Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Kuraya-Narusawa Brewery-Hansharo Beer Nouhei Steam

October 9, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Yesterday I had the occasion to taste a new beer by Kuraya-Narusawa, Izu no Kuni City, Izu peninsula, at AOI BEER STAND in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, as they often serve on tap beers by other Shizuoka Prefecture as a part of a constructive collaboration policy!

The general name of beers produced by Kuraya-Narusawa Brewery are called Hansharo after the name of the ancient gun foundry of the same name standing inside their precincts.
They are a noteworthy brewery as they do experiment a lot, as far as to reproduce old style beer.
This particular beer is a steam beer reminiscent of what some German immigrants brewed in the States when they didn’t have the money to buy expensive equipment. The beer then was brewed at environmental temperature, a long process using lager yeast to produce an ale type beer.
Anchor Steam in San Francisco is a brewery still using this method for some of their beers.

Served on tap
Barley,hop,live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol: 5 %
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: dark orange
Bubbles: shortish head, fine bubbles, light orange hue
Aroma: Fruity, dry oraｎges, citruses
Taste: Dry and deep attack.
Bread.
Great acidity, very refreshing.
Varies little with food.

Overall: Very refreshing beer. Does not need to be overchilled.
Thanks to its acidity one can drink it for a long time without getting tired of it.
A discovery!

KURAYA-NARUSAWA

Izu no Kuni City, Naka, 272-1
伊豆の国市中272-1
Tel.: 055-949-1208
Opening hours (restaurant and souvenir shop): Monday~Thursday: 11:00~15:00, Friday: 11:00~22:00, Saturday, Sunday, National holidays: 10:00~22:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese only)

AOI BREWING

Temporary address:
AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK

Aoi Beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s two more restaurants in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi Naka Building, 5F
Tel.: 054-293-9331
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00 (Mon.~Thurs.), 17:00~27:00 (Fri & Sat.), 17:00~24:00 (Sun.)
Parties welcome (reserve!)
Credit Cards OK

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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
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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

Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Kikkawa Hachiman (吉川八幡神社) Shrine in Kitsunegasaki Chyo in Shimizu Ku, Shziuoka City!

October 9, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

If you board the Shizutetsu railway Line from Cenova department Store in Aoi Ku, shizuoka City towards Shimizu Ku, get off at Kitsunegazaki (狐ヶ崎) Station and walk above and across the Railway Line on your left and you will discover another isolated old shrine!

A placard stating that the old torii gate stood in a different spot!

You do have to walk around to find the round entrance!

The old side entrance from which the original torii gate has disappeared!

The general view of the shrine!

An ancient stone lantern hidden in the surrounding vegetation!

The stone hand washing basin with its roof!

The stone lanterns and lion guards denote its local importance!

The usual cloud and deer carvings!

Ans also the mountain carving!

The “smiling” guard lion on the left!

Its right front paw resting on a smaller lion!
One day I will have to find the reason for this!

The “roaring” guard lion on the right!

Its left front paw resting on a ball!

Old stone stairs climbing around the right of the front shrine!

Looking backward from the same stairs!

The front shrine building shaped as a gate bears the name of Hyahata Shrine/八幡神社!

Looking backward from under the first building!

This front building was erected in 1958!

Year of the Horse placard!

Interesting ancient map!

A small museum?

Local history!

The older shrine at the back with the bell cord and rice straw garland!

It certainly looks in service!

A small peak inside!

Roofing in good repair!

More history!

Good-bye Kikkawa Hachiman Shrine!

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sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Junmai Koshu (conducted at La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

October 8, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I don’t mind repeating it all the time but I prefer conducting sake tastings in the right environment but not many places are propitious for that exercise or willing to help.
But La Sommeliere in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City is certainly becoming a habit as not only I can conduct my tasting in the best conditions possible but also exchange views at the same time!

This is already my fifth shizuoka sake tasting article conducted there in the company of Mrs. Hiromi Hasegawa/長谷川浩美さん!

This time I tackled an extravagant 21-year old koshu/古酒/matured sake under the name of Garyubai by Sanawa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Berwed in 1993
Bottled in October 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden hue
Aroma: Assertive. Deep, dry and fruity.
dry persimmons, dry fruits and nuts, sherry
Body: fluid
Taste: dry, fruity and well-rounded attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol.
Complex. Tastes like an old white sherry.
Persimmons, dry nuts, dark chocolate.
Stays faithful to itself all the time, revealing more facets with the next sips.
very mature. Lingers on the palate like a great wine. Tends to take on drier turn with further sips with late appearance of chestnuts.

Overall: Would make for a wonderful aperitif as probably best enjoyed on its own. Drinks like an old white sherry.
If you wish to pair it with food, cheese, pork meats, smoked fish and chocolate desserts would most appropriate.
An extraordinary sake for tasting and pairing at gastronomic parties/events!

LA SOMMELIERE

420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 7-5, Aiseido Bldg, 1F
Tel. & Fax: 054-266-5085
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00
Closed on Sundays & National Holidays
Entirely non-smoking!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Bretagne, French gastronomy, Rennes

Gastronomic Destinations: France-Bretagne (5): Baron Rouge in Rennes City!

October 5, 2014 dragonlife 1 Comment

Service: very friendly, smiling and easy-going
Facilities & Equipment: Very clean overall. Superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking
Prices: Reasonable~slightly expensive
Strong points: Resolutely modern cuisine making great use of local products. Reasonable wine list. Beautiful decor

We were lucky indeed to discover Le Baron Rouge Restaurant in a back street of Rennes just before they opened for lunch as it can be pretty crowded very quickly and coming later without a reservation is just hopeless!

And they have the merit to clearly announce a daily-changing lunch menu!

Artisanal bread is just top-class in Rennes!

Veloute de radis noir et tempura de gambas/Black radish soup with scampi tempura!

Couteaux ail persil et sa mousseline d’artichauts/Razor shells in garlic and parsley with its artichoke mousseline!

Supreme de poulet, risotto aux champignons et chataignes, jus de volaille reduit tomate et persillade/Chicken fillet, mushrooms and chestnut risotto, poultry juices, tomato and parsley!

Roule de sardines, concasse de tomates, olives, capres, pesto de salicorns, mousseline de carottes/sardine roll, concasse made of tomatoes, olives, salicorne pesto and its carrot mousseline!

From another angle!

A real regional dessert!

fraiseset Chantilly vanillee/Strawberries with with vanilla chantilly!

I just love the sugar presentation with the expresso!

LE BARON ROUGE

35000 Rennes, 17 rue du Chapitre
Tel.: 0299790809
Reservations recommended

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Monjyu Yashiro (文殊社神社) & Atago (愛宕神社) Shrines in Sakurabashi Chyo in Shimizu Ku, Shziuoka City!

October 5, 2014 dragonlife 3 Comments

If you board the Shizutetsu railway Line from Cenova department Store in Aoi Ku, shizuoka City towards Shimizu Ku, get off at Sakurabashi (桜橋駅) Station and walk above and across the Railway Line on your left and you will discover an isolated old shrine!

Actually, like many other shrines in Japan, you will find not one, but two shrines!

This fairly new post indicates that it is a 村社/sonjya or village shinto shrine!

This is a very old shrine, indeed, dating back to Japan Feudal Era!

A real stone hand-washing basin!

The main shrine!

Venerable trees is a sure sign of the old age of the shrine!

Now I wonder what that very heavy metal lid is for? Probably the cover of a big fireplace for festivals?

Elegant stone lantern!

With the cloud and deer carvings as found in many other shrines!

And a mountain carving!

The other lantern seemed a lot older!

The lantern is just too old to figure out what that carving represents!

Now, that stone lantern is really new!

A “smiling” lion guard on the left!

Its “roaring” companion on the right!

The main shrine with its rice straw garland, its bell and its wooden money offerings box!

Monjyu Yashiro/文殊社 shrine!

The smaller and older shrine behind it!

Pity that such shrines at the back are unusually inaccessible!

From the other side!

The names of old benefactors!

This old shrine is not dedicated t the same deities!

This shrine dates back from the Tokugawa Ieyasu Lord Era!

Atago/愛宕 shrine!

Now, this is a truly old tree!

No wonder it is considered as a natural cultural asset by the City of Shizuoka!

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Bretagne, French gastronomy, Quimper City

Gastronomic Destinations: France-Bretagne (4): Le Bar Iode in Quimper City!

October 3, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Friendly and easy-going
Facilities & Equipment: Very clean overall. excellent washroom. Entirely non-smoking (but don’t stay near the entrance!
Prices: Reasonable~slightly expensive
Strong points: High-quality seafood. Good wine list. Modern gastronomy

Le Bar Iode’s name is a pun as the word “bar” both means “bar” and Blackbass”!
It is a resolutely modern establishment combining bar and restaurant.
One can drink there almost all day, but diners should remember that last food orders are before 21:00!

Lobster/homard salad!

Seafood is definitely their forte, and with the proximity of the sea, the crustaceans are especially top-class.
Bretagne vegetables being what they are, expect some great salads!

They do come with some modern dishes such this succulent langoustines/gambas served fried with a chorizo sauce!
Use your bread! LOL

We did arrive a bit too late to order all the dishes we wanted, but they still made the effort to serve this splendid assortment of smoked fish despite the closure of the kitchen and the departure of the chefs!

All in all, highly-recommended for a nice drink and a casual light meal!

Le Bar Iode
(Seafood Wine Bar)

29000 Quimper, 16, Quai du Steir
Tel.: 0298740607
Credit cards OK

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Kura, Shizuoka

Kura: Traditional Japanese Warehouse in Shizuoka Prefecture 23: Hon Tori, Shizuoka City!

October 3, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

“Kura” (in Japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditional Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urban/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.

thanks to the directions of my good friend, Atsuko Kurata, I found, atthe second attempt, this kura hidden along the Hon Tori Street in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

It is easy to miss as it is tucked away from the pavement at the end of a new car park, indicating it was probably the warehouse of a company that ceased to function. in such cases the Japanese owners of such abandoned businesses transform the area available into a car park.
I also noticed another minuscule kura in the front left corner.

Can you distinguish the small white door on the left?

The whole kura is quite big, so it must have been a commerce of a certain worth in the past!

The front is still in pretty good repair, so it must be used as a shed by the owners in the house in the same enclosure.

but the roof needs to be weeded!

For a better view beside the owners’ house!

On the other hand , the back looked pretty decrepit!

Cement plastering flaking away…

The back door lock is crudely blocked with cement.

I’m afraid the owners are not ready to spend money on plastering!

How long is it going to survive?

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sake, Sake Brewery, Shimada City

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-Oni Otome Sachi Junmai

October 1, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A couple years ago, Oomuraya Brewery in Shimada City came up with the idea to create a companion for their Oni Goroshi/Kill a Goblin brand and they came up with Oni Otome/Goblin Princess”!

It is a seasonal brand which appears 4 times a year with a different name and color.
Since this is Autumn, the color is brown-red and the name is “Sachi/幸/happiness”!

I tasted it with my new glass bought in Bretagne, France!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in September 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Banana, custard.
Body: fluid
Taste: Strong dry and fruity attack with puissant junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol.
Complex: custard, later dry almonds, macadamia nuts, lychees.
Dry junmai petillant stays strong all the way.
Changes little with food but for a drier note.
Alcohol tends to prove a higher presence than its normal content.
Late appearance of dry chestnuts.

Overall: A straightforward sake for dry sake lovers.
Marries well with any food.
Probably at its best with heavy BBQ or izakaya fare!

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