Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Two New Seasonal Releases

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

As you know, fruited ales are close and dear to our brewing hearts despite the fact the fruit beers tend generally to be vapidly cloying and concocted with gimmickry foremost in mind. There is no gimmickry in the crafting of Baird fruited ales; we use only fresh, locally harvested fruit; we painstakingly process the fruit by hand; we subject the fruit to the fermentation process; and we weave the fruit into the matrix of the recipe so that it complements, rather than dominates, the beers other underlying flavors.

Today we are excited to release two fruited summer ales, one an annual mainstay (Asian Beauty Biwa Ale) and one a new creation (Biere du Biwa). These ales should be available at your favorite Baird Beer retailer beginning Wednesday, August 25.

Asian Beauty Biwa Ale 2010 (ABV 5.6%):
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 yet delicately firm — like a true Asian Beauty!

Asian Beauty Biwa Ale 2010 is available both on draught and in bottles (633 ml) at Baird Beer retailers throughout Japan. Individual consumers also can purchase bottles direct from our brewery via our online E-Shop.

Biere du Biwa (ABV 5.7%):
Biere du Biwa is brewed with the same recipe and processing parameters as Asian Beauty with one major exception: We ferment it with a Belgian ale yeast rather than our house ale yeast. The resulting flavor difference from this single variable change is profound. If you ever wanted to isolate and discover the character that a Belgian yeast strain imparts to a beer, this is the chance.

Biere du Biwa feels tarter and drier on the palate than Asian Beauty. The phenolic character imparted by the yeast is strong and almost defining. After imbibing a glass, the overall impression is one of supreme refreshment.

Biere du Biwa is available on draught only at fine Baird Beer retailing pubs and restaurants throughout Japan.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Latest Seasonal Releases; Harajuku Taproom 1-Year Anniversary Party

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Our summer beat-the-heat beer parade continues with the release of two new seasonal brews: 10-Year Sour Fruit Ale and Export Lager.

New Seasonal Releases:
10-Year Sour Fruit Ale (ABV 5%): Continuing with our series of 10-year anniversary commemorative ales, we are releasing today an extraordinarily unique summer session beer. Mild in gravity and alcohol content, this snappy summer ale is infused with only one 15-IBU flavor addition of NZ Cascade hops. Its key attribute, a tartly sour fruitiness, stems from generous additions of fresh amanatsu citrus fruit (peels and juice) picked in the orchard of our Carpenter.
Export Lager (ABV 5.5%): Brewed in the tradition of Dortmund-style export lagers, Baird Export Lager combines depth of flavor with a brisk and refreshing character. Less fragrant in hop character but brawnier in malt body than a pilsner, Baird Export Lager is a supreme thirst quencher. Drink it side by side our Cool Breeze Pils and your tastebuds will experience a demonstration in subtle flavor differentiation that simply can’t be conveyed in words. Our soft Numazu water really stands out in this lager.
Both of these seasonal brews will be available on draught and in bottles (633 ml) beginning Thursday, July 29. They can be enjoyed at one of our Taproom pubs or at one of the many fine establishments retailing Baird Beer in Japan. They also are available for purchase direct from the brewery via our online E-Shop.

Upcoming Events:
*Harajuku Taproom 1-Year Anniversary Party (Sat-Sun, August 7-8):

We opened the doors of our third Taproom pub, the Harajuku Taproom, last August in our first attempt to marry the culture of craft beer with traditional Japanese pub cuisine. Thanks to your enthusiastic support, the Harajuku Taproom enjoyed a very successful maiden year. The Harajuku Taproom will be throwing itself a birthday party on the weekend of August 7-8 (doors opening at noon each day). Highlights of the celebration include:

Numazu-priced Baird Beer (700 yen pints and 500 yen half-pints)
Debut of HT Anniversary Lager (Dekopon Bock)
A smorgasboard of tasty beer fare all for 500 yen or less (one-coin cuisine)
The Anniversary Lager, Dekopon Bock, is a traditional German-style Bock brewed with the unusual addition of fresh dekopon citrus fruit (peels and juice). It has been conditioning in kegs for several months and was absolutely delightful at packaging. Dekopon Bock will be available exclusively on draught only at the Harajuku Taproom.

Kindly mark your calendar and plan to help manager Naruoka-san and his terrific team celebrate their 1-year birthday in fantastic style.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Summer Seasonal Releases: Cool Breeze Pils & Tap 10 Anniversary Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The 10-year anniversary celebration of our Numazu Fishmarket Taproom is just around the corner and we are gearing up for up with the release of a fantastic summer libation: Cool Breeze Pils 2010.

New Seasonal Beer Releases:
*Cool Breeze Pils 2010 (ABV 5.5%):

Brewed annually, Cool Breeze Pils is Bohemian in style, cleanly malty in body, coquettishly floral in aroma, and crisply dry in its snappy bitter finish. Cool Breeze Pils registers on the imbiber like a fresh ocean breeze does on the perspiring body of a mid-afternoon sunbather. Cool Breeze Pils is dry-hopped, unfiltered, and re-fermented and naturally carbonated in package where it has undergone an extended maturation. The result, we believe, pays handsome tribute to the glorious history of this storied lager beer style.

Cool Breeze Pils 2010 will be available on draught and in bottles (633 ml) at Baird Beer retailing pubs, restaurants and liquor shops throughout Japan beginning Wednesday, July 14. Also, we have lagered a small number of bottles from both the 2008 and 2009 batches for the purpose of vertical taste comparison. These will be available for purchase on our website E-Shop.

*Tap 10 Anniversary Ale (ABV 7.5%):

We will be kicking off our Fishmarket Taproom 10-year anniversary festivities in Numazu this Saturday with the tapping of a special commemorative ale: Tap 10 Anniversary Ale. This is a sort of strong golden ale that carries a lovely hue of hazy orange produced by additions of both Japanese red sugar (akato) and the juice and peels of freshly picked local daidai citrus fruit. The beer’s strength is masked ominously, and beautifully, by a light body and snappy citrus character. This is about as potent as refreshment gets!

Tap 10 Anniversary Ale will also be available on draught and in bottles (633 ml) at non-Taproom retailers of Baird Beer beginning Saturday, July 17. Consumers can purchase direct from the brewery via our online E-Shop.

Please plan to join us in Numazu for the weekend anniversary festivities. The celebration details are re-printed below:

Numazu Fishmarket Taproom 10-Year Anniversary Extravaganza (July 17 – 19, Sat-Mon):
Sayuri and I opened the doors of our Numazu Fishmarket Taproom on Saturday, July 20, 2000. This July, then, is our 10-year birthday and we intend to celebrate in vigorous style. Please plan to join us for the three-day holiday weekend of July 17-19 (Saturday – Monday). This 3-day anniversary celebration will feature the following (with the Fishmarket Taproom opening each of these days at noon sharp):

Debut Release of a special commemorative Baird Beer: Tap 10.
Delicious 1,500 yen all-you-can-eat Taproom buffet (Sat & Sun: noon – 9:00 pm; Mon: noon – 7:00 pm)
500 yen Baird Beer bura bura cups for all beer styles sold at each venue
Brewery BBQ & Open House (1:00 – 6:00 pm Sat & Sun at the brewery — 500 meters from the Taproom)
Taproom sidewalk BBQ (3:00 – 8:00 pm Sat & Sun; 1:00 – 5:00 pm Mon)
Guided Brewery tours on Monday (1:00 pm and 4:00 pm)
Live Taproom music (Sat 8:00 – 10:00 pm; Mon 7:00 – 9:00 pm)
Open Mic Night performances (Sun 8:00 – 10:00 pm)
As you can see, we will have beer and food available at three separate locations most of the time and thus there will always be a place to escape with your bura bura cup should the Taproom become a bit crowded. Numazu is at its best in the summer months. The surrounding beaches are lovely; fishing, hiking and other activities are aplenty; and fresh fish market sushi beckons. Most compelling of all, though, will be the extraordinary gathering of an eclectic mix of wonderful beer enthusiasts who have made the 10-year journey of the Fishmarket Taproom and Baird Beer possible.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Debut – Baird 10-Year Summer Ale; Fishmarket Taproom 10-Year Anniversary Celebration

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The season of sweltering heat and prodigious perspiration has once again arrived. The best way we know to beat the heat is with a refreshing pint in a cool pub. We are busy providing both. The newest in our parade of quenching brews is Baird 10-Year Summer Ale.

New Seasonal Baird Beer Releases:
*Baird 10-Year Summer Ale (ABV 4.8%):

10 years in craft brewing is reason for celebration. Most commemorative or celebratory beers tend to be big, strong and heavy in character. This is not a requirement, however. What is important is character that is special and worthy of celebration. We deliver just that to you in this brisk and fragrant commemorative 10-year summer ale.

The starting gravity of Baird 10-Year Summer Ale is on the low side (11.7 P), its bittering units are moderate (25 IBU) and its alcohol strength mild (4.8%). The ale bursts forth from the pint glass, though, with a provocatively refreshing character. The gorgeously fragrant aroma is courtesy of dry-hopping with a combination of Styrian Golding and Santiam hops. A simple base-malt grist bill of Maris Otter, floor-malted pils and wheat (raw and malted) supply a bright and subtly tart flavor stage for the hop performance. No need to limit yourself to just one of this terrifically quenching session ale.

Baird 10-Year Summer Ale is available both on draught an in bottles (633 ml). We will be serving it in traditional Real Ale form from the hand pumps at our various Taproom pubs while supplies last.

Numazu Fishmarket Taproom 10-Year Anniversary Extravaganza (July 17 – 19, Sat-Mon):
Sayuri and I opened the doors of our Numazu Fishmarket Taproom on Saturday, July 20, 2000. This July, then, is our 10-year birthday and we intend to celebrate in vigorous style. Please plan to join us for the three-day holiday weekend of July 17-19 (Saturday – Monday). This 3-day anniversary celebration will feature the following (with the Fishmarket Taproom opening each of these days at noon sharp):

Debut Release of a special commemorative Baird Beer: Tap 10.
Delicious 1,500 yen all-you-can-eat Taproom buffet (Sat & Sun: noon – 9:00 pm; Mon: noon – 7:00 pm)
500 yen Baird Beer bura bura cups for all beer styles sold at each venue
Brewery BBQ & Open House (1:00 – 6:00 pm Sat & Sun at the brewery — 500 meters from the Taproom)
Taproom sidewalk BBQ (3:00 – 8:00 pm Sat & Sun; 1:00 – 5:00 pm Mon)
Guided Brewery tours on Monday (1:00 pm and 4:00 pm)
Live Taproom music (Sat 8:00 – 10:00 pm; Mon 7:00 – 9:00 pm)
Open Mic Night performances (Sun 8:00 – 10:00 pm)
As you can see, we will have beer and food available at three separate locations most of the time and thus there will always be a place to escape with your bura bura cup should the Taproom become a bit crowded. Numazu is at its best in the summer months. The surrounding beaches are lovely; fishing, hiking and other activities are aplenty; and fresh fish market sushi beckons. Most compelling of all, though, will be the extraordinary gathering of an eclectic mix of wonderful beer enthusiasts who have made the 10-year journey of the Fishmarket Taproom and Baird Beer possible.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Shizuoka Summer Mikan Ale 2010 Debut

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The onset of sultry summer weather is a call for refreshment. Baird Beer is responding with the release of Shizuoka Summer Mikan Ale 2010.

*Shizuoka Summer Mikan Ale 2010 (ABV 5.5%):

A summer mikan (natsumikan) is a grapefruit-like citrus fruit that is tart and sweetly sour in flavor and wonderfully aromatic. The only fruit to make it through the doors of the Baird Brewery, of course, is fresh whole fruit recently plucked from the land. Our summer mikans are Shizuoka-grown, right in the Heda orchard of our carpenter-partner-friend, Mitsuo Nagakura. The bounty of fruit is painstakingly hand-processed by the Baird Brewery team before its introduction into the brewhouse. The 2010 natsumikan harvest was particularly good and you can taste all of its glory in each sip of this extraordinarily zesty brew.

The refreshing citrus character of Shizuoka Summer Mikan Ale is not supplied by fruit alone. The natsumikans are complemented beautifully by deft additions of three citrusy American hop varieties: Simcoe, Centennial and Amarillo. The quenchingly brisk and tart result is summer paradise in a glass!

Shizuoka Summer Mikan Ale 2010 will be available on draught and in bottles (633 ml) beginning Friday, June 25. Individual consumers can purchase bottles direct from the brewery via our online E-Shop: http://bairdbeer.com/en/shop/.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Zamamiro! Ale 2010

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

We originally brewed Zamamiro! Ale back in April, 2008 to commemorate our 1000th batch of Baird Beer. When we started Baird Brewing back in 2000, the prevailing “wisdom” in the ji-biiru sector generally ran against us. Very few industry players embraced the idea of highly characterful beer brewed in limitless diversity on a minuscule scale and then dispensed with as much care and attention to detail (appropriate temperatures and carbonation levels, etc.) as was devoted to brewhouse activity. Fortunately for us, though, Japan was home to a strong cadre of sensitive, open-minded and discerning drinkers who steadfastly supported passionate beer artisans like ourselves. To those who didn’t get it, and perhaps still don’t, we say once again, good naturedly: Zamamiro! (loosely translated as, “Hey, I told you so!”).

We have decided to brew Zamamiro! Ale as an annually released seasonal beer. Today we unveil the 2010 version.

*Zamamiro! Ale 2010 (ABV 8%):

The concept here is a strong, golden ale that enjoys a clean, crisp and easy smoothness while still packing a powerful flavor and alcohol punch. The brewing inspiration is very Belgian — we use only base malts and raw wheat; we jack up the gravity with lots of sudakito sugar; we keep the bittering units at a reasonable level (35); and we accentuate aroma by dry-hopping with spicy, herbal hop varieties (CZ Saaz and US Glacier). The one thing Belgian we don’t do is ferment with a phenolic-character Belgain yeast strain (we use our main house ale strain). The result, we think, is a beer that combines supreme drinkability with quiet audacity.

Zamamiro! Ale 2010 will be available at Baird Beer retailing pubs and liquor shops (draught and 633 ml bottles) throughout Japan beginning Thursday, June 17. Individual consumers may also purchase bottles direct from the brewery via our online E-Shop: http://bairdbeer.com/en/shop/.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Rainy Season Black Ale; World Cup Soccer; Fish Tap 10-Year Extravaganza

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The 2010 rainy season is right upon us. Given the amount of rainy weather we experienced this spring, though — particularly in the early stages, I am not anticipating an overly downcast season. I am a brewer and not a weather forecaster, of course, and the rainy season means just one thing to me as a professional — the annual brewing and release of a very hoppy dark ale: Rainy Season Black Ale.

New Seasonal Baird Beer Releases:
*Rainy Season Black Ale 2010 (ABV 6.1%):

A torrential down-pouring of hops define this otherwise roasty, toasty, espresso-like powerful black ale. 55 BUs of clean American (Warrior, Magnum, Horizon, Glacier, Santiam) lupulin as well as dry-hopped character from the spicy-peppery combination of Glacier and Santiam coat the tongue with a resinous stickiness that is pungently pleasurable. This is the Baird Beer antidote to the rainy season funk.

Rainy Season Black Ale 2010 will be available in both draught and bottle (633 ml) form throughout Japan at pubs, restaurants and liquor shops that constitute our wonderful and growing network of Baird Beer retailers. Check out the expanding list of Baird Beer retailers on the retailer’s page of our website: http://bairdbeer.com/en/bairdbeer/retailers. Of course, Each of our own Taproom pubs will be pouring Rainy Season Black Ale also, and individual consumers can order online direct from the brewery via our website E-Shop: http://bairdbeer.com/en/shop/.

*Setting Sun ESB (ABV 5.2%):

In case of much sun and fair skies this rainy season, we have prepared a beery complement to that also in the form of and English-style Extra Special Bitter (ESB). We concoct this quintessentially English style ale, however, with our own irreverent twists: addition of German base malt (Munich), hopping with a combination of American (Cascade) and New Zealand (Hallertau Aroma) varieties, and fermentation with an American ale yeast. If you want to ponder a beautiful early summer sunset with contemplative bliss, this ale will get you there.

Setting Sun ESB will be pouring exclusively in Real Ale form from the hand pumps of our three Taproom pubs. Please stop in for a pint while quantities last.

World Cup Soccer Kicks Off at the Taproom Pubs:
The soccer World Cup is about to kick off and we will be showing games live and with sound at each of our Taproom pubs. Just as beer is best imbibed in a socially convivial setting, so too is soccer best viewed. Our Numazu Fishmarket Taproom will be staying open late to show 11:00 pm kick-off matches in their entirety. Please feel free to contact any one of our Taproom pubs regarding the World Cup viewing schedule or to make special group reservations and/or requests.

-Numazu Fishmarket Taproom: fishmarket-tap@bairdbeer.com

-Nakameguro Taproom: nakameguro-tap@bairdbeer.com

-Harajuku Taproom: harajuku-tap@bairdbeer.com

Numazu Fishmarket Taproom 10-Year Anniversary Extravaganza:
Sayuri and I opened the doors of our Numazu Fishmarket Taproom on Saturday, July 20, 2000. This July, then, is our 10-year birthday and we intend to celebrate in vigorous style. Please mark your calendar for the three-day holiday weekend of July 17-19 (Saturday – Monday). This 3-day anniversary celebration will feature the following (with the Fishmarket Taproom opening each of these days at noon sharp):

Debut Release of a special commemorative Baird Beer: Tap 10.
Delicious 1,500 yen all-you-can-eat Taproom buffet (Sat & Sun: noon – 9:00 pm; Mon: noon – 7:00 pm)
500 yen Baird Beer bura bura cups for all beer styles sold at each venue
Brewery BBQ & Open House (1:00 – 6:00 pm Sat & Sun at the brewery — 500 meters from the Taproom)
Taproom sidewalk BBQ (3:00 – 8:00 pm Sat & Sun; 1:00 – 5:00 pm Mon)
Guided Brewery tours on Monday (1:00 pm and 4:00 pm)
Live Taproom music (Sat 9:00 – 11:00 pm; Mon 7:00 – 9:00 pm)
Open Mic Night performances (Sun 8:00 – 10:00 pm)
Numazu is at its best in the summer months. The surrounding beaches are lovely; fishing, hiking and other activities are aplenty; and fresh fish market sushi beckons. Most compelling of all, though, will be the extraordinary gathering of an eclectic mix of wonderful beer enthusiasts who have made the 10-year journey of the Fishmarket Taproom and Baird Beer possible. The Baird Beer won’t be bad either!

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Two New Experimental Seasonal Brews

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Over the past ten years we have brewed an almost countless variety of characterful seasonal beers. Our reservoir of energy and enthusiasm for continued experimentation in brewing a diverse array of beer remains full to overflowing. Please welcome the newest members of our seasonal beer club.

*Biere du Japon (ABV 5.8%):

This fantastically original beer is an unique combination of Belgian brewing tradition and Japanese ingredients. The brewing grist incorporates English malted barley as a minority ingredient (49%); the others are all indigenous Japanese material (raw wheat, genmai rice, akato sugar). We borrow the Belgian brewing penchant for use of unusual spices by flavoring Biere du Japon with the following local ingredients: shoga (ginger), sansho peppercorns, and lemons (fresh peels and a little squeezed juice). Fermentation is handled by a Belgian Wit beer strain. The result is a wonderfully quenching taste of springtime in Japan.

Biere du Japon will be available on draught at Baird Beer retailing pubs and restaurants throughout Japan beginning Saturday, June 5 (including our own Taproom pubs). It also will be available for purchase in 360 ml bottles through our fine network of craft beer retailing liquor shops in Japan. Consumer purchases direct from the brewery are possible through our online E-Shop (http://bairdbeer.com/en/shop/) — visit the 360 ml bottle year-round beer section.

*White Wheat Ale (ABV 4.6%):

White Wheat Ale is a somewhat more standard interpretation of a classic Belgian-style Wit beer, which is a white hued ale brewed with large amounts of wheat (raw and malted). These zesty and refreshing brews often are subtly spiced with coriander and orange peel. We leave out the coriander but do add a bit of orange juice to lend an nice touch of acidic fruitiness. White Wheat Ale is the perfect accompaniment to tangy salads and fish dishes of all sorts.

White Wheat Ale is a small batch brew available exclusively on draught and only at our three Taproom pubs (Numazu Fishmarket, Nakameguro and Harajuku). Please stop in for a glass or two while quantities last.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

New Seasonal Releases; Great New Baird Beer Pub in Hamamatsu

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

We brewers of Baird Beer tend to love the citrus character imparted by pungent American hop varieties. We also are fortunate to have access to a wide variety of fresh local citrus fruit here in Numazu. We combine this love and this fortune every year in the brewing of a special seasonal beer: Pacific Century Citrus IPA.

Pacific Century Citrus IPA 2010 (ABV 6.8%):

This 2010 version is stronger than ever at 70 bittering units and 6.8% alcohol by volume. In it we combine loads of citrusy American hops (Simcoe, Cascade, Ahtanum) with the tart, piquant and highly aromatic local citrus fruit called daidai. The result is an unique India Pale Ale defined by citrus character derived from ingredients from both sides of the Pacific.

Pacific Century Citrus IPA 2010 is available in limited quantities in both bottles (633 ml) and kegs. Consumers can purchase bottles direct from our brewery online E-Shop (http://bairdbeer.com/en/shop/).

We also are releasing a special experimental beer that we brewers make for our own edification and enjoyment. It will be available on draught only and exclusively at our Taproom pubs to those who know the brewer’s secret handshake! Come in for a pint soon before the brewers drink it all.

Beer House Tir nan-Og Opens in Hamamatsu:

We are thrilled to announce the opening on May 15 of a terrific new Baird Beer-dedicated pub in Hamamatsu called Beer House Tir nan-Og. This warm and sociable pub is the labor-love of our good friends and business partners Yoshiko and Hiro Oishi. This wonderful couple wondered in to our Fishmarket Taproom for the first time way back in September 2000 (before Baird Beer even was available). They immediately became close friends of ours and were smitten with the good beer and pub bug. Ten years later, they have opened the first non-Taproom 100% Baird Beer-dedicated pub in Japan (and the first to retail Baird Beer at all in the city of Hamamatsu). Please pay them a visit at the earliest opportunity and drink a pint to their future success and continued good health. Contact details are below:

Beer House Tir nan-Og
Tel/Fax: 053-450-6006
329-8 Maruman Bldg. 81
Nakaku Tamachi, Hamamatsu
Business Hours:
Weekdays (from 6:00 pm)
Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays (from 3:00 pm)
Closed Tuesdays

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

10 Years of Baird Brewing; Nakameguro Taproom 2-Year Anniversary Celebration

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The older one gets, the faster time seems to fly by. Well, a full decade has logged itself into the history annals since the incorporation of Baird Brewing Company (March, 2000). Sayuri and I opened the doors of the Numazu Fishmarket Taproom for business in July 2000, serving Hoegaarden White and Guinness on tap and selling an array of American and Belgian craft beers. The brewing license for Baird Beer was granted finally in December, 2000, paving the way for the debut of Fisherman’s Wheat Ale, Kurofune Porter and Teikoku IPA in January, 2001.

We plan to celebrate ten years in business this year with the release of a series of commemorative Baird Beers. The first in this series is being released in conjunction with this weekends’ 2-year anniversary celebration of the opening of our Nakameguro Taproom. We call this special brew NT-2 Extra Imperial IPA.

NT-2 Extra Imperial IPA (ABV 8%):

Hoppy IPAs have always shared a warm spot in my brewing heart. This extra strong IPA finds its signature character in the hop flavor and aroma of two European varieties that I possess a strong sentimental attachment to: East Kent Golding and Styrian Golding. It was around these two hop varieties that I designed our original flagship IPA: Teikoku IPA. These varieties were unavailable to us for several years but they are back and look for their reappearance in upcoming batches of Teikoku IPA.

NT-2 Extra IPA carries 101 hop bittering units contributed largely by the trio of clean, high-alpha American varieties Warrior, Magnum and Galena. Flavor- and aroma-hopping are exclusively with a combination of East Kent Golding and Styrian Golding. We then triple dry-hop the beer, again with East Kent Golding and Styrian Golding, one week each in three different conditioning tanks. Finally, we krausened at packaging to produce a secondary fermentation, maturation and natural carbonation in keg.

NT-2 Extra IPA is available only on draught and only at the Nakameguro Taproom (although a couple brewer’s share kegs might be available at the Fishmarket Taproom also). Its release on Saturday, May 8 kicks off the 2-day Nakameguro Taproom 2-year anniversary celebration. Please join Sayuri and me there for a pint or two.

Hops, however glorious, are not the only arrow in our brewing quiver. We love to incorporate fresh, natural, local ingredients that can accentuate a beer’s base character and make it even more interesting and compelling. Thanks to our good friends at the pub Lavian Lee down in Shizuoka, we accessed some very good, locally grown ginger (shoga) that we immediately dedicated to the brewhouse. The result is a special Shoga Ale that also will debut on Saturday at the Nakameguro Taproom celebration and will be available only there and at Lavian Lee.

Shoga Ale (ABV 4.8%):

The idea behind this unique beer is simple: flavor and refreshment. Mild in gravity and alcohol strength, Shoga Ale is built on a very simple grist bill: 2 types of base malt and Japanese dark sugar (kokuto). The hopping is restrained at 20 bittering units, but clean and brisk. Center stage is given over to our friend Shoga, whose piquant, peppery, playful performance proves winning! This is an ale not to be missed but in very short supply.

Nakameguro Taproom 2-Year Anniversary Celebration:

For two days (Saturday-Sunday, May 8-9) we will be celebrating the 2-year birthday of our Nakameguro Taproom. During the celebration, all Baird Beer will be served at special (read cheap) Numazu prices. Discounts on our guest American beers also will be applicable. Additionally, the NT kitchen has come up with a wonderful beer-inspired buffet that is available for 1,500 yen per person (all-you-can-eat).

It is thanks to your patronage that the Nakameguro Taproom continues to increasingly flourish. Please plan to stop in and receive a personal thanks from Sayuri and me and the entire Nakameguro Taproom staff.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Seasonal Releases; Golden Week Taproom Hours; Nakameguro Taproom 2-Year Anniversary

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The annual Japan Golden Week holiday is just around the corner and we are kicking it off with the release of three distinct spring seasonal beers: Four Sisters Spring Bock, Temple Garden Yuzu Ale, and Love Potion Ale.

Four Sisters Spring Bock (ABV 7%): This is a heavily wheated German-style Maibock brewed annually for spring release. It is bready, wholesome and extremely refreshing given its strength. It is available both in kegs and bottles (633 ml).
Temple Garden Yuzu Ale (ABV 6%): Yuzu is a Japanese citron fruit the aroma of which is gorgeously spicy and the flavor lemon-like tart. This sprite, snappy ale is fruited with yuzu and hopped in a complementary way. It is a perfect spring libation. It is available also both in kegs and bottles (633 ml).
Love Potion Ale (ABV 7%): Good beer is the lubricant to many wonderful things, none more important than love. Baird Beer and The Taproom played a lubricating role in last year’s matrimony struck between two great friends and patrons — Seiji and Naomi. Love Potion Ale, dark in color and strong in alcohol, is surprisingly sprite and wonderfully aromatic. It is at once playful and provocative yet strong and substantive — much like the love in a good relationship. Enjoy a pint in toast to Seiji and Naomi and their one-year anniversary! Love Potion is available draught-only in very limited quantities.
All three of these spring seasonals will be available beginning Friday, April 30.

Golden Week Taproom Hours

2010 Japan Golden Week kicks off for many this Thursday, April 29 with the the national holiday called Showa Day. All three Taprooms will be open from noon that day. Normal business hours will be observed on Friday, April 30. Then, from Saturday, May 1 through Wednesday, May 5, each Taproom again will open at noon. The Numazu Fishmarket Taproom will be closed for business on Thursday, May 6.

Please plan on spending a part of your Golden Week holiday with us at one of our Taprooms, drinking terrific beer and enjoying the warm camaraderie.

Nakameguro Taproom 2-Year Anniversary Celebration

The Nakameguro Taproom opened its doors for business on Saturday, May 10, 2008. It will be celebrating its 2-year birthday on the weekend of May 8-9 (Saturday-Sunday). During this 2-day party, Baird Beer will be served at low Numazu-prices and a wonderful all-you-can-eat buffet will be available for the hungry at 1,500 yen per person. Sayuri and I will be in attendance on Saturday helping to tap a very special 2-year anniversary ale (details forthcoming shortly). Please mark your calendar and plan on joining us for the festivities.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Three 2010 World Beer Cup Gold Medals

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The World Beer Cup is a bi-annual competition of world beers generally thought of as the “Olympics” of beer. The 2010 World Beer Cup — the world’s largest ever commercial beer competition with 642 breweries from 44 countries entering 3,330 beers in 90 beer style categories — was just held in Chicago where medal winners were announced at a gala dinner on Saturday, April 10. I am thrilled to report that Baird Beer took home a competition-tying best three gold medals!

The Baird gold-medal awarded beers are:

(1) Numazu Lager (American-Style Amber Lager category)

(2) Country Girl Kabocha Ale (Specialty Beer category)

(3) Saison Sayuri (Belgian- and French-Style Ale category)

To receive this level of international recognition from our world brewing peers is deeply satisfying to us and, hopefully, encouraging to this nascent but steadily developing market for craft beer in Japan. For more information on the World Beer Cup, please visit its website at: www.worldbeercup.org.

We will be celebrating this 2010 World Beer Cup success at the Numazu Fishmarket Taproom this coming Friday evening (April 16) with a pre-release party for gold-medal winning Saison Sayuri. We, of course, also will be pouring (and celebrating) Numazu Lager and will have a limited quantity of the remaining bottles of Country Girl Kabocha Ale on hand. Doors open at 5:00 pm.

The celebrating moves to Tokyo on Saturday, April 17, where a second round of Saison Sayuri pre-release parties will be happening at the Harajuku and Nakameguro Taprooms. Sayuri and I will be in attendance at Harajuku in the afternoon and at Nakameguro later that evening. We also will plan to arrange for kegs of this year’s champion small brewery, Ballast Point Brewing Company (imported by Nagano Trading) to be pouring from a couple taps at the Nakameguro Taproom. Please plan on joining us at one venue or another for this special celebration and Saison Sayuri sneak-preview launch.

The general release of Saison Sayuri will take place on Monday, April 19. It will be available both on draught and in 633 ml bottles.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

The Brewers Asociation Has Announced the winners of the World Beer Cup 2010!

Bryan Baird who brews Baird Beer in Naumazu has been awarded the Golds Medals in:

Category 8: Specialty Beer (27 Entries)
Beer name: Country Girl Kabocha Ale
Brewer: Baird Brewing Co., Numazu, Japan

Category 36: American-Style Amber Lager (24 Entries)
Beer Name: Numazu Lager
Brewer: Baird Brewing Co., Numazu, Japan

Category 42: Belgian- and French-Style Ale (57 Entries)
Beer name: Saison Sayuri
Brewer: Baird Brewing Co., Numazu, Japan

Sayuri and Bryan, congratulations and thanks for putting Numazu and Shizuoka on the Beer World Map!!

The Japan Blog List

———————————
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Three Spring Seasonal Releases

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Although the calendar reads spring, a dreary end-of-winter kind of chilly grey gloom pervades. In the hope of coaxing the spring weather gods out of their slumber, we are releasing today three joyfully bright and sunny spring seasonal beers: Kiwi IPA, Black Velvet Dark Lager and Citrus Wheat Stout.

Kiwi IPA (ABV 7%): Hop agricultural has taken deep root in New Zealand over the past decade. Hop varieties from the kiwi country are, in our experience, quite distinct from those of both Europe and the United States. Kiwi IPA is our attempt to highlight the character of three varieties of New Zealand hops (Motueka, NZ Cascade and NZ Hallertau Aroma). We flavor- aroma- and dry-hop this brisk India Pale Ale exclusively with the aforementioned NZ varieties. The result, we think, is a deliciously complex IPA quite unlike any you have experienced before.
Black Velvet Dark Lager (ABV 5%): This is the Baird interpretation of a German-style Schwarzbier (a dark lager style noted for its smooth roundness and easy drinkability). Black Velvet Dark Lager was brewed way back in summer, 2009 and as the name suggests it drinks from the glass with a silky, velvet-like smoothness. This is a perfect beer with which to kick off an evening of slow and sociable imbibing.
Citrus Wheat Stout (ABV 6.5%): While we love recreating classic world beer styles, we also maintain a reverence for the stylistically irreverent. Citrus Wheat Stout is a prime example of reverentially irreverent brewing. This unusual Stout is wheat (not barley) based, hopped aggressively with citrus flavor varieties (Simcoe, Centennial, Amarillo), and made more potently citrus with additions of freshly squeezed juice and shaved peels of the wonderful Japanese citrus fruit, Daidai. The flavor experience is beyond words — you simply must try it!
Kiwi IPA and Black Velvet Dark Lager are available both in kegs and bottles (633 ml). Citrus Wheat Stout is keg only and quantities are extremely limited.

Finally, congratulations are due to Yokota-san and his wife Kimi for the opening of their terrific new beer pub (Biiru no Yokota) (http://www.beer-yokota.com/) in Shizuoka City (located right across from the city hall building). Yoko-chan, of course, was previously the manager of both our Fishmarket and Nakameguro Taprooms. His wonderful pub offers a great lineup of Baird Beer as well as other well-selected Japan and imported craft beer. Please plan on paying them a visit soon.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird
Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

New Seasonal Releases; Lucky 7 Stout Week Kick-Off; Numazu Hanami Party

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

We kick off our Lucky 7 Stout Week at the Numazu Fishmarket Taproom on Wednesday, March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day). We wind up the week on the Japan national holiday of Monday, March 22. For event details, please refer to last week’s bulletin. Please join us for the Irish-inspired beer, food and revelry.

We also are marking St. Patrick’s Day with the general release of two seasonal ales: Midnight Oil Export Stout and Imperial Belgian Red Ale.

*Midnight Oil Export Stout 2010 (ABV 6.5%):

Export stouts generally are rich and roasty in flavor, moderately high in alcoholic strength, and sporting some noticeable hop character (normally registering in terms of bitterness and flavor). Baird Midnight Oil Export Stout 2010 enjoys a complexly layered roasted malt character that is balanced beautiful by a kiss of caramel sweetness from additions of two varieties of crystal malt. A firm, straightforward hop flavor rounds this Stout into perfect harmony.

Midnight Oil Export Stout will be available at Baird Beer retailing pubs, restaurants and liquor shops in Japan beginning Wednesday, March 17. Bottles (633 ml) also will be sold direct from the brewery via our online E-Shop (http://bairdbeer.com/en/shop/).

*Imperial Belgian Red Ale (ABV 7.5%):

Belgian ales, to the extent that they can be characterized, tend to be yeast-driven and idiosyncratic. We ferment this unique, high-gravity, lovely red-hued ale with a Belgian yeast strain that lends a softly fruity and subdued phenolic character to it. Moderate attenuation leaves a luscious upfront malt sweetness on the palate that lingers pleasantly through the warm alcohol finish. This is a great ale to mark the transition from winter to spring.

Imperial Belgian Red Ale goes on sale Wednesday, March 17 and is available both on draught and in bottle (633 ml).

Finally, the Hanami season is fast approaching and we are planning a festive Hanami party in Numazu sponsored by our Fishmarket Taproom. The party will be held from noon until 4:00 pm on Sunday, March 28 at the Minato-guchi Koen which is just a few hundred meters down the street from the Taproom. Participants can enjoy a tabe-hodai picnic and nomi-hodai Baird Beer (several styles) for 3,000 yen per person. Kids can attend for free. The cost for non-beer drinkers is 1,500 yen. More details will follow in next week’s bulletin. If you would like to reserve a spot in advance, please email the Fishmarket Taproom (fishmarket-tap@bairdbeer.com).

Cheers,

Bryan Baird
Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-