633 ml) which can be purchased direct from the brewery E-Shop or through one of the fine Baird Beer retailing liquor shops in Japan.
Chotto Baka Ale (ABV 4%):
This is the Bakayaro’s little brother. He shares a common malt, hop and yeast DNA, only less of everything. If you tire of the overbearing older brother, Chotto Baka is a more approachable alternative. Chotto Baka is available only on draught at select Baird Beer retailing pubs in Japan.
Nakameguro Taproom Event Reminder:
*”Falling for Brew!” Beer School seminar and tasting which focuses on fall-season beers and autumn food accompaniments. The featured beer pairings are as follows:

Baird Fest Lager & Great Divide Hoss Rye Lager
Baird Country Girl Kabocha Ale & Southern Tier Pumking Ale
Baird Yabai-Yabai Strong Scotch Ale & Great Divide Claymore Scotch Ale
Baird Bakayaro! Ale and Stone Arrogant Bastard
Our chef, Ishikawa-san, has been busy over the past several weeks crafting a fall food menu to accompany this spectacular lineup of autumn ales & lagers. I won’t spoil the food surprise here, but I can promise that participants are in for a real treat. For those participants not fully satiated, and for all those unable to attend because of a time conflict, we will be following the Beer School event with a sneak-preview tasting of genuine American barbecue from the smoking pit of our soon-to-be Bashamichi Taproom Pit Master, Chuck Morrow.

The Japanese language seminar and tasting will take place on Saturday, November 13 (3:00 pm start). The English language version will be the following day, Sunday, November 14 (3:00 pm start). Tickets cost 3,200 yen and seating is limited. Please contact the Nakameguro Taproom directly about attending (nakameguro-tap@bairdbeer.com; 03-5768-3025). Space is still available but it is filling up fast!

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi