Category Archives: Shizuoka City

Craft Beer, Japanese Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Alt (June 2015 Version)

June 17, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Without being beforehand announced another Aoi Brewing Co. (Shizuoka City) “regular” craft beer is being served on the tap with quite a few modifications!

Alt!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Crystal malt, Munich malt, Black malt, Chocolate malt, Australian galaxy Hop, Sylva hop, Select hop,live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5.3%
Bubbles: very fine bubbles Longish, white color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: very dark brown (color deeper than previous Alt)
Aroma: Deep, almost fruity. Bread, light caramel
Taste: Deep and pleasant approach. little acidity and plenty of dryish fruit (less dry and with more fruit than previous Alt).
Bread, biscuits, light caramel, coffee beans, dry chocolate.
Full body. drinks vey easily.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with more coffee beans and chocolate.
Stays true to first impression all the way through.

Overall: The kind of beer all genders will appreciate all year round.
Refreshing, complex and utterly satisfying.
Great on it own but would superbly marry with salty and fermented foods!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00, 17:00~26:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome
FACEBOOK

BEER GARAGE

Aoi Brewing Co.,Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyagasaki Chyo, 30
Tel.: 054-294-8911
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00 (Monday~Friday), 15:00~23:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesdays
COD, Cash On Delivery only for all orders.
MAP
FACEBOOK

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
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant 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
FACEBOOK

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Craft Beer, Japanese Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Suruga Elegant Oranges Ale

June 10, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

At last the long-awaited Aoi Brewing Co. ‘s new fruit beer made with local oranges is available on tap at AOI BEER STAND, BEER GARAGE and Beer Junkies Motel in shizuoka City!

Suruga Elegant Ale!
Suruga Elegant are a variety of !Amanatsu” oranges grown in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Bear in mind that it is extremely limited:
only 2 barrels each at AOI BEER STAND and Beer Junkies Motel and 9 more at BEER GARAGE.
They won’t last until the end of the week, so hurry!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Pilsner malt, Topaz hop, Willamette hop, Suruga Elegant oranges peels and juice live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 4.3%
Bubbles: very fine bubbles Longish, white color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: dark lemon/light orange color
Aroma: refreshing, dry oranges
Taste: very refreshing attack with beautiful and fruity acidity.
Complex. Oranges, lemon, orange peels.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with more lemon and orange peels.
Stays true to first impression all the way through.
No need to drink it with food!

Overall: very refreshing and elegant (no pun!) fruit beer enhanced by beautiful acidity.
So easy to drink and the more for it that the alcohol content is moderate.
Will appeal to both genders at any tine of the day during the hotter days.
Pity that it is so limited in production!
Another craft beer to look forward to next year!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

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
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Craft Beer, Japanese Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Slight Stout (July 2015 new version)

June 9, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

AOI BEER STAND has just started a new craft beer completely unannounced as it is a bit of a “revenge” craft beer version of a stout which never satisfied the master brewer’s exacting standards!

Slight Stout!
As it bears no special name, I called it (with Aoi Brewing’s agreement) “July 2015 New version”!

Served on tap
Barley and wheat, Maris Otter malt, Crystal malt, Low Step Valley malt, Australian Galaxy hop, Sylva hop, live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5%
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Long head, creamy, milk coffee color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: very dark brown
Aroma: very dry. Dry coffee beans, bread
Taste: very refreshing attack with plenty of pleasant acidity.
Complex. Coffee beans, dark caramel.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on a gentler note.
Stays true to first impressions all the way through.
Varies little with food.

Overall: True stout and such an improvement on already excellent craft beer!
Aoi Brewing’s beers are definitely coming to maturity!
Should please both genders at all times of the day and year, but especially in late afternoons with food or on its own.
Would beautifully pair with meats, meats in sauce, sweet and sour pork!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

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
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Craft Beer, Japanese Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Belgian Subtle IPA!

June 3, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

New craft beers are coming out thick and fast from Aoi Brweing in Shizuoka City!

The latest one is a version of the recent Subtle IPA: Belgian Subtle IPA!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Munich malt, Crystal malt, Australian Galaxy hop, Kent Holding hop, Belgian Trappiste Yeast, Hoegarden Kindan no Kajitsu yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 6.3%
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Long head, creamy, light orange white
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: deep orange color
Aroma: dry and fruity. Oranges, bread
Taste: deep and dry fruity attack with pleasant acidity.
Complex. Oranges, bread.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on a drier note with more pleasant acidity.
Varies little with food.
Oranges make a regular and strong appearance with every sip.

Overall: very refreshing, deep, satisfying with plenty of welcome acidity.
Splendid fruity IPA!
Another intriguing version of already a superb IPA.
No need for food!
Bear in mind that Aoi Brewing is coming up now with two types of IPA great for comparison!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

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
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Craft Beer, Japanese Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Honnori Ocha Ale/Honnori Green Tea Ale!

May 29, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Decidedly, Aoi Brewing Co. in Shizuoka City is evnturing in local agricultural products!
After Shimizu Harumi Oranges, they have just released “Honnori Ocha Ale”, that is an ale concocted with green tea from Shizuoka Prefecture!
The green tea is provided by Yamae Co./山英社, a company in Kakegawa City which buys green tea from local producers before massaging and processing it!

Incidentally the next Shizuoka Prefecture local product beer will feature Suruga Elegant Oranges and Peaches!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Pilsner Malt, Topaz hop, Willamette hop, green tea
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5.5%
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Long head. creamy, white
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: orange color
Aroma: very discreet at first. Green tea will surge with the rise in temperature with a mild turn
Taste: refreshing and dry attack.
Complex. Green tea. Pleasant acidity..
Green tea will assert itself with the rise in temperature.
Lingers long enough for a true tasting before departing on a dominant but soft green tea note.
Stays true to first impression all the way through.

Overall: very intriguing craft beer with unusual taste and approach.
The soft acidity will particularly appeal to gentlemen.
Best appreciated on a hot afternoon.
As for food, will happily marry with BBQ meats in particular!
A long seller in the offing!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

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
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Domaine Jean-Pierre Bony, French wines, Shizuoka City, Sommeliere

Domaine Jean-Pierre Bony (France, Bourgogne, Nuits-Saint-Georges) Wine Tasting Party at La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City!

May 28, 2015 dragonlife 2 Comments

Tuesday May 26th saw the visit of Mrs. Fabienne Dony and her husband Samuel, the 2nd generation owner of the Domaine Jean-Pierre Dony in Nuits-Saint-Georges, Bourgogne, France (less than 40 km away from my hometown!) for a wine tasting party organised by Mrs. Hiromi Hasegawa/長谷川浩美さんat La Sommeliere Wines & Sake Bar in Miyuki-Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

A select 18 guests took part in the tasting party!
It was tight fit but the more convivial for it!

The bread used for the party had been freshly baked by Trottix in Kita Ando, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City and included the above buns filled with olives, dry tomatoes and anchovies!

Two types of beautiful baguette!

One type was a Trottix’ regular baguette, the other one prepared with rock salt called Salice de Bearn from France!

Two Cheese from Bourgogne naturally, including a fine Epoisses by Berthaut C. and a Nuits d’Or by Fromagerie Delin, neighbors of the very Domaine jean-Pierre Bony!
We also had a dessert composed of cream cheese and red fruit jam!

The Domaine Jean-Pierre Bony was originally founded in 1963 by Jean-Pierre Bony.
But his early departure from this world in 2001 forced his daughter, a pharmacist by trade, to take over with the help of her husband, a soy bean farmer.

Plenty of questions!

After spending some time researching in Australian wineries where she also mastered her fine English ability, she came back to re-haul her father’s business with a view to create a Nuits-Saint-Georges of a purer quality similar to Chambolle and a definitely feminine touch.

Professor Hirofumi Ando/安藤博文先生 of Shizuoka University was on hand to translate questions, answers and presentation!

It certainly proved quite a challenge raising three daughters and vineyards at the same time!

In 2005, by favoring quality over quantity, she finally started establishing her name.
Available land being very scarce in Nuits-Saint-Georges, instead of overproducing, she opted to buy top-class grapes from neighboring growers to add fine quality wines to the ones she was already producing, including white and rose Cremant de Bourgogne.

Great cheese plate to accompany the wines!

Fabienne is now very busy indeed, what with more than 500 clients to keep happy, and tours in England, Italy, the United States and Japan of course, whose visit was the second this time and the first for her husband!

The wines we tasted on that day!

Bourgogne Rouge, Pinot Noir, 2013, 12.8% alcohol, from grapes grown on 2.03 ha and matured in barrels (10% of them new) for 13 months.It is a blend of their own grapes from a field located on the east side of the road running along Nuits-Saint-Georges and grapes from a field in En La Perriere Noblot, just south of Nuits-Saint-Georges-Les-Damodes.

I had little time to delve into a true tasting, what my being busy helping with the translation and what else, but I appreciated this seemingly simple wine for its remarkable bouquet. All the wines tasted on that day were young indeed but everyone knew they would become a bargain by sitting on them for as long as possible!

Vosne-Romanee 2013, 13%, from a field south of Vosne-Ronanee called Aux-Laviolles, 0.03 ha. Only one barrel for 300 bottles is produced. The vineyard is 40 years old. The barrel is always new and the wine is matured for 12 months and bottled non filtered.

It was of course still very young but a lot of promises with a bouquet dominated by cassis and red fruit, a dry and fruity attack with plenty of red fruit.

Nuits-Saint-Georges, Les Damodes 2013 (135)
Grown on a 0.85 ha field, it is matured in barrels (40% new) fro 15 months. The Les Damodes field is located against the Vosne-Romanee slope.

A light and easy to drink red wine in spite of its youth with a good body but still discreet bouquet.

Nuits-saint-Georges-Les Damodes 2012 (13%)

Definitely more fruity than the 2013, but still young.

Once again these wines are for keeping for better appreciation.
They marry beautifully with cheese, duck and gibier in particular and enhance sashimi and sushi!

Fabienne busy signing the bottles purchased by the guests.
It was her second trip to Japan, but her first to Shizuoka City, a city that she and her husband found particularly attractive for its laid-back atmosphere and remarkable gastronomy!

I’m sure she and her husband will grace us again with their persons soon!

DOMAINE JEAN-PIERRE BONY, NUITS SAINT-GEORGES, BOURGOGNE, FRANCE
Fabienne Bony, viticultriste, 5 rue de Vosne, 21700, Nuits-Saint-Georges
Tel/Fax: (33) 03-80-61-16-02GSM: (33)06-83-87-39-05
E-mail: fabienne@domainejpbony.com

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, 12:00~18:00 on Sundays & National Holidays
FACEBOOK (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Oshiba Shrine (小芝神社) in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

May 19, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

I discovered this particular shrine by pure chance in a side street not far from Shimizu JR Station.

When I queried about it to a passer-by I was kindly answered that it was only a small and dirty shrine, the way to pique my curiosity!

It is quite old as part of it was restored in the 1920’s!

Walking towards the old torii/sacred gate!

The hand washing stone basin was derelict, indeed!

The smaller but older torii!

Actually it bears the name of one of the shrines found inside the precincts, “Hachimangu/ハ血幡宮”!
It is also remarkable for the two shishi/lion guards under the plaque!

A strange-shaped votive board!

I see! This shrine is particularly popular with soccer players and fans!

The “haiden/hall for worshipers”!

Why three bell ropes?
I actually found the reason later!

An unusual closed-mouthed shishi/komainu/lion guard!

His open-mouthed companion!

The portable shrine with its cart inside the haiden!

Actually the whole Oshiba Shrine is nothing less than an association of many smaller shrines as proved by this series of red-painted torii gates!

When you notice such red-painted torii you can expect the foxes of the Inari Goddess/Agriculture Goddess!

Unusually fierce-looking fox guard!

Same impression from his companion!

A group of three smaller but cute shrines!

The first one!

The second one!

With a whole bestiary to investigate!

“Shishi/lion guard” and “baku/nightmare-eater”!

The third one!

The foxes guard them as couples!

The other fox couple!

The colors reminded me other countries!

More baku!

Walking back through the row of torii!

Tiny “kamidana/shrines”!

Discarded shrines and statues at the back!

I wouldn’t mind taking some of these foxes back but that would be stealing!

Small shrines of another age!

More foxes with Okinawan cheesa!

The honden/main shrine is inaccessible but its design confirmed that the local God was a Goddess indeed!

Wooden architecture details!

from the side!

Plenty of venerable trees!

Good-bye Oshiba Shrine!

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Italian Gastronomy, Italian Restaurants, Shizuoka City

Italian Gastronomy: Dinner at SOLOIO (may 2014) in Shizuoka City!

May 18, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable considering the quality
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

The other day I visited Solio , my favorite Italian Restaurant in Shizuoka City for the first time since last November and I noticed some changes in the opening hours!
Lunch: 11:30~13:30 (l.O.) (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday)
Dinner: 17:00~22:00 (l.o.), 17:00~23:: (Friday, Saturday)
Closed on Monday

But as usual the specialties of the day’s boar is still a joy to read!

and it is always a pleasure to discover the smiling faces of Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん/Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子さ!

As for wine as usual, too, the best deal is ordering by the carafe, eminently enjoyable Italian Riesling in this case!

And the bread is always hme-baked!

Now, what did we have this time?

A carpaccio you will be hard put to find in Tokyo at that price for that quality!

Madai/true seabream from Shizuoka!

We always make a point to order banya cauda!

The vegetables are always from Shizuoka Prefcture!

And many of them are grown in Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん’s own garden!

A favorite of mine, a French delicacy served the Italian way!

Horsemeat tartare!

Another specialty which could considered as fusion Italian!

Sea urchin flan!

An appetizer to be savored slowly!

As the last dish (we had to skip dessert this time) was taking some time to prepare, so Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん gracefully served us a small appetizer of pan-fried zucchini and burdock root!

The dish we were waiting for is called “Stracotto di Stinco”!

Can you guess what it is? And there is enough of it for two!

Pig shin stewed in white wine for more than four hours!

And we didn’t leave anything!

looking forward to our summer’s dinner there again!

SOLOIO

Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん/Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子さん

420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours:
Lunch: 11:30~13:30 (l.O.) (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Dinner: 17:00~22:00 (l.o.), 17:00~23::00 (Friday, Saturday)
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Craft Beer, Gastronomy, Shizuoka City, Wine

Tricolor Shizuoka-Cannes Festival in Shizuoka City!

May 16, 2015 dragonlife 1 Comment

La Sommeliere Wine and Sake Shop Stand!

For quite some time now citizens of Shizuoka City have taken over the events held to commemorate the sistership between their city and Cannes in Southern France.
The main attractions are held during the month of May to coincide with the Cinema Festival in Cannes!
One of these is the Tricolor Festival held mainly in Gofuku Cho, Shichiken Cho and Aoba Park Streets.
This year it is organized with all kinds of stands on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th from 13:00 and 18:00.
Let me show some examples (there are just too many, and you will have to discover the others!):

You will find the stand of La sommeliere Wine and sake Shop in Gofuku Cho Street in front of Aoi Tower just across from Shizuoka JR Station!

All kinds of French wines and even beer can be purchased by the glass or even bottle!

They also sell home-made quiches!

Really tempting!

Ludovic Le Teigner, the top-class French Patissier in Shizuoka City had a hard time setting his stand up and already selling his cakes and biscuits at the same time all by himself!

The next time he will ask his wife along who had to look after their shop!

Ludovic is from Bretagne and many of his biscuits and jams are inspired by his birthplace!

Financiers!

Selling so quickly!

Eclatant’s stand.
Eclatant is a company extolling the gastronomy of Shizuoka and Cannes among many other collaborations!

Crepes menu!

They certainly needed quite a few of them!

French residents were helping out!

Sweet!

Still in the same spot: KUKAI stand!

They specialize in flavored teas!

A touch of Southern France!

More scented teas!

Yummy-looking cakes!

Still in the same street: Figaro Bistro stand!

The menu!

Escargots and olives!

Terrine/pate de campagne!

Great crowd!

Let’s move to Shichiken-Cho Street near Isetan Department Store!

Lavigne Natural French wines stand!

All the wines served there are French and organic!

Busy place!

Plenty of food available!

No time to interview the staff!

For the perfect finish go and taste a real craft beer brewed in Shizuoka City with Naoki Mando and his staff from Aoi Brewing Co.!

Directly from a limited edition barrel!

Plenty of snacks there, too!

Subtle IPA and French Primeur Saison craft beers!

See you there again this afternoon!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Kanzawagawa Brewery-Shosetsu Ginjo

May 15, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

c
I actually conducted this tasting in my “secret lair” ( not so secret for many of my friends!)!

One of my favorite breweries in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City: Kanzawagawa Brewery!
Shosetu ginjo!

Rice milled down to 50%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Bottled in march 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Apples, melon, pineapple.
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and very fruity attack baked up with pleasant alcohol.
Complex.
Plums, apricots, muscat, dry custard.
Lingers for a while on the palate before departing on notes of dry plums, oranges and coffee beans.
Late appearance of dark chocolate.
Varies little with food but for a drier note.

Overall: very elegant and deep sake with lots of character in spite of strong alcohol contents.
Eminently enjoyable on its own but beautifully marries with Japanese food, Japanese pickles in particular.
A sure and reliable value!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Bestiary at Sengen Shrine in Shizuoka City!

May 15, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Shinto shrines in Japan, especially the big ones, are hosts to a whole menagerie or bestiary, that is “animals” which are supposed to symbolize or protect the cult abode.
In Shizuoka City, the large Sengen Shrine is a good place to look for them!
Let me show some of them. There are plenty more, but they will be for you to discover!

“Shishi/Lions” with an unusual “oni/goblin”!

A “tora/tiger”!

Another tiger!

“Hoo/Phoenix”!

A “kirin/dragon horse”!

“Koi/carps”!

“Baku/nightmare eaters”!

And a “Tastu/dragon”!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Bars, Izakaya, Shizuoka City

Bar-Izakaya: Two Base in Shizuoka City!

April 25, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: a bit shy but very friendly
Equipment & facilities: overall very clean. Excellent washroom if a bit small
Prices: Reasonable~slightly expensive
Strong points: Great list of sake. Stand bar with seats on pavement

Just discovered a new bar cum izakaya cum standing bar in an unusual location at the very crossing of Egawa Street and Showa Street!

The place is called “Two base”, not because of baseball but because it is the sister bar of another place called KODONA!
The concept is quite practical with the possibility to sit or stand at the counter or at a table on the pavement!

Looking at the small refrigerator at the entrance you soon find out that sake is a staple there!

Have a good look at the board outside before entering!

The bar which Manager Yoshimi Mochizuki/望月良美さん also calls an izakaya offers quite a nice ever-increasing range of sake from the whole country!

But it does offer more including shochu from Shizuoka Prefecture!

And don’t worry, there are also plenty of snacks!

Now, what did I have for my first visit?

A celebrated sake from Oomuraya Brewery in Shimada City: “Onna Nake/making a woman cry” junmai daiginjo!

But I couldn’t take my leave before sampling this exquisite junmai ginjo by Ippaku Suisei Brewery from Akita Prefecture!

lright, you understood this is only the start of another long story! LOL

TWO BASE

Manager: Yoshimi Mochizuki/望月良美さん
420-0033 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Showa Cho, 8-1
Tel.: 054-221-8300
Opening hours: 17:00~24:00 (and beyond!)

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Kaibinjyuuri Kaoru Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Aiyama (conducted at La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

April 23, 2015 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 time I tasted another great brew by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka, with one of their longest names:
Garyubai Kaibinjyuuri Kaoru Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Aiyama!

Rice: Aiyama (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.2
Bottled in March 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: assertive, dry and fruity. Green apples, banana, apricots, compote, marshmallows
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Strong, dry and very fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol.
Well-rounded but extremely complex.
Macadamia nuts, mandarin oranges, custard, green apples, walnuts.
Elegant for such a strong alcohol content.
Lingers for a short while on the palate before departing on fruity and slightly drier notes with hints of dark chocolate.
Late appearance of coffee beans.

Overall: Just a word to describe such a nectar: “superb”!
A sake that combines elegance and power. Very assertive.
Sweeter than the indicated + 4 dryness due to its great fruitiness.
Eminently enjoyable on its but would brilliantly marry with shellfish and cheese!
A discovery!

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 (~20:00 on Sundays and Holidays)
Entirely non-smoking!

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Vltava Pilsner

April 19, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Just tasted Aoi Brewing’s latest brew at AOI BEER STAND in Shizuoka City!
Vlatava Pilsner!

Vltava?
You’ve heard about the Danube, also called Donau in German?
Well, the Czech name is Vlatava!

Served on tap
Barley, Pilsner malt, Munich malt, Zats hop,Australian galaxy hop, Bohemian lager yeast, Budweiser yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol: 5.8%
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Short head. White
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: Deep lemon color
Aroma: Refreshing, dry citruses
Taste: Dry and fruity attack with a little acidity.
Very refreshing. Citruses, apricots.
Lingers long enough on the palate for true tasting before departing a drier and a slightly more acid note and lemon.

Overall: very refreshing craft beer but also very satisfying with just enough acidity to leave a lasting impression.
Great on a warm afternoon, will please both genders!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

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
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One-Cup Series 3)-Kanzawagawa Brewery, Shosetsu Honjozo

April 18, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

A very interesting and reasonable way to taste sake is to acquire one-cup sake!
They also make for cute collection of glasses or cups!

As Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, has quite a few of them (10 breweries for 11 brands so far), I decided to start with them.
After that I will have to chase the other ones around! LOL
This is the first batch of 5!

The third one cup is called Shosetsu by Kanzawagawa Brewery in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

Alcohol: 15=16 degrees
Bottled in December 2014

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: Assertive, dry and fruity. Rice, hints of coffee beans
Body: fluid, a little sirupy
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed up with strong alcohol.
Complex and a bit elusive. Coffee beans, dark chocolate, yogurt, nuts.
Lingers only for a short while warming up the palate before departing with more nuts and coffee beans.
Dark chocolate making a strong comeback with the next sip.
Very easy to drink, especially a little chilled.
Varies little with food but for a drier note.

Overall: More elegant and easy to drink than expected!
Although obviously designed to accompany food, eminently enjoyable on its own at any temperature although I particularly appreciated it slightly chilled!
Take it to a party, or even better keep it at home to enjoy it with everyday food!

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