4) “Rhein” (German Type)

This is the last (for the moment) of the Izu Koogen series:

Izu Kogen Brewery “Rhein” (German Type)

Ingredients: Grain Malt, Hops
Alcohol: 5%
Contents: 300ml
Live yeast, unfiltered, unpasteurized.

Clarity: Very clear
Colour: Dark brown, neat colour
Foam: Long head, fine bubbles
Aroma: Dry, caramel, Welcome acidity
Taste: Well-rounded. Refreshing. Solid. Complex.
Apples, oranges, light caramel. A little acidity. Sweetish finish.
Lingers in back of the mouth

Overall: Sweetish for a Japanese palate, just right for a European/North American one.
Lighter than expected. Wel-rounded as for taste.
Very satisfying with food.

Usami Brewery
European Ji Beer Company
Ito City, Usami, 3504-1
Tel.: 0557-33-0333
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

Must-see beer Blogs/Websites:

Good Beer and Country Boys, Beer Haiku Daily, Bair Beer, Another Pint, Please!
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3) Donau (Hungary Style)

This is the 8th Micro Brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture I finally have ascertained. So far, I have nine confirmed! Usami Micro-Brewery and Restaurant are located in Ito City, Usami in the Izu Peninsula where great water is plentiful!
Good Beer and Country Boys, Beer Haiku Daily and BeerMason, keep your eyes open!

Note that their front label is always the same. Check the sticker behind the bottle and the cap!

This is the third tasting:

Usami Brewery: Donau (Hungarian Type)
Ingredients: Malt and hops
Alcohol: 3.5%
Contents: 330 ml
Unpasteurized, Unfiltered.

Foam: Long head, fine bubbles
Clarity: Very clear
Colour: dark lemon colour
Aroma: light and fresh, citruses, lemons, oranges.
Taste: Soft attack, dry and tangy with a pleasant slightly acid finish.
Complex: Lemons, oranges.
Does not vary with food and stays faithful to first taste.

Overall: Refreshing. Thirst-quenching for all seasons

Usami Brewery
European Ji Beer Company
Ito City, Usami, 3504-1
Tel.: 0557-33-0333
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
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2) Molda (Czech Type)

As far as 2013 is concerned there 10 Microbreweries in Shizuoka Prefecture producing craftbeer on a regular basis.
Usami Brewery is located in ito City, where great water is plenntiful all year!

I love their original cap!
The label is the same on every type of beer, but the label at the back is of course different for every beer!

Usami Brewery: Molda (Czech Type)
Ingredients: Malt and hops
Alcohol: 4.5%
Contents: 330 ml
Unpasteurized

Foam: Short head, fine bubbles disappear quickly
Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden orange, rich color
Aroma: Light, citruses, bread.
Taste: Light attack and tangy, soft citruses, oranges, bread.
Refreshing but more complex and elegant that a thirst-quenching beer.
Lingers on for quite a while over the palate with a dry note of citruses.
Does not vary with food and stays faithful to first taste.

Overall: A beer for the Summer. Thirst-quenching for some maybe, but certainly deserves more attention.
Easy and pleasant to drink.
Probably will please the Japanese more than expats, especially Europeans.

Usami Brewery
European ji Beer Company
Ito City, Usami, 3504-1
Tel.: 0557-33-0333
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
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1) Thames/English type

This is the 8th Micro Brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture I finally have ascertained. So far, I have nine confirmed! Usami Micro-Brewery and Restaurant are located in Ito City, Usami in the Izu Peninsula where great water is plentiful!

Usami Brewery: Thames/English type
Ingredients: Malt and hops
Alcohol: 5%
Contents: 330 ml
Unfiltered and unpasteurized

Foam: long head, very fine bubbles
Colour: dark brown, rich colour
Aroma: strong, caramel/bread.
Taste: Sweetish attack, bread, yeast
Solid but light
Does not vary with food and stays faithful to first taste.
Drank very easily in spite of its stout nature.

Overall: A pleasant stout-style beer.
Enjoyable for its own sake or with food, however heavy.
Best appreciated at room temperature, although cold beer fans would enjoy it if slightly chilled.

Usami Brewery
European ji Beer Company
Ito City, Usami, 3504-1
Tel.: 0557-33-0333
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)