Tokyo Real Ale Festival

Big news first. Baird Beer dominated the festival. Between a Bryan Baird beer and a Chris Poel creation, they took first and second place. Bryan's beer, Ganko Oyaji Barleywine, took second and was topped only by Chris Poel's Baka Yaro, which also turned out to be the most popular catch phrase of the event. Chris accepted the award with a loud "Baka Yaro!" and was answered back with a "Baka Yaro!" times a couple hundred. That's Chris and Bryan on the stage. I don't think Bryan Baird felt too bad about taking second, considering that Chris is the new lead brewer for Bryan's namesake brewery. According to Chris, he will officially take over down in Numazu starting April 1st. I talked to Bryan about his company and the success of his beer versus other Japanese brewers and he said that you have to brew what you want to brew. That sounds like a plan to me. Especially if the beer you brew is as good as what Bryan is making in Numazu.

Miyuki and I were working hard, hand pumping Baka Yaro, Loco's Vamp 6 and Yokozuna Ale, and Yoho's ESB for the hundreds of festival attendees. The Baka Yaro was the first beer in the festival to sell out, hence the number 1 spot it took. That is what happens when you make a delicious beer and give it a marketing-genius name that translates to "Stupid-Ass."

It's hard for me to describe the tastes of each of these beers here, as there was so many and so many that were very delicious. Beers of note that I can remember include the Baird Beer, Yokozuna ale, that won last year's WanCup, Iwate Kura's IPA, Ezo's Rogue brewed Imperial Chocolate Stout, and many others. I am drinking right now and my head isn't in proper working condition. Please name your favorites in the comments if you are reading this.Miyuki and I met many great friends of good beer including Tom from St. Louis, Bryan Baird, Chris Poel, Mr. Fujiura, the Japanese Beer Evangelist, and Dr. Simon Clippingdale, who I heard (from a little bird) is the GREATEST homebrewer in Japan. No pressure there.

Also, a big THANK YOU to Tim Eustace and Mark Meli, who write comments on this site sometimes and introduced Miyuki and I to good people, good beer, and good times in Tokyo.