7) Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Orache Wind Valley Beer-Limited Seasonal Pils

The other day I had the chance to find one of the very few seasonal craft beers produced by Orache Wind Valley beer in Kannami Cho, Tagaat Gun, Shizuoka Prefecture (between Mishima and Atami)!

Wind Valley/Kaze no Tani/風の谷 is actually the name of the place the brewery chose to establish itself!

Announced as an “Extravagant Pils”!

Product: Orache Brewery Limited Seasonal Pils
Draught/nama Beer, unfiltered
Ingredients: Barley Malt, barley, hops. Live yeast.
Contents: 360 ml

Clarity: Very clean if somewhat a bit smoky (normal as it is unfiltered)
Alcohol: 5.5 degrees
Color: Deep gold
Foam: Fine bubbles. Very long head head
Aroma: Assertive. Fruity. Oranges, bread
Taste: Very deep refreshing attack.
　　　　Complex.Oranges, persimmons.
Lingers nicely on the palate.
Disappears on a drier note with subtle acidity and orange peels.
Changes little with food.

Overall: Very pleasant and elegant. Fruity and dry with great balance.
Insistently calls for the next sip.
Although great with food, eminently pleasurable on its own, especially on a hot afternoon/evening!
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6) Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Orache Brewery-Atami Beer 「Miyabi」Red Ale!

It had been some time since I last tasted craft beers concocted by Oratche Brewery adn I had the occasion to get a couple I hadn’t tasted yet the other day when I traveled all the way to Kannami!

This particular brand can usually only be found around Atami for which it had been conceived.
The name 「Miyabi」or 雅　means “elegant” in Japanese!
It does bear the usual inscription “Kaze no Tani Biiru/Wind Valley Beer” usually found on their labels.
This label is particularly beautiful and I’ll keep in case a craft beer lover truly wants it!
Also note that Oratche Brewery was the first brewery in Japan to be officially recognized by the Government as producing organic beer!
In this case all cereals used for tthat particular beer are 85% organic. Remarkable!

Product: Oratche Brewery Atami Beer 「Miyabi」Red Ale
Draught/nama Beer, unfiltered
Ingredients: Barley Malt, barley, hops. Barley malt 85 organic
Contents: 360 ml

Clarity: Very clean if somewhat a bit smoky (normal as it is unfiltered)
Alcohol: 5.5 degrees
Color: Rich orange brown
Foam: Fine and light bubbles. Longish head
Aroma: Assertive but light and dry. Oranges.
Taste: Dry, deep and pleasant attack. Oranges, bread, hints of caramel.
Short tail. Lingers only for a while before disappearing on an even drier note with hints of nuts.
Keeps its own with food and actually enhances the later without interference.

Overall: Very pleasant, light but satisfying.
Not a thirst-quenching beer in spite of its comparatively light approach.
in fact quite elegant.
A beer for all seasons that should please both genders.
To be enjoyed in the evening after a long day’s work! Don’t be fooled by its dark color. It is not a porter. Typical Oratche’s brew.

ORATCHE BREWERY/WIND VALLEY BREWERY
419-0105 Tagata Gun, Kannami Cho, Tanna, 349-1
Tel.: 055-974-4192
Fax: 055-974-4191
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
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5) Windy Valley Brewery Dark Lager Praha

Coming back at my office after an afternoon spent on having students take a final exam, I could not resist from opening a bottle that I kept for such emergencies in the fridge. After all it had been a long stuffy day and I still had three hours to wait until dinner!

Windy Valley Brewery Dark Lager Praha

As usual with Oratche this is another organic beer using wheat malt.
It is unfiltered and should be kept in a cold environment because of its live yeast.

Clarity: slightly smoky (unfiltered)
Alcohol: 5.5%
Colour: Dark coffee
Foam: Long head, good medium bubbles
Aroma: Fresh, light, dry. Oranges, bread
Taste: Short tail. Dry and heady. Refreshing. Lighter than expected. Oranges, caramel, bread. Drinks well with food, especially cheese.

Overall: A beer fit for dinner in the heat of the summer. To be enjoyed in the evening after a long day’s work! Don’t be fooled by its dark colour. It is not a porter. Typical Oratche’s brew.

Oratche
419-0105 Tagata Gun, Tanna, 349-1
Tel.: 055-974-4192
Fax: 055-974-4191
Homepage (Japanese)
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4) Windy Valley Brewery Pilsner

With the heat starting making itself felt, it is a good time for exploring more beers of that little favourite micro-brewery of mine, Oratche Brewery in Kannami, next station after Mishima City!

Windy Valley Brewery Pilsner

This is another organic beer using wheat malt.
It is unfiltered and should be kept in a cold environment because of its live yeast.

Clarity: slightly smoky (unfiltered)
Alcohol: 5%
Colour: Light gold
Foam: Long head, very fine bubbles
Aroma: Oranges. Dry.
Taste: Short tail. Dry and heady. Oranges, lemons. Refreshing. Calls for the next sip.

Overall: A beer fit for the first heat of the summer. To be enjoyed in the evening after a long day’s work! Typical Oratche’s brew. Deserves to be known!

Oratche
419-0105 Tagata Gun, Tanna, 349-1
Tel.: 055-974-4192
Fax: 055-974-4191
Homepage (Japanese)
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3) IZU ALE

This is my third tasting of the beer from this micro-brewery lost in the east of the prefecture at the foot of Mount Fuji:

Izu Ale

This particular beer is an organic beer using wheat malt.
It is unfiltered and should be kept in a cold environment because of its live yeast.

Clarity: slightly smoky (unfiltered)
Colour: golden orange
Foam: Long head, fine steady bubbles
Aroma: Oranges,yeast, bread
Taste: Dry and heady. Oranges, bread. Shortish tail. Refreshing and satisfying.

Overall: British Ale type. True Ale. My British particularly appreciated it. Can be savoured on its own or with food.

Oratche
419-0105 Tagata Gun, Tanna, 349-1
Tel.: 055-974-4192
Fax: 055-974-4191
Homepage (Japanese)
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2) Wind Valley Beer/Kaze No Tani no Biru-Pilsner

This is my second tasting of the beer from this micro-brewery lost in the east of the prefecture at the foot of Mount Fuji:

Wind Valley Beer/Kaze No Tani no Biru-Pilsner

This particular beer is an organic beer using 50% of wheat malt.
It is unfiltered and should be kept in a cold environment because of its live yeast.

Clarity: smoky (unfiltered)
Colour: golden
Foam: solid, wteady and lingering.
Aroma: light, yeasty, bread, oranges, cloves
Taste: Dry, bread, yeast, oranges. Becomes a little sweeter later

Overall: Taste nicely lingering in mouth. Very satisfying drink. Sharp on palate with a marked individuality. Goes very well with food

Oratche
419-0105 sTagata Gun, Tanna, 349-1
Tel.: 055-974-4192
Fax: 055-974-4191
Homepage (Japanese)
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19 Wind Valley Beer/Kaze no Tani no Biru (風の谷のビール）Weizen

Wind Valley Beer/Kaze no Tani no Biru (風の谷のビール）Weizen is brewed by a Company located at the foot of Mount Fuji. It sells various kinds of products from organic fruit juices to dairies.
Its beers are sold under the label Oratche.

This particular beer is an organic beer using 50% of wheat malt.
It is unfiltered and should be kept in a cold environment because of its live yeast.

Clarity: smoky (unfiltered)
Colour: golden
Foam: light, tends to disappear quickly
Aroma: light, oranges, yeast, banana, cloves
Taste:: very yeasty taste, dry withe a strong accent on cloves.

Overall: A beer very remiscent of German Weizen. Refreshing and light with a sharp character, but does not linger too long. Would go very with cheese and cold meats.

Homepage (Japanese)