Kinshachi's Okazaki Hachou Miso Lager - This is the special Okazaki version of the Miso Lager. It has a light taste of Miso and is really not that bad. That is a bunch of Doteni sitting next to the beer. Miyuki want to be a true Aichian and Miso-out her lunch. This is lighter than the regular Miso Lager which follows because I think Okazaki Miso is lighter than whatever they make in Nagoya. Either way, this beer does not even come close to making the 560 yen I paid worth it. Kinshachi's pricing is so screwy. 500-600 yen seems fair to pay for a delicious 8% Imperial Chocolate Stout, but when they price their 5% blah goldenish ale the same, something is wrong.I think this beer might be Nagoya area only, so that is interesting. You can buy it in bottle at Spirits in Nagoya, a couple department store basements, and at Yama-chan's. If you are coming to Aichi, you can pick one up...or not.
Hitachino Nest's Japanese Classic Ale - My friends and I drank this up in Toei with DH after we had already had a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel, so I think it got the short end of the review stick. Miyuki and I opened a bottle the other day with a fresh palette. Chuwy, you said this was one of your favorite Nest beers (though you don't like Nest) and I can see why. From both the aroma and the taste, the cedar aging is there. This beer reminds me of standing among the tall cedars in the forests of Toei, breathing the fresh air, my falcon Blitzkrieg on my arm, dead mamushi in her beak (Yes, Blitzkrieg is female). Even the color is reminiscent of split cedar heart wood. This is a malty and fresh tasting ale. There is a slight sharp pine taste on the end. Definitely drink this beer if you find it.
Echigo Brau's 90 Days Stout - So, this beer came out of nowhere. Atsumi Foods in Tahara has always carried Echigo's lager, kolsch, and stout in cans for roughly 250 yen apiece. OK. I show up the other day and they have bottles of the lager, an organic beer, and this 7% stout. Amazingly enough, this 7% stout only cost me 252 yen.First, it's good. You could call it a dark brown ale because it's not dark like you would expect from a 7% stout. This beer is damn tasty and easy to drink. I want to get silly with this beer. It's not the greatest stout ever. Hell, it's not even that stout-y. But you can't beat 252 yen for this. Get this beer. Oh, and the bottle has a long neck, perfect for some street drankin.
9 comments:
Ah, you had to go and mention drankin!
Yes, the 90 day is a nice beer and good value for the price. It's been in my local for a few weeks now and I've gone through a few bottles of the stuff. Great to sit back, relax and just sip on, slowly and leisurely whislt life passes you by. As long as you don't sit back in the fast lane of the Tokyo expressway, you should enjoy this brew..
The Nest classic ale is even better on tap (BeerRock, when they first opened). Not too heavy and enough flavour is there. Didn't quite put me in 'falconry' memory lane, but it was pleasant to drink, all the same.
I want to drink the 90 days this weekend....
The classic was good, but Nate's right. It can't stand up to the Bourbon Barrel!!! We will be drinking it in about a month and a half!
I'll take a gallon growler of the Bourbon Barrel please. What's that you say? 19.99$???? SOUNDS GOOD!
The Japan Tale Ale is actually Japanese Classic Ale, right? It's in their restaurant in Mito, cedar aged on handpump - awesome. You also had it on June 3rd and said it was a "let down". Maybe because you'd consumed it with the W-IPA?
They also have a pilsner on tap in Mito which isn't available anywhere else. They'd run out when I was there though, and Kiuchi-san is having none of my "Go on, tap one into a bottle and send me it" requests.
The Rice Ale is also pretty good, and only available in a few places.
A short time ago it was on tap at Beer Rock, in Shimokitazawa. Those boys love Nest and have 3 or 4 taps always on the go, plus 2 Rogues. Good prices, too.
I did call it Japan Tale Ale, didn't I? Must of had Baird Beer on the brain. You're right, it is Japanese Classic Ale and I'll fix that.
I've had the red rice ale. It's pretty good. Miyuki thinks it is the bomb.
For real Nate! You were thinking of Baird's Japan Tale Ale, which was OK. Not bad mind you, but not my favorite of theirs.
I've had Nest's Japanese Classic Ale a few times. The first time was a bottle from the brewery that I drank on the train home. Very strong cedar flavor, good hop bitterness, a nice drink. Of course, I was drunk at the time, so that could have influenced my judgment.
The second time was a bottle that I'd aged for about a year in my beer fridge. The overwhelming cedar flavor had mellowed and it was absolutely fantastic.
The third time was a bottle that I picked up in Michigan when I found it in the local freakin' amazing beer store. I was contaminated, gushed out of the bottle, and tasted like moldy wood. Yuck! That pretty much was the last time I'll ever drink it.
Conclusion: If you get a bottle of Japanese Classic Ale, stick it in the back of your fridge and try it a year or two later. If you're lucky, you'll be rewarded with a wonderful beer. (If you're unlucky, you'll be rewarded with beer spraying all over your ceiling.)
Can you get that last stout in Tokyo? I'd love to bust that out when my friend grabs Yebisu off the 7-11 shelf.
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