Category Archives: Japanese Beer

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird Newsletter (2013/12/27): A Beery Good Start to the New Year: Hatsujozo 2014 India Pale Lager

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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A Beery Good Start to the New Year: Hatsujozo 2014 India Pale Lager

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

It is a Baird Beer tradition to greet the dawn of each new year with a celebratory “First Brewed” (Hatsujozo) specialty beer. At the stroke of midnight on the evening of December 31, we — along with a host of other Baird Beer retailing establishments in Japan — pour this commemorative Hatsujozo and share it with our fellow beer enthusiasts in a toast to the New Year.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:

*Hatsujozo 2014 India Pale Lager (ABV 6.5%):

This year’s “First Brewed” is formulated as a hoppy India Pale Ale but fermented with a lager yeast, becoming an India Pale Lager. The grist bill combines floor-malted English Maris Otter and floor-malted Bohemian Pilsner malt in equal portions, and contains an additional dollop of German Munich malt. 65 IBUs of hops in the kettle (Millenium, Summit, GR Magnum, GR Cascade, Tettnanger) followed by a single round of dry-hopping in the conditioning tank with equal portions of all five hops leaves no doubt about the India Pale-nature of this brew. Fermentation with our house Lager yeast imparts a clean, round flavor characteristic of lager beers.

Hatsujozo 2014 India Pale Lager is available exclusively on draught (no bottles). Please join us at one of our Taproom pubs (Numazu Fishmarket, Nakameguro or Bashamichi) for fun and festive countdown parties on Tuesday, December 31. We will be pouring complimentary taster glasses of Hatsujozo India Pale Lager 2014 to all patrons for our New Year toast at midnight. Please note that our Harajuku Taproom will be closed New Year’s Eve.

We are now accepting orders from craft beer retailing pubs and restaurants in Japan for Hatsujozo 2014 India Pale Lager. Please contact the brewery office to reserve a keg and coordinate shipping arrangements.

Kampai to 2014!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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, Pierre.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

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/12/019): Holiday Season Special Releases: Jubilation Ale & Bakayaro! Ale

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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Holiday Season Special Releases: Jubilation Ale & Bakayaro! Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Life is a fleeting thing. Each of us is here but a very short time. The older we get, the more clearly we comprehend this inexorable reality. And despite the sometimes awful travails and the always regular monotony of life, it remains a mysteriously beautiful thing. The end-of-the-year holiday season provides wonderful occasion for reflection and appreciation of the joy of living.

At Baird Brewing, 0ur appreciation of this joy is manifested in a celebratory holiday season ale we call Jubilation Ale.

Baird Beer Holiday Season Special Releases:
*Jubilation Ale (7%):

This malty rich, festively red-hued ale derives its special character largely from the addition of two wonderful local ingredients: (1) fully ripened Japanese figs (ichijiku) and (2) cinnamon twigs culled from a local nikki tree. The full-bodied character combined with the attendant alcohol strength will warm the flesh just as it brings jubilation to the soul.

Jubilation Ale is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles (360 ml). It begins pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (Thursday, December 19).

If joyous celebration this holiday season is simply beyond your capacity, we fully understand. There is a Grinch in all of us and it needs recognition too. For the Grinch inside you, we proudly release Bakayaro! Ale.

*Bakayaro! Ale (8.5%):

This insolent, snotty and mean-spirited brew is pungently hoppy and wickedly strong. High in malt gravity (18.2 Plato), bitter in hoppiness (90 IBU), aggressive in aroma (double dry-hopping with five varieties: Sorachi Acd, Summit, Citra, Chinook, Centennial), Bakayaro! Ale just doesn’t give a rat’s ass. And this year, he is the confused and conflicted love-child of a multiple fermentation orgy between two different yeast strains — one Belgian and one Scottish. And you thought your life was crazy!

We invite you to visit a Baird Taproom this evening, have a pint and let those around know exactly how you feel — joyful or otherwise! Bakayaro! Ale is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles (360 ml).

I am happy to report that we are making very good progress in the construction of our new brewery in Shuzenji. Our custom-designed German manufactured brewing equipment began arriving on site this past Monday and Hori-san and team are busy positioning it within the brewery even as I write. Please check out our photo gallery on Facebook from time to time for a visual update: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.733443336672214.1073741827.117149904968230&type=3&uploaded=6.

Lead brewer Chris will be updating the photo gallery more extensively later this weekend. If things continue on course, we expect to be brewing in the new facility sometime in April 2014. Our current brewery equipment will be relocated to Shuzenji and reinstalled there by the end of May 2014. The grand opening celebration likely will be held in June 2014.

Holiday Season Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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, Pierre.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

Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

BBC Beer Fest at BLUE BOOKS cafe in Shizuoka City: The Beers!

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SN3O5429

Service: Very friendly, smiling and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Superb washroom in same building separated from the cafe.
Prices: Reasonable for such big servings!
Strong points: Very generous cafe/bistro multi-genred gastronomy. Great variety. Great products. Entirely non-smoking in very modern atmosphere. Great books!

SN3O5423

On Friday BLUE BOOKS cafe in Shizuoka held their first BBC Beer Fest and I decided to conduct a tasting of all the beers offered on an all-you-can-drink deal for 2 two hours/2,500 yen (including one snack)!

SN3O5433

I went there early enough around 18:00 but the event lasted until 24:00 in a very easy manner with customers coming in regularly instead of crowding the place all at once!

SN3O5424

The menus!

SN3O5430

Except for the Kirin Ichiban Shibori and the Cider, all beers were brewed by Jyourokuno NEST Brewery in Ibaraki Prefecture!

SN3O5431

All extra food was priced at 500 yen for generous portions!

SN3O5426

I tasted the beers in the order advised by the manager Kondo san!

AMARILLO FRESH

Limited edition, only 200 small barrels produced.

Alcohol: 4.5 degrees
Clarity: Slightly smoky
Color: Light orange
Foam: Long head, very fine bubbles
Aroma: Fresh and flowery
Taste: Dry and fruity. Citruses. Very refreshing

SN3O5427

WHITE ALE

Belgian type with added coriander and orange peels

Alcohol: 5.5 degrees
Clarity: Smoky
Color: Whitish yellow
Foam: Long head. Very fine bubbles
Aroma: Spicy. Herbs
Taste: Fruity and herbal Lingers smoothly for quite a while. Very refreshing

SN3O5428

BROOKLYN LAGER

Brewed under American license

Alcohol: 5.2 degrees
Clarity: Very clear
Color: Orange
Foam: Long head. Fine bubbles
Aroma: Bread, roasted nuts
Taste: Dry caramel. Bread. Assertive. Deep, dry and refreshing. Stands well too food

SN3O5429

EXTRA HIGH

Matured in cask for 1 year

Alcohol: 8 degrees
Clarity: Slightly smoky
Color: Dark orange
Foam: Long head. Very fine bubbles
Aroma: Bread, dry roasted nuts
Taste: Dark Ale Type. Dry and deep. Bread, caramel, dry roasted nuts. Marries well with food. Very refreshing but solid at the same time. Pleasant alcohol

SN3O5434

KIRN ICHIBAN SHIBORI

Premium Beer/Braumeister

Alcohol: 5.5 degrees
Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden
Foam: Longish head. Coarse bubbles
Aroma: Herbal
Taste: Dry. refreshing. Thirst quencher. herbs, dry bread and nuts. Stays extremely dry all the way through. Better than “usual” big breweries beers

SN3O5435

STRONGBOW CIDER

English cider

Alcohol: 4.2 degrees
Clarity: Very clear
Color: darkish golden
Foam: Very short head. Coarse bubbles
Aroma: Dry apples
Taste: Very dry cider. Very clean and refreshing. Dry apples.

BLUE BOOKS cafe
420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki-Cho, 4-6, Den Bldg 1F (5~10 minutes walk straight ahead from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit, around the corner at the large crossroads)
Tel.: 054-280-7644
Opening hours: 11:00~14:30 (lunch), 14:30^17:30 (cafe), 17:30~23:00 (dinner)
Entirely non-smoking!

Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOK
Twitter: @BlueBooksCafe

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, Pierre.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

美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/11/29): Seasonal Release: Smoke & Fire Habanero Stout

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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Seasonal Release: Smoke & Fire Habanero Stout

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Brewing to delicious effect using unusual and non-traditional ingredients is a hallmark of the Baird Brewery. Our success can be attributed to a few simple rules of thumb: (1) use fresh in-season ingredients, (2) use the ingredients in their most natural and minimally processed form, (3) subject the ingredients to the fermentation process, (4) don’t overdo it — use to accent and complement, not to dominate or overwhelm.

To give you a taste of these rules in practice we are pleased to release from our seasonal Baird Beer cellar Smoke & Fire Habanero Stout.

Seasonal Baird Beer Release:
*Smoke & Fire Habanero Stout (5.5%):

Draught beer manager Chris Madere has long been growing spicy Habanero peppers in his home garden. They often find their way into batches of Taproom chili or gumbo. Well, they began finding their way into Baird Beer back in 2011 — the year we debuted Smoke & Fire Habanero Stout.

Stouts are black roasty beers with a natural smoke component. We highlight and enhance the smoke character here by incorporating beechwood smoked barley as the main base malt. What is smoke without a little fire? We produce ours through deft additions of homegrown sliced and de-seeded Chocolate and Caribbean Red Habanero peppers — once before primary fermentation and once before secondary fermentation. Smoke & Fire Habanero Stout exhibits a perfectly balanced interplay between burnt smoke and spicy heat. The masterful part is that these strong flavors do not invite palate fatigue. The second pint is every bit as delicious as the first! Taste for yourself.

Smoke & Fire Habanero Stout is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles. It begins pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (Friday November 29).

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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, Pierre.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

Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

BBC BEER FEST at BLUE BOOKS cafe in Shizuoka City! November 29th!

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BLUE-BOOKS-BEER-FEST

PLACE: BLUE BOOKS cafe, Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki-Cho, 4-6, Den Bill 1F (5~10 minutes walk from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit)
DATE: Friday, November 29th, 2013
TIME: 17:00~
DEAL: All you ca drink within 2 hours + 1 food for 2,500 yen. 500 yen extra per extra food.

BLUE-BOOKS-BEER-FESTa

On Friday 29th, you will be able to taste no less than 6 carefully chosen craft beers and 1 cider, all you can drink for 2 hours, for a very reasonable price at BLUE BOOKS cafe in Shizuoka City!
Extra foods include shrimps 6 Avocada Cerviche, TEX-MEX Potato Salad, Country Captain, Home-made beef jerky, Quesadilla, Pulled pork, Mac Cheese, etc…

A great occasion to enjoy superlative craft beer in great company in a very cool and superbly clean establishment!

BLUE BOOKS cafe
420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki-Cho, 4-6, Den Bldg 1F (5~10 minutes walk straight ahead from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit, around the corner at the large crossroads)
Tel.: 054-280-7644
Opening hours: 11:00~14:30 (lunch), 14:30^17:30 (cafe), 17:30~23:00 (dinner)
Entirely non-smoking!

Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOK
Twitter: @BlueBooksCafe

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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

Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/11/22): Seasonal Release: West Coast Wheat Wine

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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Seasonal Release: West Coast Wheat Wine

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

November is the month in which the end-of-the-year holiday season generally kicks off. At Baird Brewing we have celebrated the inauguration of this festive season each year since 2001 with the release of a most pleasingly inebriating ale — West Coast Wheat Wine.

New Seasonal Baird Beer Releases:
*West Coast Wheat Wine (ABV 9.5%):

Wheat Wine is a beer style born on the U.S. West Coast in the 1980s, thought to have been originally brewed at the Rubicon brewery-pub in Sacramento, California. It has as its progenitor the British Barely Wine style. A Wheat Wine, generally, is characterized by a rich and hearty complexity that is lightened and made a touch sprite by a predominantly wheat, rather than barley, malt base. It is a style representative of the irreverent creativity and unrelenting passion that are hallmarks of craft brewing on the West Coast of the United States. Baird West Coast Wheat Wine is crafted in annual homage to the skilled brewing artisans and fearless beer entrepreneurs who have pioneered craft brewing on America’s great West Coast!

West Coast Wheat Wine contains no character malt whatsoever, only loads of floor-malted Maris Otter (45% of grist), malted wheat (50%) and raw wheat from Shikoku (5%). The color is a wonderfully hazy hue of sunset gold. The flavor is characterized by a deep, layered wheat complexity that is punctuated by a clean and crisply fruity hop character (exclusive use of U.S. West Coast grown hops: Summit, Galena, Citra, Sorachi Ace). At packaging, West Coast Wheat Wine is krausened to add further flavor complexity and to produce a piquant but soft all-natural carbonation.

West Coast Wheat Wine is available for shipment immediately (kegs as well as 360 ml bottles) and begins pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (Thursday, November 21).

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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

レシピ, 美食, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 農業, Food, Food and Drink Blogs, Food Blogs, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japan drink Blogs, Japan Food Blogs, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Life, Life in Japan, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka Sake, Shizuoka Seafood, Tourism, 日本, 日本美食

Food & Drinks Bloggers in Japan (as of November 2013)

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The number of foreigners and Japanese nationals who write about the food and drinks in Japan in English (or at least answer comments in English) has remarkably increased lately.
I thought it was about time to start some kind of round-up to help people discover these deserving foodies and their blogs!The list below is far from exhaustive, but I’m planning to update and announce it regularly!
Of course if you know more foodies residing in Japan, do please direct them to me and I will introduce them gladly!

HOKKAIDO TRIBE

(Hokkaido Island)

Hokkaido Kudasai by Melinda
Meishu no Yutaka by Carlin
The Best of Sapporo by Ben!
Handshakes And Hellos

TOHOKU TRIBE
(Northeastern Japan: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima)
Cooking with Mama Miyuki in Sendai
A Picky Eater’s Guide To Sendai Grub

KANTO TRIBE

(Eastern Japan: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa)

Life in the Land of the Rising Sun by kate minor in Saitama
Cooking in Japan
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
Watch Japan by Mike Kato in Tokyo.
Erik in Nihon
Adventures in Japan
TOKYOBLING BOG
Japan-Hub.Com
Japan Eat’s Videos
Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton
Watch Japan in Tokyo
Little Japan Mama in Tokyo
Japan Eats (featured on request)
47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities By Sara and Roshni in Tokyo
Eating Out in Tokyo with Dominic
Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass by Melinda Joe in Tokyo
Tokyo Foodcast by Etsuko Nakamura in Tokyo
Tokyo Food Page
Sake World by John Gauntner in Tokyo: The inernational Reference for Japanese Sake!
Tokyo Terrace by Rachael in Tokyo
Gaijin Tonic in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture
Nonjatta by Chris Bunting in Tokyo
The Soul Of Japan in Kanagawa Prefecture
Sake, kimono and Tabi In Tokyo
Tokyo Kawai, Etc… in Tokyo
Blue Lotus in Tokyo
The Japanese Food Report by Harris Salat in Tokyo
The Sake Chronicles in Tokyo
Watashi to Tokyo by Mari Kanazawa in Tokyo
Japanese Food-Food Lover’s Guide by Yukari Yamamoto in Tokyo
Gaijin Life by a Canadian gentleman in Tokyo (in Japanese)
Leo’s Japan Food Blog in Tokyo
Eating Out In Tokyo With Jon
Fugu Tabetai in Tokyo
Japan Style in Tokyo
COCO’s Oriental Kitchen by angela Cooper in Tokyo
Free Online Japanese Food Recipes in Tokyo
Reminiscence in Tokyo
Cooking Japanese Style By Naoko, in Tokyo
Japan Farmers Market in Tokyo by Joan
Ramen By Shoe
Rameniac
In Praise of Izakaya
Onsen Addict
Follow Rory
Food For Life by a Myanmar resident
Good and Bad Japan’s Blog
Hello Sandwich
Japan Newbie
Japanese Snack reviews

CHUBU TRIBE

(Central Japan: Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi)

Navigating Nagoya by Paige
Passport, Tickets and a Suitcase by Hiedi in Shizuoka City
Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonbayashi in Shizuoka City!
Damonde Life by Matt Ryan in Hamamatsu & Enshu, shizuoka Prefecture
Mangantayon in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Gourmet, Shizuoka Sake, Shizuoka Sushi, Shizuoka Shochu in Shizuoka Prefecture
Bryan Baird’s Beer & Brewery in Numazu in Shizuoka Prefecture
A Modern Girl from Niigata and all over Japan!

KANSAI TRIBE

(Western Japan: Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Kyoto, Wakayama)

MANNIYOT by Manokan in Osaka
Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
Yellin Yakimono Gallery by Robert Yellin in Shizuoka Prefecture, just moved to Kyoto!
Colorfood Daidokoro in Osaka (English & French)
Nagaijin in Osaka
Kyoto Foodie in Kyoto
Our Adventures in Japan by K and S Minoo in Osaka
Japan Food Addict by Mai in Kyoto
Kyoto Food Page
Osaka/Kobe Food Page

CHUGOKU

(“Central Country”: Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi)

“Made in Matsue” in Shimane prefecture
San’in Monogatari by Buri Chan in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture
Get Hiroshima Blog in Hiroshima
The Wide Island Review, The JET Programme Webzine Of Hiroshima Prefecture (includes food & drink articles)

SHIKOKU

(Shikoku Island: Kagawa, Kochi, Ehime, Tokushima)

Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony in Kochi Prefecture
Still Clumsy With Chopsticks in Kochi Prfecture (Continuation of Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony)
Rocking in Hakata by Deas Richardson

KYUSHU

(Kyushu Island: Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)

Finding Fukuoka
Food from Fukuoka, Kyushu and Japan by Fumiko Soda
Fukuoka Sake Guide by Daisuke Ito
Quixotidienne in Kagoshima Prefecture
Christine Molero in Kyushu & elsewhere
Alishan on the Move in Fukuoka

OKINAWA

(Okinawa Archipelago)

HWN Pake in Okinawa in Chatan, Okinawa
I’m sorry to say that Nate has just passed away and that his blog has disappeared, but I’ll keep it there as it is in his memory!
English Bento Box
Dojo Bar in Naha
Eating Okinawa
Okinawa Hai!
Total Okinawa

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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: 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

Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, 酒, 静岡県, 観光, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/11/14): New Seasonal Release: Momiji Imperial Belgian Red Ale

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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New Seasonal Release: Momiji Imperial Belgian Red Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

As we move deep into the autumn season and inch closer to winter a brisk nip in the air has arrived. To the beer enthusiast, this is the signal to break out the heavy hitting, higher alcohol brews from the cellar. We are doing just that with today’s release of a supremely complex and quietly potent Belgian-style ale: Momiji Imperial Belgian Red Ale.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Momiji Imperial Belgian Red Ale (ABV 8.5%):

If the genius of British brewing is full flavor in low-alcohol session-able ales, the brilliance of Belgian brewing lies in powerful high-alcohol beers that manage yet to be bright and effervescent. This is exactly what Momiji Imperial Belgian Red Ale manages to be. It is sprightly potent.

One key to achieving strength in beer without heaviness is to substitute a portion of the malt grist with a highly ferment-able sugar. This is precisely what we have done with Momiji Imperial Belgian Red Ale — adding Japanese akato (red) sugar to our kettle boil in place of 15% of the mash malt. A small portion of rye malt in the grist serves to accentuate the spicy character imparted by fermentation with our Belgian yeast strain. The hopping is bold and complex — we combine six varieties (Galena, Citra, Wakatu, Tradition, East Kent Golding, Fuggle) in the kettle and re-introduce all of them to the beer post fermentation in a dry-hopping addition.

Momiji Imperial Belgian Red Ale is dangerously quaffable, but we recommend a sipping and savoring approach. It is draught-only (no bottles) and available for immediate shipment from our Numazu brewery. It begins pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (Thursday, November 14).

Tonight also marks the Taproom debut of a special single-hop hand-pump real ale: Fuggle ESB (5.5%). Fuggle, of course, is one of the two classic and storied English aroma hops (the other being Kent Golding). What better way to feature it than in a classically brewed English-style Extra Special Bitter. Fuggle ESB is available exclusively at our Taproom pubs.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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: 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

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/10/28): Seasonal Release: Country Girl Kabocha Ale

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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Seasonal Release: Country Girl Kabocha Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

We are pleased to release today the 12th anniversary edition of a deliciously down-to-earth autumn seasonal ale — Country Girl Kabocha Ale. The inspiration for Country Girl was my urbane yet wonderfully country-spirited mother, Sally Eshelman Baird. Fall was her favorite season and it is when my memories of her are most poignant.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Country Girl Kabocha Ale 2013 (ABV 6.5%):

Kabocha is a Japanese pumpkin-like squash the taste of which is elegantly sweet. This year’s kabocha was grown on our new brewery property in Shuzenji. 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 fermentable sugars. 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 fermentation, 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!

Country Girl is draught only this year. We will return to bottling it next year when we enjoy a larger kabocha harvest.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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: 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

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/10/22): Baird-Shiga Kogen Hop Fest Collaboration Ale

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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Baird-Shiga Kogen Hop Fest Collaboration Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Passion and authenticity are hallmark traits of craft brewing. So too is the spirit of friendly cooperation and genuine camaraderie among artisan brewers. This spirit has manifested itself of late in what has become known as ‘collaboration brewing’ — the joint effort between breweries of conceptualizing, formulating and then brewing an original beer together. We were honored to be able to collaborate with our brewer friends at Shiga Kogen recently in just such an endeavor.

We at Baird Brewing love the hop and we steadfastly have been committed to using it only in its most minimally processed whole flower form. Sato-san and his crew at Shiga Kogen have been pioneers in the revival of small-scale hop cultivation in Japan. Before this year’s hop harvest I suggested to Sato-san that we brew a beer together at the Baird Brewery in Numazu, the recipe for which would be designed based on the exclusive use of whole flower hops harvested at the Shiga Kogen hop yard in Nagano prefecture. He said ‘yes.’ Collaboration on!

The Shiga Kogen brewers were up at the crack of dawn on Saturday, August 24. They busied themselves picking hops in the pouring rain to drive to Numazu for immediate use that day in the Baird Brewery kettle and whirlpool tank. Freshly picked non-dried hops are called ‘wet’ hops and they must be used in very short order or they will begin to mold. Well, from Nagano hop yard to Shizuoka brew kettle, only 6-7 hours passed. We dumped roughly 12 kg of Shiga Kogen wet hops into our brew system — several times the normal usage of dried hops. We also added around 2 kg of dried Shiga Kogen hops from the previous harvest. Shinshuwase, a Japanese variety, was the main hop used. Two hops of mysterious origin, one thought to be of American pedigree and one European, also were put into action.

Sato-san and I designed Hop Fest Collaboration Ale with two things in mind — the hop harvest and the autumn season. The autumn season is reflected in Hop Fest’s deep mahogany color as well as its rich malty flavor. So as to leave the spotlight on hop character and malt flavor, we kept the wort gravity moderate at 12.45 Plato and the final alcohol content reasonable at 5.3%. As a fortuitous finish, we were able to harvest a bit of our own first-year hops (mostly from Shinshuwase and Cascade rhizomes gratefully received from Shiga Kogen), planted on our new brewery grounds in Shuzenji, and to add them as a dry-hop addition to the post-fermentation conditioning tank. Hop Fest Collaboration Ale is unfiltered, secondarily fermented in package and naturally carbonated. It is a delicious symbol of what people can achieve when working joyously together.

Hop Fest Collaboration Ale will be debuted at a kick-off party to be held at the Nakameguro Taproom this Thursday, October 24. Brewers from Baird and Shiga Kogen will lead an initial kanpai at 7:00 pm and be available to talk about the collaboration and field any of your questions. Shiga Kogen beer and hops will be the themes at the Nakameguro Taproom from Thursday through Sunday (November 27). In addition to Hop Fest Collaboration Ale, three other Shiga Kogen hop-harvest ales will be on tap: Miyama Blonde Harvest Brew, Harvest Saison, and “Even Prime” White IPA Harvest Brew. Baird will contribute to the hop theme with two small-batch German single-hop brews: Magnum Single-Hop Ale and Perle Single-Hop Ale.

Chef Joon is getting into the act too, featuring three unique dishes made in part with Nagano and Shizuoka ingredients: (1) Wild Boar and Yam Goulash with Malted Whole Wheat Bread (paired with Hop Fest Collaboration Ale), (2) Shio-ika and Kama-age Chirimen Pizza (paired with Miyama Blonde Harvest Brew, and (3) Homemade Deer Sausage with Soba Spaeztle (paired with Harvest Saison). The shio-ika and chirimen for the pizza are from Nagano and Shizuoka, respectively. The deer for the sausage is from our new brewery neighborhood in Izu, and the soba flour is from Nagano.

Please plan to join us at the Nakameguro Taproom this weekend and help us to make the celebration as collaborative (and fun) as was the brewing!

Hop Fest Collaboration Ale will also be served on draught, beginning Friday, October 25 at the following loyal and long-time customers of Baird and Shiga Kogen: Popeye, Good Beer Faucets, Finlaggan, Tir’na’nog, Four Hearts Cafe, Craft Beer Market Toranomon, Beer Yokota, Beer Bar Maru Maru, Bulldog, Grow Stock, Banji Kaicho, Vivo, Kamikaze, Craft Beer Base, Beer House Ken, Gold’n Bub, Okadaya, Towers and Craft Beer Bar. The bottle-conditioned version will be available in limited supply through our Japan network of Sakaya retailers also beginning Friday, October 25.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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: 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

Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/10/17): Latest Seasonal Releases: Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale and O-Bosan Ale

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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Latest Seasonal Releases: Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale and O-Bosan Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Unlike industrial beer, where summer reigns supreme, craft beer truly is a beverage of all seasons. That said, fall — with its crisp and brisk weather — strikes us as a quintessentially good season for the enjoyment of the robustly full-flavored ales that typify craft beer. We are excited to announce today’s release of two such autumn ales: Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale and O-Bosan Ale.

Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:

*Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale (ABV 6%):

To baseball fans, October means World Series (also known as the “Fall Classic”) time. To me, the annual Fall Classic invariably brings back boyhood memories of watching and rooting for the great “Big Red Machine” Cincinnati teams of 1975 and 1976 World Series fame. Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale was brewed initially in 2005 as a 30-year tribute to the Cincinnati Reds World Series championship team of 1975 (they beat the Boston Red Sox in a dramatic 7-game series). We continue to brew it annually because it is such a fine beer and it is the perfect libation to enjoy while taking in the Fall Classic. While my Cincinnati Reds will not be challenging for the World Series ring this year, I still will be glued to the tube each evening, sipping on a Big Red Machine and enjoying one of the world’s great sporting events.

Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale is brawny in the depth and richness of its malt character, and balanced beautifully by a spicy and sprite hop essence. Much as the rare combination of power and finesse was a hallmark of the Big Red Machine on the field, so too is it a hallmark of Big Red Machine in the glass!

Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale is keg only this year — we will return to bottling it again next year at our new brewery. It begins pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (Thursday, October 17). It is available for immediate shipment to other craft beer serving establishments throughout Japan.

*O-Bosan Ale (ABV 7%):

The Belgian beer landscape is dotted with monastic breweries that have created many unique beer styles over the long course of their brewing history. One such style is a Belgian Dubbel. Dark red to brown in color, Dubbels tend to be relatively strong in gravity and alcohol, medium in body, with flavor notes of caramel, chocolate and pit fruit.

If this style had been brewed in Japan, it undoubtedly would have been crafted by some beer-loving sect of Buddhist monks (O-Bosan). Sadly, it hadn’t been. The Baird brewers have stepped in to fill the void. Our O-Bosan Ale is a celebration of the religious history that informs large segments of beer culture. May it help you to find your inner being!

O-Bosan Ale is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles (360 ml).

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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: 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!
-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

Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Oktober Fest 2013 at Growstock in Shizuoka City on October 14th!

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SN3O4793

Service: very lively and friendly.
Facilities: great cleanliness overall.
Prices: reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Beer from all over the world. Outside terrace. Local microbrewery beer available in some quantities.

OKTOBER-FEST-1a

Growstock (part of Beck Co Ltd. with Mando and Aoi Beer Stand) will hold its Oktober Fest for the 5th time running on October 14th!

SN3O4794

October 14th is on a Tuesday, but since it is a National Holiday you are left with no excuse, especially in the light that it will held in the afternoon from 13:00 to 19:00.
Rerserve your seat outside on the terrace!

SN3O4795

Advance all you can drink and eat Food & Drinks Tickets are sold for 4,000 yen. If you buy 4 tickets you will be offered a limited edition T Shirt!
Only 40 tickets available so hurry!
Otherwise all drinks and food can be bought for 600 yen a piece (tickets to be bought at the entrance only) on the premises on the day!

SN3O4796

GROW STOCK
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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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: 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!
-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

Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/10/08): The Flavors of Fall — Joie de Vivre Golden Ale & Fall Fest Lager

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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The Flavors of Fall — Joie de Vivre Golden Ale & Fall Fest Lager

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Fall is my favorite season. I love the clean crispness in the air and the brightness of the season’s colors. Fall is the season for celebration of nature’s harvest. We are honoring the autumn season this year with two special brews: Joie de Vivre Golden Ale and Fall Fest Lager.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Joie de Vivre Golden Ale (6.5%):

If beer is good at one thing it is helping people to feel the joy of the moment. The Belgians are perhaps the best at putting their beer and culinary culture to the service of joyful living. Joie de Vivre Golden Ale is our tribute to Belgium’s joyous beer culture. It is a richly hued golden ale of simple makeup — three base malts (floor-malted Maris Otter, Pilsner and Munich) and one sugar (Japanese sudakito). The hopping is more complex — five earthy, herbal varieties (Millenium, Sterling, Willamette, Fuggle, Styrian Golding) are added in combination both to the kettle and to the conditioning tank. Fermentation is warm (around 25 C), carried out by our house Belgian strain. Attenuation is high; the beer is dry. Each sip will bring a happy reminder of the joie de vivre.

Joie de Vivre Golden Ale is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles.

*Fall Fest Lager (5.8%):

If the Belgians are best at putting beer to the service of joyful living, the Germans are a close second. Fall Fest Lager is our version of a classic German Marzen lager. The color is the amber-red of the fall foliage. Richly malty in flavor, the body is round and soft. The finish is clean and pleasingly unctuous. This is the taste of of autumn in Bavaria.

Fall Fest Lager also is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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: 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!
-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

Baird Beer, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Baird Beer Brewery-Numazu Lager

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Baird Beer owned by Bryan Baird in Numazu City is not only a household name but a truly internationally-recognized brewery in spite of its relatively short history.
Living in Shizuoka Prefecture makes it easy to get their brews as more and more local sake shops are marketing them!

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We are also blessed with beautiful labels which are sale at a bigger size for the pleasure of collectors.
This particular label is an abstract rendition of Numazu City harbor!

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Product name: Baird Beer-Numazu Ale
Unfiltered
Ingredients: (German) malt, barley, sugars, hops, yeast
Volume: 360 ml
Alcohol: 5%
Process: Unfiltered. Double fermentation for natural bubbles. Live yeast

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Clarity: Slightly smoky but very clean aspect
Color: Orange, color deeper than usual lagers
Foam: Fairly long head. Light bubbles
Aroma: Bread, oranges
Taste: Well rounded, deep and rich attack.
Very clean impression.
Complex.
Bread, oranges.
Very refreshing though not a thirst-quenching beer.
Welcome acidity.
Pleasantly lingers for a while on a drier note with more oranges and hints of nuts and persimmon.
persimmon actually tends to take over the oranges on the second sip with more welcome acidity.

Overall: Very refreshing but deep beer.
Usually I conduct my beer tastings in the afternoons when my palate is not influenced by any food or else. This beer has the the gratifying quality of welcoming you with a nourishing feeling!
Accordingly I would advise all true beer lovers to drink it at ease to fully enjoy its rich and utterly rewarding taste.
Good, I should say great, beers should be drunk on their own and Bryan Baird is known all over the world for its sublime brews!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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: 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!
-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

Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/09/04): Baird Beer Seasonal Release — Wheat King Wit

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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Baird Beer Seasonal Release — Wheat King Wit

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Ingredient experimentation in brewing is one of the key elements to innovation and flavor improvement. Brewing single-hop beers that share an identical recipe and differ only in hop variety is one way that we experiment with ingredients to understand particular flavor contributions. Fermenting a regular year-round beer with a different yeast strain than usual is another way we conduct this experimentation. Today we are happy to share with you the results of one of the latter experiments: Wheat King Wit.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Wheat King Wit (ABV 4%):

Wheat King Ale, of course, is one of our current ten year-round beers. It is a beer designed to highlight the crisp, wholesome, bread-like characteristics imparted by wheat as opposed to barley, which normally dominates a recipes’ grist bill. Wheat King Ale is fermented with our house ale yeast, which is a very flavor-neutral strain (i.e. it ferments clean without imparting distinctly noticeable flavor attributes of its own).

Wheat King Wit, as the name implies, is our Wheat King Ale recipe fermented with a Belgian witbier yeast strain (the same one we use to ferment Single-Take Session Ale). Witbier yeast strains tend to impart distinctive fruit and phenolic flavors in the course of fermentation. Our witbier strain is more restrained than some, but the flavor difference between Wheat King Ale and Wheat King Wit is clear and interesting.

We are now accepting orders for Wheat King Wit. It is keg-only and will begin pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (Wednesday, September 4). By all means, avail yourself of this valuable beer tasting 101 flavor comparison opportunity — Wheat King Wit beside Wheat King Ale. Can you taste the difference? What is your preference?

And we have a special late-summer beer treat for our Taproom patrons — Chris’ Garden Cascade Hop Ale (4.5%). Draught beer manager Chris Madere’s home hop garden has just been through its third harvest, and as is often the case in hop growing, the third year is the charm. Chris’ 2013 organically grown Cascade hops were his best and most plentiful to date. We loaded about 500 grams of them in our 250 liter kettle in three different additions. We dosed another 400 grams in the conditioning tank in an aroma-imparting dry-hop addition. The base beer is a light golden ale of moderate starting gravity (11.7 Plato).

Chris’ Garden Cascade Hop Ale is available exclusively at Baird Taproom pubs and begins its run through our British real ale hand pumps tonight. Enjoy, and drink one to Chris!

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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: 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!
-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