Thursday, May 22nd, 2014, saw the first day of actual brewing in the newest, and 11th, beer brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture, namely Aoi Brewery in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, near Sengen Shrine!

Since the brewing has started the brewery had become off limits and the front door was closed to casual visitors.
I had to enter through the side door to an empty space which will become a pub in September before progressing to the brewery room.
Durst malt from Munich, Germany was at the ready!

Barley was already being used!
Before entering the brewing room I had to put on long boots and step in a basin to disinfect the soles.

I found Owner Naoki Mandou/満藤直樹さん having a rest with two his staff onlooking the operations!

A collector’s item: Aoi/Hollyhock in the shape of the crest as worn by Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu in the 16th an 17th Century!

Brew Master Kooichi Taka/髙浩一さん running around!

Checking the boiling of the barley!

With Owner Naoki Mandou keeping an attentive eye on all the operations. He actually has enough knowledge on brewing in case of an emergency!

I was allowed a peek into the boiling barley!

I even tasted it! Sweet!

Taking out more samples!

Checking out more samples of the barley which had already boiled more than 4 hours!

Brew Master Kooichi Taka/髙浩一さん at his art!

And Owner Naoki Mandou/満藤直樹さん never far away!

Photo for posterity:
Nobuko Hasegawa/長谷川暢子さん Staff, Naoki Mando/満藤直樹さん Owner, Kouichi Taka/髙浩一さんBrew Master & Hidenori Fukushima/福島英紀さん Staff!

Expect more reports until the first Aoi Craft beer being put on the market end of June!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City