Tag Archives: 酒

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

The Ale House in Fujieda City (Summer 2013-revisited)

August 21, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Friendly and smiling, all in a very quiet atmosphere (when not full!)
Facilities: Overall very clean. Clean washroom
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive
Strong points: Shizuoka Micro breweries’ beers on tap, Belgian beers and pub grub.

There are very few pubs, I mean real pubs, British or Irish, worth noticing in our Prefecture.
But I surely don’t mind traveling all the way from Shizuoka City to Fujieda City and come back with the last train back home under the questioning looks from commuters going back to their sleeping town! Fortunately The Ale House is only less than 10 minutes away from the south exit of the JR Station!

It has become one of those “kakureya” (“hidden spots”) that a lot of residents expats talk about, and deservedly so.
Would you believe it I visited it for the first time again in 6 years with a motley of friends! They stille remembered me, though! LOL

At least it looks like a real pub!

But I let my English friend Patrick of Think Twiceguide me along and introduce me to the matser of the Place, Mr. Masayuki Saitou
Mr. Saitou explained us he opened his Pub in 1995 out a search for a new challenge away from the dreary life of a typical Japanese “salaryman”, and indulge in his hobby, namely whisky.
Talking of whisky, he does have an impression collection, but you will have to ask him to show it as it is protected from the spotlights inside wooden cabinets!
Now, if you are a beer lover, he has an extra treat for you, a proof of his dedication: baird Beer from Numazu City and Bayern Meister Bier from Fujinomiya City on tap!

The only problem is that it is really tough to take clear pictures in the very dark lounge bar!

Some of the beers available with their country of origin clearly marked. Don’t worry Mr. Saitoh will somehow explain everything if you don’t read Japanese!

Some of these are actually sometimes available!

The food menu ( a lot of typical pub grub) is in Japanese but the master will gladly help you read it!

the same for the drinks!

Interestingly enough, people here do not know we do have quite a few notable “jibiru”, microbreweries, in Shizuoka Prefecture!
Now if you are into cocktails, no worries, the Ale House has more than you can drink.

Beers come in all kinds of sizes, shapes, colors, on the tap and in bottles!

Long ones, too?

These beer coasters were everywhere! Now, who is this guy?

A very dark beer in a very dark place! LOL

there is plenty of grub (foods) to choose from:
Cheese assortment.

Fried potato wedges with their skins.

Pickles.

Sausages.

Spicy potatoes.

Keema pizza!

Skillet-fried chicken and vegetables.

Spicy mushroom noodles.

And even desserts such as this pear tart!

I won’t want 6 years till my next visit, I can assure you!

The Ale House
426-0061 Fujieda City, Tanuma, 1-4-12 (JR Station South Exit, take second on left)
Tel. & Fax: 054-6362889
Opening hours: 18:30~25:00
Closed on Mondays (Tuesdays are open, even in the case of a National Holiday)
Blog/Homepage (Japanese only)

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Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Microbreweries, Tourism

Shizuoka Beer Breweries List

August 19, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Shizuoka Beer Microbreweries is a great source for beer label collectors!

Thanks to its endless supply of incredible natural water Shizuoka Prefecture produces some of the best craft beer not only in Japan but in the world as witnessed by the success of Bryan Baird.
Unfortunately I could not find a comprehensive listing and introduction of the same breweries on the net and decided to fill up this void once for all!

Here is a simple map of Shizuoka Prefecture to help you locate the breweries!
The introduction of the breweries are below listed from west to east of Shizuoka Prefecture!
Bear in mind that some cities are really big. Check their homepages and addresses!

HAMAMATSU-TENJINGURA BREWERY

Hamamatsu-Tenjingura is also a sake, shochu and liqueur brewery!
They produce 3 types of Czech style beers
Hamamatsu City, Naka Ku, Tenjin Machi, 3-57
静岡県浜松市中区天神町３－５７
TEL: 053-461-6145
Restaurant and beer hall business hours: 10:30~19:00
Closed on Tuesdays
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

MEIN SCHLOSS

Mein Schloss in downtown Hamamatsu City is basically a beer hall serving 5 different beers brewed on site
Hamamatsu City, Naka Ku, Chuo, 3-8-1
〒430-8691 静岡県浜松市中区中央３丁目８番１号
Tel.: 053-452-1146
Business hours: 11:00~14:30, 17:00~23:00 (Saturdays, 11:00~23:00). Check on the phone as they are sometimes completely reserved!
Closed on Mondays
HOMEPAGE (Japanese only)

BAYERN MEISTER BIER

Stephan Rager is the only German national who owns his brewery and makes his own beer in Japan!
He produces 3 types of Bayern-style beers and sometimes does produce beer on order for such clients as the Tokyo German Embassy. He started growing his own hops on site and plans to make real Fujinomiya City beer!
Fujinomiya City, Kami Ideji Kawaharabata, 1254-1
〒418-0103　静岡県富士宮市上井出字河原端1254-1
Tel.: 0544-54-3311　
Business hours: 10:00~21:00 (restaurant meals and parties mainly on reservation)
Closed on Wednesdays
HOMEPAGE (Japanese only)

BAIRD BREWING

Bryan Baird has deservedly acquired national and international fame and helped to put Numazu City on the world map!
He produces a very wide range of regular and seasonal beers all year long.
His main brewery is still in Numazu city but he has opened branches in Tokyo and elsewhere. Do check his English homepage (also exists in Japanese)!
〒410-0843 Numazu City, Tadehara Cho, 9-3
〒410-0843　静岡県沼津市蓼原町9-3
Tel.: 055-952-6673
Numazu City Taproom Address:
〒410-0845 Numazu City, Senbonminato-cho, 19-4
〒410-0845　静岡県沼津市千本港町19-4
Tel.: 055-963-2628
Business hours: Monday, and Wed. thru Friday; 5:00 PM to Midnight, Sat, Sun., Holidays; Noon to Midnight
Closed on Tuesdays
HOMEPAGE (English)

SAMURAI SURFER BEER

This is the latest beer brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture!
An offshoot of Nippon Beer Co, it produces so far 2 types of craft beer.
Numazu City, Shimokanuki, Shimoshooji, 3140-5
〒410-0822 静岡県沼津市下香貫下障子3140-5
Tel.: 055-933-1032
Business hours: 09:00~17:00
Closed on Saturdays
HOMEPAGE (Japanese only)

ORACHE WIND VALLEY BEER

Orache, originally a dairy products company was the first to produce organic microbeers in Japan!
It produces 4 regular brews and seasonal ones, too.
Tago Gun, Kannami Cho (south of Mishima City), Tanna, 349-1
〒419-0105　静岡県田方郡函南町丹那349-1
Tel.: 055-974-4192
Business hours: 09:00~17:30
HOMEPAGE (Japanese only)

GOTEMBA KOOGEN BEER

The largest brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture, it only partly qualifies as a microbrewery. Produces 5 regular beers plus at least 2 real craftbeer and also seasonal beers.
412-0033 Gotemba City, Koyama, 719
〒412-0033 静岡県御殿場市神山719
Tel.: 0550-87-5500
Business hours: Check HOMEPAGE as it has many shops and diners!
HOMEPAGE (English) Also exits in Japanese

KURAYA-NARUSAWA

Located near Nagaoka Station, Izu no Kuni City, north of Izu Peninsula, it is also famous for looking after an important cultural asset, Hansharo, which has become the name of their 4 regular beers!
Izu no Kuni City, Naka, 272-1
伊豆の国市中272-1
Tel.: 055-949-1208
Opening hours (restaurant and souvenir shop): Monday~Thursday: 11:00~15:00, Friday: 11:00~22:00, Saturday, Sunday, National holidays: 10:00~22:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese only)

USAMI

Usami Brewery in Ito City, in the north-eastern part of Izu Peninsula, produces 4 types of craftbeer, but beware that the front label is the same for all. Check the cap or the back label for the variety!
Designated as eco-friendly by the Prefecture!
〒414-0001　Ito City, Usami, 3504-1
〒414-0001　伊東市宇佐美3504-1
Tel.: 0557-33-0333
Business hours: 08:30~17:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese only)

IZU KOUGEN BEER

Izu Kougen Beer/Izu Plateau Beer is located in Ito City and serves and sells its 6 beers in a restaurant remarkable for its reasonable traditional Japanese seafood restaurant.
〒413-0231 Ito City, Tomito, 1103
〒413-0231 静岡県伊東市富戸1103
Tel: 0557(51)3000
Business hours: 11:00~21:00 (restaurant)
Closed only 5 days in the year
HOMEPAGE

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Usami Brewery-Molda (Czech Type)

August 18, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

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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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Samurai Surfer Beer Red

August 14, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Once again just imagine a samurai surfing on the waves of Suruga Bay in Shizuoka Prefecture!
Samurai Surfer Beer is an offshoot of a Tokyo-based brewery called Nihon Beer Co but it is run apparently in a more or less independent manner and can be considered as the newest and tenth craftbeer brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture.
This the second beer they produce with the BLACK one!

I know a lot of collectors who will want this label, too!
It is located in Numazu City, at the foot of Mount Fuji, a fishing town made internationally famous by the like of Baird Beer/Baird Brewing Company run by Bryan Baird from the US.

Product name: Samurai Surfer Beer RED
Contents: 330 ml
Alcohol: 6%
Ingredients: Grain, hops, yeast, water

Clarity: Quite opaque, and lightly smoky but very clean
Color: Dark brownish orange
Foam: Very fine and fine, and lingering for quite a while
Aroma: Elegant and dry. Bread, caramel, oranges, roasted nuts.
Taste: Soft well-rounded attack.
Not as dry as expected. Welcome faint acidity. Very refreshing and easy to drink.
Complex and fruity: oranges, hints of apricots, caramel and soft nuts
Doesn’t linger so long on the palate but still leaves a smooth but light impression.
Marries very well with any food.
Very well balanced thanks to the right amount of alcohol.

Overall: Like the BLACK (7%) draught will please both genders at any time of the afternoon, evening and night, whatever the season.
Not a thirst-quenching beer really but one to enjoy for its sake at your own pace.
Complex but easy to drink.
The kind of beer that invites you to another glass!
But beware of the high alcohol content! LOL

SAMURAI SURFER BEER
Shizuoka Prefecture, Numazu City, Shimokanuki, Shimoshooji, 3140-5
Tel.: 055-933-1032
HOMEPAGE (Japanese only)

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Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/08/13): Celebrating Classic German Beer — Kellerhelles and Export Lager

August 14, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Celebrating Classic German Beer — Kellerhelles and Export Lager

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

We have said it many times — beer is the most varied and diverse beverage on earth. The proof, of course, is in the drinking. On the heels of last week’s release of two summer-harvest fruit fermented ales, we are pleased this week to release two classic styles of German lager — Kellerhelles and Export Lager.

New Seasonal Baird Beer Releases:
*Baird Kellerhelles (5.5%):

Bavaria is one of the great beer regions of the world. It is long reknowned for its dark lagers (dunkel) and wheat beers (wiessbier). Pale lagers (helles) are a somewhat more recent tradition, the first one having been brewed, it is thought, in Munich by the Spaten brewery in the 1890s. Today, the Helles Lager style is ubiquitous in the beer halls of Bavaria.

Baird Kellerhelles (’keller’ meaning ‘cellar’ and refering to beers that are not clarified or pasteurized) enjoys a wholesome bread-like malt flavor that is leavened perfectly by a delicately floral hop character. It would be hard to find a beverage that better refreshers and refurbishes the drinker on hot summer day.

Baird Export Lager (5.5%):

Bavaria is not the only region of Germany with a storied brewing tradition. The city of Dortmund in Westphalia has a brewing history dating back to the 13th century when it began supplying towns and cities in and about the region with a rich and full-bodied lager beer that become known as ‘Export Lager.’ Beer historian Michael Jackson describes Dortmunder export lager as “less fragrant than a true Pilsner, but still dry; firmer in its maltiness than a Munich lager; slightly stronger than either.”

Baird Export Lager takes its inspiration from this Dortmunder style, combining depth of flavor with a brisk and refreshing character. The high quality of our soft Numazu water I think really stands out in this well-rounded lager.

Kellerhelles and Export Lager are available for immediate release in Japan — both in kegs and bottles. They begin pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (Tuesday, August 13).

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Samurai Surfer Beer Black

August 10, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Just imagine a samurai surfing on the waves of Suruga Bay in Shizuoka Prefecture!
Samurai Surfer Beer is an offshoot of a Tokyo-based brewery called Nihon Beer Co but it is run apparently in a more or less independent manner and can be considered as the newest and tenth craftbeer brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture.

I know a lot of collectors who will want this label!
It is located in Numazu City, at the foot of Mount Fuji, a fishing town made internationally famous by the like of Baird Beer/Baird Brewing Company run by Bryan Baird from the US.
Samurai Surfer Beer so far has come into the shape of two brews and this is one of them called “BLACK”.

Product name: Samurai Surfer Beer Black
Contents volume: 330 ml
Alcohol: 7%
Ingredients: Grain, hops, yeast, water

Clarity: Opaque, but very clean
Colour: Blackish brown
Foam: Very fine, but light and airy lingering on for quite a while
Aroma: Assertive at first but elegant. Bread, caramel.
Taste: Very refreshing and fruity but deep well-rounded attack after a quick passage through a light foam.
Bread, caramel, roasted grains/nuts, hints of oranges, coffee beans, dark chocolate and nuts.
Stays dry on the palate but with plenty of depth and welcome acidity.
Solid, reliable and deeply satisfying.
Lingers for a while on the palate with strong hints of caramel.
Thoroughly enjoyable on its own as well as with any food.

Overall: Lighter and more elegant than expected for a dark beer.
Very satisfying. its relative lightness makes it a porter beer enjoyable by both genders at any time of the afternoon and evening and night.
A delightful surprise!
A note of caution: the strong alcohol will catch up on you later! LOL

SAMURAI SURFER BEER
Shizuoka Prefecture, Numazu City, Shimokanuki, Shimoshooji, 3140-5
Tel.: 055-933-1032
HOMEPAGE (Japanese only)

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-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

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焼酎, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fujieda City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shochu, Tourism

Shizuoka Shochu Tasting: Sugii Brewery-Saisuke Imo Shochu

August 9, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

Sugii Brewery in Fujieda City not only creates superlative sake renown all over the country, but they also produce a whole range of extravagant shochu made mainly from local products!

Shizuoka-grown Azuma sweet potatoes
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5 (sake yeast!)
Alcohol: 25.5 degrees
Bottled in March 2013

Clarity: very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Dry “sweet Potato”
Body: Fluid
Taste: Assertive but almost shy and dry well-rounded attack.
Complex: Raw sweet potato or potato without the sweetness!
Dryness tends to expand all over the palate.
Very strong character typical of all sweet potato shochu, but with more elegance than expected.
Drinks superbly poured on plenty of ice, but like all good shochu can be enjoyed with cold green tea, mineral water or with hot water and umeboshi.
Actually, such a good shochu calls for an unlimited number of combinations although I thoroughly enjoyed it on its own!

Overall: The perfect drink for strong and heavy izakaya gastronomy, but I I know a lot of friends including Sissi, would drink it straight or on the rocks!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fujinishiki Brewery-Fujinishiki Fuji Sekai Bunka Isan Junmai

August 7, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

As I said before, with the advent of Mount Fuji and Matsubara Beach being chosen as the New UNESCO World Culture Heritage, the sake breweries have been scrambling to put on sale brews commemorating the event!
Fujinishiki Brewery located in Fujinomiya City at the foot of Mount Fuji, came up with a beautiful label representing Mount Fuji in different seasons!

The small label on the bottle neck states the recent registration and election of Mount Fuji and Matsubara Beach as a new UNESCO World Cultural Heritage!

Rice milled down to 65 degrees
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in June 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Fruity. Coffee beans, nuts, loquats.
Body: fluid, slightly syrupy
Taste: Sweetish attack backed up with assertive junmai petillant.
Fruity and complex.
Nuts, chestnuts, loquats, apricots, notes of coffee beans.
Linger for a while before disappearing on a drier note.
Tends to mellow with food.
Marries beautifully with food, although it tends to take a back step.

Overall: A typical sake from Fujinishiki Brewery conceived to marry beautifully with food, especially izakaya food, although it tends to make itself discreet then.
Eminently drinkable on its own at all temperatures.
Take it to great BBQ outdoors or as a present!

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Shizuoka Shochu Tasting: Fujinishiki Brewery-Kaguyahime no Sasayaki Mugi/Grain Shochu

August 7, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Fujinishiki Brewery in Fujinomiya City at the foot of Mount Fuji distills the only “Mugi Shochu”, that is a shochu made from grain/barley in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Extremely-reasonably priced but nonetheless extravagant mugi shochu, it makes for a nice present with its box!

Grain; Barley
Yeast: grain yeast
Alcohol: 25 degrees

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Rich and fruity. Faint banana, almonds.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Solid and fruity attack.
Complex and sophisticated: bananas with a late appearance by almonds.
Very refreshing in spite of the the strong alcohol.
But for a beginning on an almost sweetish note, it will abandon you on a drier note with hints of nuts.

Overall: There is no need whatsoever to mix it with water!
Pour it on plenty of ice and sip it slowly!
Can be enjoyed at any time in the afternoon and evening as an aperitif or as a digestif.
Drinks most splendidly on a warm summer night!
Drink it slowly as it is dangerously tempting!

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美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fuji-Takasago Brewery-Takasago Homare Fuji Junmai

August 7, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

As I said before, with the advent of Mount Fuji and Matsubara Beach being chosen as the New UNESCO World Culture Heritage, the sake breweries have been scrambling to put on sale brews commemorating the event!
Fuji-Takasago Brewery being located on the slopes of Mount Fuji had just to join in with a beautiful retro-style label!

Rice: Homare Fuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in June 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden hue
Aroma: Assertive and fruity. Pears with notes of banana. Alcohol.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Well-rounded fruity attack backed up with some palate-warming junmai petillant.
Complex: pears, chocolate, persimmon.
Disappears quickly on a strong nutty note.
Mellows with food for a great marriage.

Overall: A typical sake from Fuji-Takasago Brewery.
Shizuoka Prefecture-grown Homare Fuji sake rice seems to come into many intriguing guises demonstrating that the same rice with basically the same water and yeasts can give birth to a great variety of bectars!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/08/05): Two Summer Seasonal Releases: Japan Tale Ale & Asian Beauty Biwa Ale

August 5, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Two Summer Seasonal Releases: Japan Tale Ale & Asian Beauty Biwa Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

One of the great gifts of the summer season surely is nature’s bounty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Two local fruits, harvested in early summer, are of particular appeal to us because of their usefulness as adjunct ingredients in beer: ume and biwa. Fresh, whole, non-processed fruit that is added to either wort or beer and then subject to the fermentation process can lend wonderfully bright, yet subtle and nuanced, flavors to the final brew.

We are thrilled to share our enthusiasm for this type of locally harvested, in-season fruit beer brewing with you through the release of two classic Baird Beer summer seasonals: Japan Tale Ale and Asian Beauty Biwa Ale.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Japan Tale Ale 2013 (5.5%):

Brewed with a host of indigenous Japanese ingredients (un-malted wheat, korizato sugar, fresh ume plums and, of course, lovely soft Numazu water) Japan Tale Ale is lightly hopped, pleasantly tart and extremely refreshing. It’s hazy, milky-white color and snow-white foam collar are reminiscent of a Belgian witbier. It drinks, though, like a beer version of a well-made ume sour (a popular drink served in traditional Japanese pubs that is made with distilled shochu and plums and served carbonated on ice).

We are now accepting orders for Japan Tale Ale 2013. Shipments from the Numazu brewery will begin Tuesday, August 6. It will begin pouring from the taps of our Taproom pubs tonight (Monday, August 5). It is available in limited quantity in both kegs and bottles.

*Asian Beauty Biwa Ale 2013 (5.5%):

Biwa is “the small, yellow, edible, plum-like fruit of the loquat tree.” We had no idea what it was until our partner-friend-carpenter-farmer, Nagakura-san, brought some in several years ago for us to taste and then brew with. It is an extremely subtle fruit that harmonizes sweetness with tartness. Asian Beauty Biwa Ale is coyly fruity, spritely effervescent and delicately firm — like a true Asian beauty!

We are now accepting orders for Asian Beauty Ale 2013. Shipments from the Numazu brewery will begin Tuesday, August 6. It will begin pouring from the taps of our Taproom pubs tonight (Wednesday, August 7). It is available in limited quantity in both kegs and bottles.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/08/01): Harajuku Taproom 4th Anniversary

August 5, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Harajuku Taproom 4th Anniversary
Dear Taproom Friends and Baird Beer Enthusiasts,

Thank you all for helping us celebrate the Fishmarket Taproom’s 13th anniversary last month. But don’t put down those glasses yet! Harajuku Taproom will be celebrating its 4th Anniversary this weekend (Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 4th)! Events are rare for our youngest taproom, so we always plan to go big for our anniversary bash! First, we have the release of Harajuku Taproom’s Special Anniversary Lemon Lager, which will be followed by a list of seasonal Baird favorites including:
Bakayaro Strong Ale
Temple Garden Yuzu Ale
Cool Breeze Pils
The one-keg only early release of Japan Tale Ale
The Harajuku Taproom and Alias Collaboration Beer: Second Strike Apple Ale
Summer Mikan Ale
And of course, Baird Brewing’s full lineup of year-round beers!

Many of these are one-keg only, so don’t miss your chance to get a taste of these fantastic seasonal treats!

The kitchen will also be preparing special anniversary dishes. This year, our famous anniversary gyoza will feature Iberico pork! Portions are limited, so we apologize if we run out early! Besides our delicious yakitori, kushi-katsu and sashimi are just a couple of the special dishes we will have to offer this weekend, so make sure to grab a bite with your beer!

In order to accommodate as many guests as we can, we will create standing-only sections as well. We thank you for your cooperation! So come on down to Harajuku and help us celebrate our 4th! The Taproom staff are ready to make sure you have a great time!

See you there!

Bryan

Harajuku Taproom
Harajuku 4th Anniversary
Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 4th
Open from 12:00 – 24:00

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
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Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/07/19): Seasonal Release: Fish-Tap 13 Aroma Hop Ale; FT 13th Birthday Celebration

July 23, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Seasonal Release: Fish-Tap 13 Aroma Hop Ale; FT 13th Birthday Celebration

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

It is hard to believe that thirteen years have passed since Sayuri and I opened the doors of the Numazu Fishmarket Taproom on July 20, 2000. We had no Baird Beer on tap (our brewing license was yet to be granted), only Hoegaarden White and Guinness. We were excited and nervous, optimistic and fearful. The implications of pursuing a dream and not succeeding were too dark to fully contemplate. The first customers of the day were, to no one’s surprise, the carpenter, Nagakura-san, and his wife Shoko-chan. Their presence was both calming and reassuring. The first beer poured was Hoegaarden White; the first food delivered was Sayuri’s Parmesan chicken salad. We were officially in the restaurant and beer business!

The path to sustainable success though would prove long and arduous, more so than we ever imagined. While a deep passion for and conviction in the business helped to sustain us through the very lean early years, the real source of our fortitude was the extreme high quality of our small but loyal customer base. Our Taproom customers became our friends and cheerleaders and literally willed the business forward. Thank you for your long-time support and friendship. You are an integral part of the Baird Beer family.

In celebration of the Fishmarket Taproom’s thirteenth birthday we we have brewed a special beer — Fish-Tap 13 Aroma Hop Ale.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Fish-Tap 13 Aroma Hop Ale (6.5%):

This quenching and stealthily strong golden ale is brewed exclusively with low- to medium-level alpha-acid hops that are known not for their bittering potential but rather for their aromatic quality. The six varieties used are US Cascade, NZ Motueka, English East Kent Golding, Slovenian Styrian Golding, German Spalter and Czechoslovakian Saaz. Calculated kettle IBUs from these aroma hop additions come to 40. Double dry-hopping in the post-fermentation conditioning tank, though, is what contributes the glorious bouquet — herbal, floral and just a touch earthy. The earthiness is enhanced by fermentation with our Belgian yeast strain, which leaves the beer bone-dry in the finish.

Fish-Tap 13 Aroma Hop Ale will begin pouring at all of our Taprooms on Saturday, July 20. It is available also for immediate shipment to Baird Beer supporting pubs and restaurants throughout Japan. This birthday beer is draught-only (no bottles — sorry!). Our brewery is small and, as always, quantities are limited. Orders will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Upcoming Taproom Event:
*Numazu Fishmarket Taproom 13-Year Birthday Celebration (Saturday-Sunday, July 20-21):

Please join us this weekend in Numazu for a two-day birthday celebration. The festivities kick off at 11:00 am Saturday in the brewery parking lot with the tapping of the final keg of Morning Coffee Stout 2012. Barbecuing in the parking lot will begin at noon, at which time the Fishmarket Taproom will open its doors. The first brewery tour also will start at noon. Weekend party highlights include:

11:00 AM (Saturday 7/20) kick-off in the brewery parking lot with the tapping of Morning Coffee Stout 2013
Brewery parking lot BBQ (11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday; Noon – 5:00 PM Sunday)
Brewer-guided brewery tours at noon, 2:00 and 4:00 each day
Special tappings of various cellared brews (Daidai IPA, Carpenter’s Mikan Ale, Bakayaro!, Second Strike Apple Ale, Kiwi IPA, Saison Sayuri and more!)
Debut of Fish-Tap 13 Aroma Hop Ale
Phenomenal lineup of celebration food and BBQ delights (all priced at 500 yen)
We look forward to seeing you.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
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Umeshu: Umeshu with Organic Plums Harvested in Shizuoka City!

July 15, 2013 dragonlife 3 Comments

The other day I received a phone call a phone call from my good friend, Ms. Asami Itoh who just succeeded in her father’s steps as the new president and owner of Marufuku Tea Factory in Shizuoka City. She is a very busy lady as she is also active in producing tea bags at her other venture, CHA-O Company.

She was inviting me to join her and her sister, Aya, in the harvesting of organic Japanese plums growing on trees inside a property that her family owns up in the mountains in Umegashima!

Although Umegashima is located inside Shizuoka City, it took us more than an hour of driving up the mountains away from civilization up to a point located at 1000 meters altitude where the road ended in front of a small Shinto Shrine!

At that very spot you will discover the highest altitude green tea fields in Japan!

From there we had to walk down a precipitous lane for about 15 minutes while Asami was carrying down the necessary equipment on a rail cart that most farmers use in Shizuoka Prefecture where a lot of agriculture is conducted on the sheer slopes across the Japanese Southern Alps.

We soon reached a Japanese traditional farm house that Asami’s father had completely refurbished. I just can’t imagine how they brought up all this wood, pillars, rafters, beams and whatever else in that spot completely isolated from car roads!
But the house itself is already worth the expedition. I can imagine many of my artist and writer friends falling in love with this abode away from everything where mobile phones don’t work, although the place is equipped with electricity, gas, toilets and bathroom!

Safety lamps in case of a blackout!

The place contains a mountain of antiques gathered over the year by Asami’s father and I can guarantee you that the place is safely locked away. What with intruders regularly stealing valuable mountain vegetables growing on the property!

There is plenty of room for sleeping but this hammock just feels great in the heat of summer! Incidentally it snows up there in winter!

Japanese antique tansu/箪笥/chest!

More authentic antique tansu!

Antique rice straw rain gear!

A real Japanese antique irori/囲炉裏sunken hearth!

Even the stairway and hand rail are antiques!

An array of authentic antique kokeshi dolls/コケシ all signed up by artists!

The three of us spent a good 4 hours harvesting Japanese plums overhead as the lower branches ahd been eaten out by wild deer!
I made a mistake not to wear boots in the muddy ground and I was beaten by a leech! Yes, a leech at 1000 meters altitude!

We first dropped the plums into individual wicker baskets secured around the waist.

There were (unfortunately inedible) mushrooms everywhere!

Japanese plums are best harvested just before they start changing color!

Naturally the crop was carried up to the small car park via the rail tractor!

Apparently this year’s crop was not very good but we must have collected 50 kg of them!

Although I was asked to take more with me I was allowed to choose enough of the bigger ones to bring back home to make umeshu.
Usually people use cheap white liqueur and koorizato/crystal sugar, last year I made them with local shochu, sake and koorizato, but this time I used only sweet potato shochu and a bottle of the only mirin/sweet sake made in Shizuoka Prefecture by Sugii Brewery in Fujieda City!

You will not find such an extravagant umeshu in any shop!

I still had enough left for Dragon (my worse half!) to make (from left to right): plums in fruit vinegar and honey, plum soy sauce and white wine umeshu!

She even made plum chutney!

Looking forward to tasting this great umeshu in winter. And of course it will be a rare treat to eat or use the plums in recipes!

Marufuku Tea Factory (Director, Ms. Asami Itoh)
420-0006 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu, Cho, 25
Tel.: 054-271-2011
Fax: 054-271-2010
Mobile: 090-3250-4188

CHA-O (Director, Ms. Asami Itoh)
420-0006 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu Cho, 94
Tel: 054-253-8421
Fax: 054-253-8413
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Makino Brewery-Fujisan Junmai

July 15, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

With the advent of Mount Fuji and Matsubara Beach being chosen as the New UNESCO World Culture Heritage, the sake breweries have been scrambling to put on sale brews commemorating the event!

The red tag makes sure you understand the purpose of this particular sake brewed in Fujinomiya City by Makino Brewery at the foot of Mount Fuji.
Actually the brand name “Fujisan” is owned by only two breweries, one in Yamanashi Prefecture and by Makino Brewery!

Rice milled down to 70%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bottled in June 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Light and fruity. Rice, banana.
Body: Fluid
Tasting: Very well-rounded dry attack, fruity with a muted junmai petillant backup.
Lingers for a while warming up back of the mouth.
Complex.
Loquats, almonds, apricots, macadamia nuts, apples.
Changes very little with food but for a drier note. Actually marries well with any food, especially izakaya fare.
Better enjoyed with food as it “nags” you into the next cup.

Overall: A typical sake from Shizuoka Prefecture with a lot of complexity, fruit and dry but smooth attck.
Whenever enjoyed with food or not, it insistently pulls you back into the next cup, a sure sign of an eminently drinkable sake!
The kind of sake to bring to any party including food, be it a bbq or a sophisticated affair!

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