Tag Archives: Microbreweries

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/10/17): Latest Seasonal Releases: Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale and O-Bosan Ale

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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Latest Seasonal Releases: Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale and O-Bosan Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Unlike industrial beer, where summer reigns supreme, craft beer truly is a beverage of all seasons. That said, fall — with its crisp and brisk weather — strikes us as a quintessentially good season for the enjoyment of the robustly full-flavored ales that typify craft beer. We are excited to announce today’s release of two such autumn ales: Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale and O-Bosan Ale.

Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:

*Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale (ABV 6%):

To baseball fans, October means World Series (also known as the “Fall Classic”) time. To me, the annual Fall Classic invariably brings back boyhood memories of watching and rooting for the great “Big Red Machine” Cincinnati teams of 1975 and 1976 World Series fame. Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale was brewed initially in 2005 as a 30-year tribute to the Cincinnati Reds World Series championship team of 1975 (they beat the Boston Red Sox in a dramatic 7-game series). We continue to brew it annually because it is such a fine beer and it is the perfect libation to enjoy while taking in the Fall Classic. While my Cincinnati Reds will not be challenging for the World Series ring this year, I still will be glued to the tube each evening, sipping on a Big Red Machine and enjoying one of the world’s great sporting events.

Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale is brawny in the depth and richness of its malt character, and balanced beautifully by a spicy and sprite hop essence. Much as the rare combination of power and finesse was a hallmark of the Big Red Machine on the field, so too is it a hallmark of Big Red Machine in the glass!

Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale is keg only this year — we will return to bottling it again next year at our new brewery. It begins pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (Thursday, October 17). It is available for immediate shipment to other craft beer serving establishments throughout Japan.

*O-Bosan Ale (ABV 7%):

The Belgian beer landscape is dotted with monastic breweries that have created many unique beer styles over the long course of their brewing history. One such style is a Belgian Dubbel. Dark red to brown in color, Dubbels tend to be relatively strong in gravity and alcohol, medium in body, with flavor notes of caramel, chocolate and pit fruit.

If this style had been brewed in Japan, it undoubtedly would have been crafted by some beer-loving sect of Buddhist monks (O-Bosan). Sadly, it hadn’t been. The Baird brewers have stepped in to fill the void. Our O-Bosan Ale is a celebration of the religious history that informs large segments of beer culture. May it help you to find your inner being!

O-Bosan Ale is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles (360 ml).

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Shop with Intent by Debbie
BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Oktober Fest 2013 at Growstock in Shizuoka City on October 14th!

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Service: very lively and friendly.
Facilities: great cleanliness overall.
Prices: reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Beer from all over the world. Outside terrace. Local microbrewery beer available in some quantities.

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Growstock (part of Beck Co Ltd. with Mando and Aoi Beer Stand) will hold its Oktober Fest for the 5th time running on October 14th!

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October 14th is on a Tuesday, but since it is a National Holiday you are left with no excuse, especially in the light that it will held in the afternoon from 13:00 to 19:00.
Rerserve your seat outside on the terrace!

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Advance all you can drink and eat Food & Drinks Tickets are sold for 4,000 yen. If you buy 4 tickets you will be offered a limited edition T Shirt!
Only 40 tickets available so hurry!
Otherwise all drinks and food can be bought for 600 yen a piece (tickets to be bought at the entrance only) on the premises on the day!

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GROW STOCK
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi Naka Building, 5F
Tel.: 054-293-9331
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00 (Mon.~Thurs.), 17:00~27:00 (Fri & Sat.), 17:00~24:00 (Sun.)
Parties welcome (reserve!)
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Shop with Intent by Debbie
BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/10/08): The Flavors of Fall — Joie de Vivre Golden Ale & Fall Fest Lager

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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The Flavors of Fall — Joie de Vivre Golden Ale & Fall Fest Lager

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Fall is my favorite season. I love the clean crispness in the air and the brightness of the season’s colors. Fall is the season for celebration of nature’s harvest. We are honoring the autumn season this year with two special brews: Joie de Vivre Golden Ale and Fall Fest Lager.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Joie de Vivre Golden Ale (6.5%):

If beer is good at one thing it is helping people to feel the joy of the moment. The Belgians are perhaps the best at putting their beer and culinary culture to the service of joyful living. Joie de Vivre Golden Ale is our tribute to Belgium’s joyous beer culture. It is a richly hued golden ale of simple makeup — three base malts (floor-malted Maris Otter, Pilsner and Munich) and one sugar (Japanese sudakito). The hopping is more complex — five earthy, herbal varieties (Millenium, Sterling, Willamette, Fuggle, Styrian Golding) are added in combination both to the kettle and to the conditioning tank. Fermentation is warm (around 25 C), carried out by our house Belgian strain. Attenuation is high; the beer is dry. Each sip will bring a happy reminder of the joie de vivre.

Joie de Vivre Golden Ale is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles.

*Fall Fest Lager (5.8%):

If the Belgians are best at putting beer to the service of joyful living, the Germans are a close second. Fall Fest Lager is our version of a classic German Marzen lager. The color is the amber-red of the fall foliage. Richly malty in flavor, the body is round and soft. The finish is clean and pleasingly unctuous. This is the taste of of autumn in Bavaria.

Fall Fest Lager also is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Shop with Intent by Debbie
BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/09/30): Building a New Brewery — Baird Brewery Gardens Shuzenji

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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Building a New Brewery — Baird Brewery Gardens Shuzenji

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

No doubt most of you have heard the scuttlebutt about us building a new brewery in Izu. Heretofore, we had been cautious about making any bold public pronouncements because of the long, complicated and not 100% settled nature of the project. Well, the time for caution is over. The regulatory ‘i’ s have been dotted and the bureaucratic ‘t’ s crossed. Forty-seven new equity partners have joined our owner-partner team, putting their hard-earned savings into the Baird Brewing dream. Our bank has given its blessing. The Izu city government has delivered full and enthusiastic cooperation. The land purchases have been consummated and so have the leases. The brewery building has been designed and construction inaugurated. Our new German brewing equipment is being fabricated as I write.

Baird Brewery Gardens Shuzenji will busily be brewing Baird Beer, knock on wood, come April 2014.

Our current small brewing systems will be relocated and reinstalled in the new Shuzenji location at around the same time. The Numazu Fishmarket Taproom — Baird Brewing Company’s founding location — will remain unchanged (we never intend to leave that location). I have posted a long and detailed history of Baird Brewing in our official Baird Beer Brewer’s Blog space entitled ‘The Story of a Craft Brewery Dream.’ Please visit this blog for more details about the Baird Brewery Gardens Shuzenji project: http://bairdbeer.com/en/blog_numazu/.

For those of you who have traveled this long journey with us, the blog piece will be a fun and memory-laden read. For those of you less familiar with our story, the blog can serve as both a comprehensive introduction to Baird Brewing and an overview of the evolution of craft brewing in Japan since the late 1990s. This is a very exciting time for us and we are so grateful to all of you who have helped us to come so far.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:

In celebration of our new brewery groundbreaking, we are proud to announce the release of two poignantly commemorative beers: Wabi-Sabi Japan Pale Ale and Destination Ale.

*Wabi-Sabi Japan Pale Ale (6.5%):

This is a distinctly Japanese interpretation of the world’s most popular craft beer style — India Pale Ale. More herbal in flavor than most IPAs, Wabi-Sabi JPA derives this character from a unique blend of world hops and two quintessentially Japanese herbs — green tea and wasabi (both grown locally in Izu). Wabi-Sabi JPA is a bold brew but, as the name implies, the audacity is laced with quiet simplicity and subdued refinement.

We have been working on iterations of Wabi-Sabi JPA for some time now and we will continue this process of experimentation and refinement until we open the new brewery in Shuzenji, at which time Wabi-Sabi Japan Pale Ale will become the eleventh in our line-up of year-round Baird Beer.

Wabi-Sabi is available in both kegs and bottles for immediate release. It begins pouring from our Taproom taps Monday, September 30.

*Destination Ale (5.5%):

We love brewing with fresh in-season local fruit. So much so that the first activity at our new Shuzenji brewery grounds was the planting of a fruit tree orchard. While these new plantings won’t yield usable fruit for a few years, we are fortunate to have found some mature fruit trees on the grounds which are producing beautifully. One such tree is producing sumomo (Japanese sweet plums). Well, we got busy harvesting these delicious little purple pit-fruits when they were ripe in June. They went into our Numazu brewery for brewing on June 23. Well, we are at last ready to share the fruits of this beer.

Orange-red in color, Destination Ale’s grist is a combination of barley (85%) and wheat (15%). It is lightly hopped for flavor, not aroma or bitterness, with two mild and earthy hops — English Fuggle and German Perle. Cut whole sumomo fruit was added in two stages — once in the hot wort and once in the cold post-primary fermentation green beer. Secondary fermentation and natural carbonation occurred in package, as it always does with Baird Beer. The flavor is lightly tart and spritely refreshing.

Destination Ale is a small-batch keg-only beer available exclusively at the Baird Beer Taproom pubs. It begins pouring Monday, September 30.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Shop with Intent by Debbie
BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Baird Beer Brewery-Numazu Lager

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Baird Beer owned by Bryan Baird in Numazu City is not only a household name but a truly internationally-recognized brewery in spite of its relatively short history.
Living in Shizuoka Prefecture makes it easy to get their brews as more and more local sake shops are marketing them!

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We are also blessed with beautiful labels which are sale at a bigger size for the pleasure of collectors.
This particular label is an abstract rendition of Numazu City harbor!

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Product name: Baird Beer-Numazu Ale
Unfiltered
Ingredients: (German) malt, barley, sugars, hops, yeast
Volume: 360 ml
Alcohol: 5%
Process: Unfiltered. Double fermentation for natural bubbles. Live yeast

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Clarity: Slightly smoky but very clean aspect
Color: Orange, color deeper than usual lagers
Foam: Fairly long head. Light bubbles
Aroma: Bread, oranges
Taste: Well rounded, deep and rich attack.
Very clean impression.
Complex.
Bread, oranges.
Very refreshing though not a thirst-quenching beer.
Welcome acidity.
Pleasantly lingers for a while on a drier note with more oranges and hints of nuts and persimmon.
persimmon actually tends to take over the oranges on the second sip with more welcome acidity.

Overall: Very refreshing but deep beer.
Usually I conduct my beer tastings in the afternoons when my palate is not influenced by any food or else. This beer has the the gratifying quality of welcoming you with a nourishing feeling!
Accordingly I would advise all true beer lovers to drink it at ease to fully enjoy its rich and utterly rewarding taste.
Good, I should say great, beers should be drunk on their own and Bryan Baird is known all over the world for its sublime brews!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Shop with Intent by Debbie
BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/09/20): Fall Seasonal Release — Yabai-Yabai Strong Scotch Ale

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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Fall Seasonal Release — Yabai-Yabai Strong Scotch Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

As is most often the case, summer in Japan gets blown out and autumn ushered in by the winds of a tempestuous typhoon. We are welcoming fall with today’s release of a beer that has become synonymous with the fall season: Yabai-Yabai Strong Scotch Ale.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Yabai-Yabai Strong Scotch Ale (ABV 7.5%):

Scotland, an historically important center of beer brewing, has a cool climate that favors cultivation of the hardy barley plant. Scottish Ales, thus, tend to feature the rich and robust flavor of malted barley. Baird Yabai-Yabai Strong Scotch Ale is, in a word, opulent! The color is a deep mahogany brown and the head is dense, creamy and tan. The aroma is one of soft fruit esters and warm fusel alcohols. The body is chewy and the flavor exhibits notes of molasses, caramel apples, rum cake and pit fruit. One glass is enough to take the bite out of the evening autumn chill. Two glasses will leave you toasty and blissfully warm. Three glasses and …. YABAI!

Yabai-Yabai begins pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (September 20) and is available in both kegs and bottles for immediate release to Baird Beer retailers throughout Japan.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/09/12): Baird Beer Seasonal Release: Kellerbock

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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Baird Beer Seasonal Release: Kellerbock

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

There is enough diversity inherent in the flavor of beer for a brewer to be able, theoretically, to brew and release a different and distinctive beer every day of the year. Beer truly is the gift that never stops giving. Today’s beer gift is Baird Kellerbock.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Baird Kellerbock (6.5%):

Bock is a strong, malt-centric lager of German origin. Bock beers have historically been associated with special occasions — religious festivals and whatnot. They also enjoy a long history of being brewed and consumed by Bavarian monks as a source of nutrition during times of fasting.

Baird Kellerbock is an unfiltered and secondarily fermented version of this old German style. It is chestnut-brown in color, richly luxuriant in texture, and hugely malty in flavor. It is a beautiful beer to imbibe in this season of dropping temperatures and shortening days.

Baird Kellerbock is available for immediate release in kegs only (no bottles). It begins pouring from the taps of our Taproom pubs tonight (Thursday, September 12).

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/09/04): Baird Beer Seasonal Release — Wheat King Wit

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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Baird Beer Seasonal Release — Wheat King Wit

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Ingredient experimentation in brewing is one of the key elements to innovation and flavor improvement. Brewing single-hop beers that share an identical recipe and differ only in hop variety is one way that we experiment with ingredients to understand particular flavor contributions. Fermenting a regular year-round beer with a different yeast strain than usual is another way we conduct this experimentation. Today we are happy to share with you the results of one of the latter experiments: Wheat King Wit.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Wheat King Wit (ABV 4%):

Wheat King Ale, of course, is one of our current ten year-round beers. It is a beer designed to highlight the crisp, wholesome, bread-like characteristics imparted by wheat as opposed to barley, which normally dominates a recipes’ grist bill. Wheat King Ale is fermented with our house ale yeast, which is a very flavor-neutral strain (i.e. it ferments clean without imparting distinctly noticeable flavor attributes of its own).

Wheat King Wit, as the name implies, is our Wheat King Ale recipe fermented with a Belgian witbier yeast strain (the same one we use to ferment Single-Take Session Ale). Witbier yeast strains tend to impart distinctive fruit and phenolic flavors in the course of fermentation. Our witbier strain is more restrained than some, but the flavor difference between Wheat King Ale and Wheat King Wit is clear and interesting.

We are now accepting orders for Wheat King Wit. It is keg-only and will begin pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (Wednesday, September 4). By all means, avail yourself of this valuable beer tasting 101 flavor comparison opportunity — Wheat King Wit beside Wheat King Ale. Can you taste the difference? What is your preference?

And we have a special late-summer beer treat for our Taproom patrons — Chris’ Garden Cascade Hop Ale (4.5%). Draught beer manager Chris Madere’s home hop garden has just been through its third harvest, and as is often the case in hop growing, the third year is the charm. Chris’ 2013 organically grown Cascade hops were his best and most plentiful to date. We loaded about 500 grams of them in our 250 liter kettle in three different additions. We dosed another 400 grams in the conditioning tank in an aroma-imparting dry-hop addition. The base beer is a light golden ale of moderate starting gravity (11.7 Plato).

Chris’ Garden Cascade Hop Ale is available exclusively at Baird Taproom pubs and begins its run through our British real ale hand pumps tonight. Enjoy, and drink one to Chris!

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Wind Valley Brewery-Izu Ale

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The Wind Valley Brewery does deserve its name in Kannami, Mishima City.
It is actually tugged between two precipitous slopes and it can be extremely windy there, especially in winter!
The brewery is still relatively young founded as it was in 1997, but is steadily making a name for itself!

The Brewery is putting out 3 regular beers all year round apart of 3 more seasonal ones and Izu Ale is one of the former.
Izu is the name of the Peninsula of the same name and the Brewery is located in the very Northern part.

Ingredients: Barley, hops, yeast and water from Mount Fuji. Barley molt from own barley and British ale malt
Contents: 330 ml
Alcohol: 5.5%
Yeast: live

Clarity: Smoky
Color: Amber orange
Foam: Fine, lingers for a while
Aroma: Bread, yeast, faint oranges
Taste: Deep and solid attack with oranges. Finishes on a dry note on the palate with bread.
Complex from first sip and even more from second sip.
Dry oranges and bread linger on.
Tends to become drier and drier with further sips.

Overall: Very solid and satisfying brew to be enjoyed on its own as well as with heavy food or pickles.
A beer for all seasons!

Wind Valley Beer (Oratche), Rakunou Oukoku Co. Ltd
Shizuoka Ken, Mishima Shi, Kannami, Tanna, 349-1
Tel.: 055-974-4211
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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With a Glass,
POPCORNHOMESTEAD in Tokyo by Joan Lambert Bailey,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

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

Shizuoka Beer tasting: Yonekyu Mori Brewery-Fuji Sansan

Although most people even in Shizuoka call it Gotemba Brewery, the real name of this establishment is Mori no Biru Kojyou/”Forest Brewery”/森のビール工場!
It is owned by the big Delicatessen Company Yonekyu/米久.

They produce 3 regular brews, Pils, Dunkel and Weizen.
They also come up with seasonal brews.
This particular Brand, Fuji ansan/富士燦燦 is their newest drink which has just appeared in the big supermarkets in Shizuoka Prefecture.
They advertise it as a Pilsner tyoe made with water from Mont Fuji gushing into a well dug 80 metres deep.

Yonekyu Mori Brewery-Fuji Sansan/米久社・富士燦燦

Contents: 300ml
Alcohol: 5%
Water: Natural source water from Mount Fuji

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden
Foam: Fine. Disappears quickly
Aroma: Light. Bread. Hops
Taste: More solid than expected and soft at the same time.
Bread. Hints of oranges.
Both refreshing and satisfying.
Pleasantly lingers for a while.
Good balance.

Overall: An interesting beer satisfying both in summer and winter.
Suited to accompany meals of any kind.
Definitely better than expected!

Yonekyu Mori Brewery-Fuji Sansan/米久社 森のビール工場
Shizuoka ken, Gotemba Shi, Hodosawa Aza Sumiyakisawa, 1015-1/静岡県御殿場市保土沢字炭焼沢1015-1
Tel.: 0550-89-7611

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

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

Shizuoka Brewery: Baird Beer Company

The line-up!

When Bryan and Sayuri Baird founded Baird Brewery in March 2000 in Numazu City, a celebrated harbor in Shizuoka Prefecture, very few people could have imagined than no less than nine years later, their beers would be savored on both sides and across the Pacific Ocean, and in pubs and bars dotted all over Japan!

What is the secret of a couple born in Okinawa (Sayuri) and in the US (Bryan), who has succeeded in managing their business and raising their children at the same time?

In Bryan’s words, they are a family born of a deep passion for beer and a great reverence for brewing history, tradition and culture. Their motto is “Celebrating Beer”, meaning to them not simply the production and sale of beer of character and quality but even more importantly but also entailing the comprehensive enjoyment of beer in a way that enhances the overall experience of life.

Baird Beer is, above all, an experience in flavor.
The flavors of malt and hops and yeast are highlighted and celebrated to their utmost.
The basic formula for the entire line-up of hand-crafted Baird Beer is the same: “Balance + Complexity = Character”.
Baird Beers burst with flavor and character rarely witnessed in this country.
They are made in tiny batches with painstaking care, passion and reverence to tradition.

All bottled Baird beer is unfiltered and undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle, producing a lovely and completely carbonation. Yeast sediment is at the bottom of the bottle, meaning that beer should be poured gently into your glass so as to leave the yeast sediment in the bottle.

The founders!

Bottle-conditioned Baird Beer requires refrigeration, but for maximum enjoyment should be drunk at cool (8~12 C), not cold temperatures.
Although the beer can cold-aged for long periods, in general, it is highly recommended to drink them sooner than later.

Baird beers are available both as year-round brands and seasonal brands.
Year-round brands are of eight kinds:
Wheat King Ale, Rising Sun Pale Ale, Red Rose Amber, Teikoku IPA, Angry Brown Ale, Kurofune Porter and Shimaguni Stout.
The brewers of Baird Beer annually craft a plethora of seasonal beers because they are convinced that beer is simply the most diverse and exciting beverage on Earth.
Seasonal Baird Beers are produced in of five seasonal beer series:
Baird lager Beer Series, consisting of top-fermenting ales in styles such as Bock, Pilsner, Marzen and so forth.
Baird Strong Ale Beer Series with high-gravity, high-alcohol brews similar to Imperial Stout, Wheat and Barley Wine and strong Scotch Ale.
Baird Brewmaster’s Select Beer Series made with unusual ingredients such as fruits and spices , a traditional hallmark of Belgian brewing. Even Japanese mikans and kabocha, coffee and spices find their way into these brews!
Baird Beer Classics conceived to recreate classic ale styles and reminisce about the past.
Baird Wood-Aged Beer Series consisting of brews aged inside wood casks which formerly held bourbon whisky or wine, a tradition recently pioneered by craft brewers in the U.S.

All beers are available on tap, in cask-conditioned at their three Taprooms in Numazu City and Tokyo (Nakameguro and Harajuku), as well as at select pubs and restaurants in Japan.
Bottle-conditioned Baird Beer may be purchased direct from the Brewery through their website estore and through select pubs, restaurants and liquor shops in Japan.
For a complete listing of Baird beer retailers in Japan, visit the retailers section of their website at
http://bairdbeer.com/en/bairdbeer/retailers

The Fishmarket Taproom in Numazu City

Baird Beer Company presently runs three Pubs:

-Fishmarket Taproom in Numazu City.
This is where all began for Baird ber. The heart, soul, sweat and tears of thir enterprise reside there, Open in July 2000, the Numazu taproom spent many years ignored by the locals. Fortunately, though, a friendly neighborhood atmosphere, characterful beer, great beer-inspired food, and matchlee camaraderie seem to have won out. The fact that their prices are for the most reasonable for craft beer anywhere in Japan is a plus, too.
This is where you will find the brewers and owner-partners of Baird Beer drinking on a regular basis., as well as the oldest Baird fans!
Opening hours: Monday and Wednesday through Friday: 17:00~24:00, Saturday and Sunday and National Holidays: 12:00~24:00. Closed on Tuesdays
Address: 19-4, Senbonminato-cho, Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 410-0845
Phone: 055-963-2628
Access: Tokaido Line=get off at Numazu Station. Shinkansen=disembark at Mishima and change to the Tokaido Line.

Nakameguro Taproom in Tokyo
The Nakameguro Taproom opened in May 2008 as Baird’s first Tokyo-area pub. Like the original Fishmarket Taproom, it enjoys an all-natural wood and brick décor that is warm, inviting and unpretentious. It has space to seat up to 60 patrons, which makes an ideal venue for parties and group events.
Twenty taps and four hand-pumps are devoted to the perfect dispense of a terrific variety of Baird Beer. They have added four new taps dedicated to superb rotation of other world-class craft beers.
Opening hours: Weekdays: 14:00~24:00, Saturday and Sunday and National Holidays: 12:00~24:00.
Address: Nakameguro GT Plaza C-Block 2F, 2-1-3, Kamemiguro, Meguro Ku, Tokyo:
Phone: 03-5768-3025
Access: Within walking distance of Nakameguro Station, Tokyutoyoko Line

Harajuku Taproom
Opened in August 2009, it is distinctively a Japanese-style pub in the izakaya and yakitori fashion.
The low ceiling and expert wood craftsmanship contribute to an intimate, communal environment that disguises the ample seating capacity of 40. A significant percentage of the seating is devoted to counter space around the 15-tap bar and small open kitchen.
Two hand pumps are also in action dispensing Baird beer in Real Ale style (including the year-round Harajuku Ale!).
Opening hours: Weekdays: 17:00~24:00, Saturday and Sunday and National Holidays: 12:00~24:00.
Address: No-surrender Building 2F, 1-20-13 Jingumae, Shibuya Ku, Tokyo:
Phone: 03-6438-0450
Access: Within walking distance of Hatajuku Station, Takeshita Exit, Yamate Line

For complete information,orders and blogs, check:
HOMEPAGE (English)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Warren Bobrow, Tokyo Terrace, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Numazu Traveller

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

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