It's a Crazy World...

It's been an eventful couple of weeks here in Japan and around the world. First, we had a J-pop phenom get arrested after being drunk and naked in a park in Tokyo. Now, I'm not one to make fun of others for things that transpire while being intoxicated--any man who has made a mistake or two while drinking a tad too much has a special place in his heart for others who get caught slippin'. What does strike me is that this dude said he only drank 10 glasses of beer and sake before heading to the park. Friends, I've seen Nate drink more than that for breakfast. I've seen some of my boys back home put down a case. I've even seen one of my bestest buds put down 6 1/2 liters of Hofbrau Beer in about two hours...after drinking beers all day. Granted, he was drunk....but he didn't strip down in public.

But on the other hand, I've seen some girls who would do much more than strip down after only a beer or three. Unfortunately due to a little thing called the "statute of limitations", I am unable to elaborate.




Straying from the beer world, we've got the pig flu running wild. If your Japanese friends and coworkers are like mine--they are FREAKING out about the pig flu and many of them have asked if my family is still alive. Hope you and yours stay pig flu free.

It seems that Asahi may be making a little money, as Tsingtao posted profits this quarter that were up 54%. Seems like this was brought on by.....lowering taxes??!!?? Take a hint Japan.


My "Drink Beer and Carry On" shirt came in. I'll be sporting it this week in The Fishmarket Taproom in Numazu and Gotemba Kogen. Get yours here.

Summer's on the way people. Get Ready.

"Premium" Beer Video Review.........wow.

I'll be back later on with some more half way relevant beer news...but in the mean time---watch these two boys from the Kansai area talk about beer. Well, watch as much as you can of it. I never claimed to be an expert on brew.....but come on.

I guess in a perfect world the print bloggers wouldn't make fun of the video bloggers, but hey--this ain't a perfect world. I'm sure if I put a video of Nate and I talking about beer you: 1. Probably would make fun of us as well and 2. You might not be able to understand my Kentucky English.


Fellas, if you two read this blog--I'm not making fun of you.* Well, I guess I am--but hey--you can make fun of me and then we will be even. Until then, feel free to fire away in the comments.

They do talk a tiny bit of smack about the Yebisu, and that at least makes me happy.

* I'm sure they are nice people.

What is This????

???????

Weekend Update and Beer Poetry

Like DH said, this weekend was fun but I disagree with his 'homebrew-makes-you-depressed" rant. Commercial beer has made me feel 10 times worse than anything I have ever brewed. In fact, I would argue that drinking homebrew makes you twice as kickass as you were before drinking. It all has something to do with that special ingredient: LOVE.

DH, Nick, Miyuki, Eduardo, and myself put down the homebrew this weekend. The Wisdom Rye-zen is about gone and it had only been in the bottle for 3 weeks. It was definitely the common beer for Saturday. The Infinite Sadness is still young but delicious and promising. This Wednesday, Miyuki and I are bottling the Tsuchinoko IPA and the White Trash Ale. There are high hopes for both of these. On Saturday, with the help of everyone hanging out, we brewed up Michelle's Stank Tail Ale, christened after what Michelle tried to blame on Nick while we were pitching the yeast. Watch out Wan Cup 2009, Aichi-ken is gonna represent!

Here is a picture of the Suntory Premium Malts toast that took place Saturday, April 25 at 5 pm outside of 7-11 near my apartment. Left to Right, that is Eduardo, Miyuki, DH, Michi, Nick, and Michelle. I took the picture.Nick bought and we tried Kinshachi's Golden Ale this weekend as well. This beer is not worth the 500 yen price tag. Instead of buying this, buy two Yona Yona's. They are much better and half the price. Kinshachi's problem is not that they make bad beer. It is just that their sub par blah beer (this and their White Ale) are priced the same as their heavy hitters (the Imp Choc Stout and the IPA). Nick put it best when he exclaimed he just paid $5 for a Budweiser!I have been inspired recently to write beer poetry and have posted a few of my scribblings up on the site. I wrote this one about a month ago, but I feel the need to post it after this weekend. While homebrew is not technically free, it sometimes feel that way when you can pour it down your throat rather than spend 250 yen on every Jap Lager Tallboy you drink.

There is beer #1

There is beer that is cold
And beer that is warm
And beer that will cost you
Every penny that you earn.

There is beer that is foreign
And beer that you're makin'
But the best beer of all
is beer free for the takin'.

March 24, 2009

Homebrew and Kirin Pissing Off the Aussies!

The weekend is finished. I'm still recovering from Saturday night as I sit here at school on Monday morning. Anyone who has ever drank a lot of homemade booze will know what I am talking about. There's something about drinking a lot of homemade beer and wine that just makes you feel depressed. This morning I resisted the urge to swan dive off the bridge near my apartment into the babbling brook below. I haven't talked to Nate and Nick yet this morning, I hope they are safe.

We grilled out in Tahara, drank Ise Kadoya brews, Yona Yonas, sake, and enough of Nate's homebrew to kill a full grown elephant. We followed that up by eating (trying to) the world's largest Ten-don (tempura rice bowl) in Akabane. I threw in the towel and still had 12 pieces of tempura left in the bowl.

I'll write more about the weekend soon, but here's a few highlights:

• Drank brews with Eduardo-the crazy Peruvian who lives in his van
• Drank Nate's 9% Infinite Sadness--which is GREAT
• Were accused to breaking a neighbor's garage roof with a football
• Grilled out on Nate's balcony
• Had the Suntory The Premium Malt's Toast outside of 7-11 in force
• went clam picking (some of us just watched)
• many more things I don't remember

It was fun. I'm ready for next weekend, when we are planning on camping around the Fuji area.

I heard that the Ballast Point party put on by Andrew was a success and wish I could have been there! Check out Jonno's review.

It looks like Kirin is trying to do everything to boost its profits. The Japanese Beer Giant is trying to buy the rest of the shares of Lion Nathan--makers of Toohey's, XXXX, and JBoag & Son among others. Needless to say, the Aussies and Kiwis aren't too happy. Read about the potential take-over here and here, and read these gems from our friendly convicts in the outback (no offense):

Japanese beer, that's disgusting," said boilermaker Chris Salmon from Telopea, drinking a schooner of Toohey's New with mates.

"If the money's going overseas, bugger 'em, we'll drink Carlton instead."

It was a view echoed by Jeff Thompson, a stonemason from Harris Park.

"It sucks. It's yet another Australian icon that's going overseas," he said.

I Am A Craft Brewer

This is pride in Brewing. When will people here understand this????

I Am A Craft Brewer from I Am A Craft Brewer on Vimeo.

Friends, If that doesn't make you want to grab a good brew, check your pulse. I can't wait to be in KY this summer, and DRINK GOOD BEER!!!

'Bout Grillin Time...

Well, it's Friday again! Craft Beer Day came and went with no big hoopla. I guess I'm just a bit cynical because something that could be promoted and used to get the word out about craft beer all around Japan was just done half-assed. Also, it could have been just a good reason to drink beer. I did drink a Yona Yona on my balcony. It was nice.

Tonight I'm headed to Tahara with some friends to have dinner and hopefully drink some good beer and sake. I'm holding out for Ise-Kadoya Brews and Gin, but we will have to wait and see. If you haven't drank Gin---you are missing some really really good (but EXPENSIVE) stuff.

Saturday we are going clam digging in Tahara, and I'm throwing down the gauntlet with Nate and I'm betting I can dig more clams than he can. I'll let you know how it goes.

After that we're planning on grilling and drinking some coldbeer, which sounds like a great afternoon to me.

I have four classes today that essentially I have to teach by myself since the part-time teacher I am working with couldn't speak English to save her life. Seriously, the worksheet she made yesterday for the kids was full of mistakes, and she even explained something completely wrong to the kids on the board. To use some KY English that I know she wouldn't understand, she's as useless as tits on a boar.

I'm ready to be done with school so the weekend festivities can start.

Being that it's Friday--I'll show you two pics. One is of me and my lovely lady at an awesome ryokan near Tahara drinking Kabuto Beer, the other is The Good Beer Country Boys' old liquor cabinet. Jealous?

Today is Japanese Craft Beer Day?

Who knew? It appears that April 23rd is in fact Japanese Craft Beer Day.

We applaud the Japanese Craft Beer Association for another well planned and promoted event. Damn.

Anyone out there gonna drink anything speical?

Moku Moku Beer courtesy of Nick

Says Nick via a text to my phone, "this ale is retarded good. 3 malts, twice the normal hops PLUS leaf hops. its at the mokumoku organic buffet place in nag."
I haven't tried Moku Moku's beer yet but I plan to visit their farm and brewery in Mie prefecture come May or June. Some of my friends from the big KY are coming to visit then and I have only been hearing good things about this place.

The Official Beer of Summer 2009

You have spoken. The votes we tallied and rising far above the rest stands a champion well-deserving of this great honor. Being The Official Beer of Summer 2009 is nothing to take lightly. For years to come we will remember this summer and all that it holds in store for us--and we will remember that we were drinking this summer's official beer all summer long. Without further ado and embellishment, I give you The Official Beer of Summer 2009:

Suntory The Premium Malt's

That's right, the beer that the Good Beer County Boys have been praising since the get-go now gets to take its place as one the chosen few beers that gets to represent an entire summer. No doubt Summer 2009 will be a great one, and I can't think of too many other brews (well....) that I would rather be drinking when all of these great memories are made.

What does being crowned The Good Beer Country Boy's Official Beer of Summer 2009 mean? Not a damn thing, but when I'm at the combini and having a hard time trying to decide what to drink--now I have an excuse to grab a Malt's every time.

So Japan beer drinkers, unite and grab a Malt's! Japan Beer Bloggers spread the word about The Malt's and its reign this summer. When you are drinking one of the these Gold Boys, make fun of your cheap and out of the loop friends who opt for Super Dry, Happoshu, or worse. Tell them that YOU are drinking the beer that is guaranteed to stay colder longer, help you lose weight, and make it sunny every day.* YOU are drinking The Official Beer of Summer 2009.


We still have to hammer out some details, but look for a Tahara beach party in the near future to celebrate the coming of summer and The Malt's. We also will be having a Malt-a-Thon in Nagoya where we drink a malts at every subway stop on the Meijo line. I've even contemplated getting a Malt's tattoo. Ok, that last one is a lie.
Lastly, send us your pics of YOU AND THE MALT'S. If they are worthy, we will post them for all 12 followers to see!
Also, if you want to send pictures of yourself naked with The Malt's--make sure they go to Nate@jibeer.com.**

To kick off Summer 2009 and the beginning of The Reign of The Premium Malt's, this Saturday 4/25 at 5:00PM will be the first:

OFFICIAL SUMMER 2009 GREAT MALT'S TOAST

At 5:00PM on the dot (Tokyo), join the Good Beer County Boys and friends as we raise a glass to kick off Summer 2009--and to celebrate some good brew. Gather with your drinking buddies, or do it alone in your apartment--but make sure you raise a glass with us!!!!








*not really
**male only please

A lot of Stone and Where's Toshi?

Our friends at Stone are cranking out the good beer...Check out this post to read more about how they busted out almost 140,000 bottles in a day!

I also found this pic on their post...Can you spot cute Toshi Ishii behind one of the machines?? This was where the man behind Yo-Ho Brewing and Yona Yona and Aooni learned what was up.....

Ass plates and a picnic!

This is my ass as a plate.

A few months ago I posted about DH and I using our respective asses to make plates with our ceramic artist friend, Osamu. You can read that post here. Well, this past weekend Miyuki, Michi, DH, and I went out to Osamu's studio to pick up our plates and have a picnic to fully enjoy the beautiful day.Rather than eat out of the tupperware we brought the food in, we used all Osamu-made ceramics to eat off of and drink homebrew out of. In the above picture, you can see taco rice rolls resting on DH's ass plate. While Osamu's plates and bowls are beautiful and make food taste much better, it was his liquid-holding vessels that stole the show that day. We compei'ed it up using green tea cups, then switched to a jagged edged vase that leaked beer all down your shirt, and finished by using a salad dressing dispenser to pour beer into each others mouths. A good time all around. Check the pictures below to visually experience the Good Beer Country Boys Japanese Ceramic Beer Consumption Revolution, or something like that.

It was fun. If you are interested in Osamu's ceramics, Miyuki has pictures of all the individual ceramics used on her blog. Osamu makes some pretty sweet stuff.

Start the week...Ready Go!

Well, the weekend is over and it's back to work. It was a good one as we relaxed on the mean streets of Toyohashi--played some frisbee with a local kid--and had a picnic in the mountains eating off the Good Beer Country Boys Earthenware....Nate will put some pictures up soon.

Next weekend we are heading to Tahara for a homebrew party, grilling out, and clam digging. It should be a pretty good time--as long as the weather is nice, the grill is hot, and the beer is cold. Two of those three we can control--for the other we will just pray.

Only one more day left to vote on The Official Beer of Summer 2009--and it looks like The Premium Malt's is running away with it after an early push from Happoshu. (Disclaimer: Happoshu refers not to ji-beer but rather crappy Happoshu and third category brews...)

I found The Premium Malt's on sale at SATY this weekend for 278 yen for a 500ml Tall Boy. Can you beat that?

To update you on the weekend...Nate and I street drank the new Ichiban Shibori and Heartland Friday and Saturday and today we are headed to Osan the Potter to get our butt plates and then picnic on them. It should be a good day!!!

Beer Poetry

There is beer #2

There is beer that is single

And beer bought by the case

And beer that will make you

Punch your best friend in the face.

There is beer that is yours

And beer that you share

And beer that you steal

From one drunk and unaware.

April 2009

Can You Handle the BBC Challenge?

Brought to you by the Bluegrass Brewing Company.....Can you do it?

2 Hours until the Weekend!

It's Friday and that means that it's time for me to post some pics. Being that I just found out that I will be able to take a long trip to Kentucky this summer, I thought I'd post a few pics to show you how we do it on a lazy Friday after work in KY.

All you really need is a nice front porch, some cold brew (High Life cans in this case--don't you judge me!) and a lot of friends.

This is going on a Beer Run. A cooler on the back of a 4-wheeler.
Of course that's Your's Truly riding on the back, making sure the cooler doesn't take a nasty spill.




I'm sure you are asking yourself, "And how did these boys end up in Japan????"

Summer 2009's Upcoming Beer Events!

Friends, it's time to start getting your calendars in order for Summer 2009. As a side note, make sure you vote to the left for which beer will be crowned The Official Beer of Summer 2009--voting ends in a few days!


Of course first and foremost we must give you the dates of the Great Japan Beer Festival being held:

6th & 7th Jun. 2009 "Great Japan Beer Festival 2009 in Tokyo" held in Ebisu Garden Hall, Tokyo 　

18th to 20th Jul. 2009 "Great Japan Beer Festival 2009 in Osaka" held in Kyosera Dome Sky Hall, Osaka 　

19th to 21th Sep. 2009 "Great Japan Beer Festival 2009 in Yokohama" held in Osanbashi Hall, Yokohama

Of course, you can try and make it to all three, but most likely the GBCB won't be hitting them all up. Tokyo is sure to be crowded and beer experts like TimE and Chuwy will tell you that the lines are long and the beers run out. Plan accordingly. More info available here, or just google The Great Japan Beer Festival for a ton of blogs and sites about it.

If you are reading on the West Coast, more importantly San Diego, hit this one up. "The Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana (JSSDT) will host its 7th Annual Beer & Sake Festival on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar." There will also be a sushi competition, so it will be like Japan is coming to you! Also, I don't know about you, but drinking a ton of sake and beer near Tijuana sounds like asking for trouble. Don't know which microbrews will be there--hope they are good ones!

If you are in the Fuji area, hit up Gotemba Kogen ASAP. Brewer Scott Brimmer wants you to come and take part in the Pop Circus and while you are there you can get a Beer Passport for 4000 yen that lets you drink as much as you want every time that you visit two of the restaurants until May 31st. Suffice it to say that if Nate and I lived near Gotemba Kogen, they would be losing some serious cash on that deal. Between now and May 31st I could put down some Weizenbock---some serious quantities of Weizenbock---I'm just saying.


The 23rd and 24th of May will be the 12th Year Anniversary Celebration for Minoh Beer in Osaka. It looks like it costs 2,800 yen per person and it seems to include BBQ as well. I make no bones about it, I can read kanji about as well as I river-dance. And you know this boy don't river-dance. Minoh Beer is good and their Double IPA is AMAZING. I will be there for this one. Any of you scallywags plan on attending?


For those of you in Aichi, on June 7th, 2009 there is the Craft Beer Party in Inuyama hosted at Loreley Beer. While Loreley doesn't make too much good stuff, the big boys in the area will be coming. On the list is Ise Kadoya Beer, Hakusekikan Beer,Minoh Beer, Moku-Moku Beer, Kinshachi Beer, and Loreley Beer. (伊勢角屋麦酒、博石館ビール、箕面ビール、モクモク地ビール、盛田金しゃちビール、ローレライビール) Friends, there's some good brewers on that list! Each brewery will bring two brews and it looks like 5000yen gets you beer and food. If you are in Osaka you can pay 10,000 yen and get bus service as well! It's only open to 100 folks, so get your reservations early.

Anyone with any more info about any upcoming beer events let me know in the comments below, and I'd be happy to post them. Start marking your calendars!!!

Beer and Summer = Peas in a Pod

I don't know about the weather in your neck of the woods, but here in mine--it's been stellar. These hot sunny afternoons have reminded me why I like summer so much, and have made me long for more summer days to come!

That being said, I noticed when I was in Okinawa that some dirty bastard had snuck into my apartment, taken my swim-trunks, shrunk them, snuck back in and replaced them without my knowing. That, or my ass is getting fatter.

In order to be fully ready for the summer (read: drinking) season, I've had to cut back a bit these days on both good food and drink. Not too much mind you, but just enough so that when the summer gets in full swing the locals won't call GreenPeace when I jump in the river here in town.

Which brings me to my next question: What is the best beer drinking season? I know that some like the colder months when stouts and porters taste best and some like spring and fall when we have bocks and Oktoberfests--respectively.
But for me, there's no better beer drinking season than the summer. Friends, you've never lived until you've drank a few good brews on the lake after a long day of fishing, or until you crack open a few on the front porch as you watch the sun set or watch a summer storm blow in across the hills.

What beer is best in summer? Some will say that weizens and fruity beers are a good way to relax and beat the heat. Others want a nice lager or pale ale to down with the days get hot. I've even met those who prefer a good dark beer in summer. But for me, there's only one type of brew to drink in summer. Whether you are by the pool, fishing, boating, hiking, relaxing, tanning, hanging out with old friends, cleaning a catfish*, meeting new friends, playing cornhole, watching a baseball game, throwing things off the bridge (a popular past time in KY), or just sitting by yourself--there's no better beer in the summer than this:

C O L D

This is Cornhole.

Cold Beer and summer just mix. In KY, you might be surprised to know that the term "Cold Beer" is used in place of just the moniker "beer". For example, if you came to my house in the summer I might ask, "Would you like a cold beer?" Or my friend Ryan may say, "Let's go home and drink a few cold beers." Sometimes, "Cold Beer" can be referred to in a singular sense, as in the phrase, "DH really enjoys drinking THE cold beer." When beer is referred to as, "The Cold Beer"--it is a term of both respect and endearment.

Once, while spring breaking in Miami, my friend The Birdman asked a few young ladies from the north (I don't capitalize on purpose) if they would like to sit down and have a few "Cold Beers"**. After explaining to them what "Cold Beer" (Kobeer) was, Birdman dismissed them as "Yankee Bitches" and moved on. Nicely done.

I'm toasting to summer!! "Come Quickly!"


"Nothing ever tasted better than a cold beer on a beautiful afternoon with nothing to look forward to than more of the same."--Hugh Hood

* Just wanted you to know how Country I am.

** "Cold Beer" is pronounced "Ko-Beer" when said quickly and in a Kentucky accent. This can lead those who are not from The South being confused and asking, "What is Kobeer?"

What say you about Ladies in the Beer world???

To keep you reading on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon, check out this article by Molly Browning, who (small world!) used to be an apprentice brewer for Baird Beer in Numazu. The article gives props to Baird (we like that) and tells about a few mishaps that took place during Baird's early days. The article doesn't go too in depth about Japanese craft beer...in fact what struck me most was the Pink Boots Society. The Pink Boots Society is a group of women brewers that want to promote more women in the business of craft beer.

What say you about women brewers? We all know that Minoh's Double IPA was made by a woman, but at the same time Loreley's assistant brewer was a woman....so...

Here's my stance: Women can make some great beer. Women can also make some bad beer. I don't care who makes the brew as long as it is good. Women!!!! Hear me! Brew away and make some great suds for us all!!

However, I have only met one girl who could drink more beer than me--and she was an A. a bonafide meeting-going all day sauce dranking punch you in the face when I'm drunk and then cry alcoholic and B. a big girl. That being said, if you are a girl-- I can drink more beer than you--and thus--my masculinity is secure.

Break it down, Pictorial Style!!!

Kirin dethrones Asahi!!!

Have we just seen the end of an era? According to this article, Kirin replaced Asahi as the Japanese beer market's leader in the first quarter of 2009. Chalk it up to the New Ichiban Shibori (couldn't have picked a better time to have Ichiro be the face of your beer), the declining love of the Super Dry, Nate's promotion of the Kirin Heartland, or some crappy cheap brew they released--but to be sure the lab rats at Asahi will be working overtime to retake the lead.

Sure this isn't that big of a deal since Kirin did the same two years ago--or is it? Could the recession be forcing people to either end of the spectrum--Third Category or Premium? I was at the combini on Monday (the only combini in town by the way) and I chose a new Ichiban Shibori because it is 100% Malt--and cheap*. For sure when I cracked it open on the back porch I wasn't too blown away--but it was much better than Super Dry. However, I did get ate up up by skeeters--and that didn't make me a happy camper.


* I would have bought The Premium Malt's but they didn't have tall boys....

Official Beer of Street Drankin': Heartland

Now that the weather has warmed and the cherry blossoms have passed, you know what it is time for? Yes... Street Drankin'! And the official street drankin' beer is Kirin's Heartland. Off draft this beer tastes horrible but out of its tradmark 500 ml bottle while you are chillin on the sidewalk, it's a standard.

Let's talk about the bottle. A dark green glass emblazed with the nurturing beer tree, and using only a minimal label on the neck. And what a neck! Long and slender, rising from the squatter base. Perfect for gripping while you are pouring some brew down the gullet.

OK, imagine you are street drankin' at your favorite street drankin' bar, Spirits, in Nagoya. Refill time and your friends are reaching for that 425 yen Kinshachi or that 350 yen Sam Adams. There is no problem with this, for example, that is our friend Nick above relaxing with a cuban and a Kinshachi Imp Choc Stout on his birthday. But now, you've already had some top quality and now you need the filler, the pale base malt to the specialty grains. You reach for that 315 yen 500 ml bottle of Kirin Heartland! If you are street drankin' in country Tahara, that same bottle is only going to run 285 yen. A smart choice that tastes better than those other big company light lagers. Kirin Heartland comes in a beautiful bottle with a taste that is not offensive.

With all that said, never buy this beer to take back to your house. You can stick the empty bottles in your backpack to use for homebrew later, but please drink the beer where it was meant to be drank -on the street.

Minoh Beer's Oshita Kaori

For your reading enjoyment, here is an email interview with Ohshita Kaori, the brewmistress at Minoh Beer in Osaka. While I was trying to dig up some photos off of google, I came across Stephen Lacey's post about Minoh from 2007. He doesn't seem to update his blog much, he's probably too busy making beers that are going to win the WanCup. Anyway, here is Kaori's interview translated by Miyuki and fixed up a bit by me. Miyuki will have the original Japanese interview up on her blog shortly.

1. Where did you learn to brew?

Pretty much by myself. I took a 6 month brewing course about 10 years ago back when brewing education was controlled by the National Tax Agency. Alot of my original brewing knowledge came from brewing sake...

2. What do you do on a normal working day?

I am bottling, kegging, shipping product, clerical work, and delivering everyday. I brew two to five times a week depending on the season. My work is just about endless, so I really want more time.

3. What is your favorite beer to make or drink?

I like to make everything, but I'm not good at brewing wheat because my equipment isn't good for it. I like to make new limited edition beers because it keeps my tension high and is exciting.

As far as drinking, I follow my feeling at the moment but it is easy for me to get tired of something. So I drink pale ale until I am tired of it, then I drink stout...and so on. It's not really an answer. It is hard for me to decide my number one. I keep drinking the beer when I think it is delicious.

4. What was the first beer you ever drank?

A big company pilsner.

5. What was the first beer you ever brewed?

A Pilsner was.

6. Have you ever made any brewing mistakes you can tell us about?

My brewery isn't good at making wheat beers. The winter seasonal weizenbock is hard to brew. Even the regular weizen is hard. The weizenbock uses a double amount of malt and last years brewing was hard. This is secret but I did make one mistake. It is not a mistake that tastes bad. I couldn't get the barley sugar to my goal gravity so that weizenbock became the regular weizen. That time the weizen was very rich!

7. What is the worst beer you have ever drank?

The beer I have to drink when I have a hangover.

8. If the world was going to end and you could drink one more beer, what would it be?

It's hard to decide one...probably the Double IPA.

9. What do you think about the future of craft beer in Japan?

Although the craft beer industry is still small, I feel that it is steadily getting bigger. Before craft beer in Japan, beer was equal to pilsner. Now the market has little interest but beer needs to be viewed with more depth like wine and shochu. For that to happen, beer must be made available and tasted by consumers. This business is not easy so I have to make sure there is an oppurtunity for our beer to be tasted. Taste is everything so I have a big responsibility as a brewer.

10. Why is your Double IPA so delicious?

Thank you so much!!! I'm the happiest when people say my beer is delicious. It encourages me to brew. I mostly work by trial and error so I try to change the recipe a little bit every time. I have to really take care of and consider the yeast because of the high alcohol in the Double IPA. Also, I don't want to make it too bitter. My goal is high alcohol beer that can be drank while eating. I drive myself crazy thinking about how to perfectly balance that beer.


Thank you so much Kaori for taking time out of your busy day to answer our questions! I speak for Miyuki, DH, and myself when I say we definitely plan drinking your beer until we get silly at some point in the future. The first two pictures in the post I did not take, so thank you to whoever put them on the internet. The last picture was taken by Miyuki at Grande Biere and yes, that is the Minoh Double IPA in my hand!

Homebrewer Tsuda-san and 120 Minute IPA!

Sometime during spring vacation, Miyuki and I went to Hamamatsu to our homebrewing friend, Tsuda-san's house. It was susposed to be a meeting of the Shizuoka Homebrewing Club or something, but it ended up being Tsuda-san, his wife, Miyuki, and I. No problem there. His wife is an excellent cook and I ate possibly the best spaghetti I have had in Japan. Tsuda-san had recently visited America, so we drank 'merican beers as well as his homebrew.

Tsuda-san broke out a bottle of ...wait for it... Dogfish Head's 120 Minute IPA! I've never even seen a bottle of this in Kentucky, and here is one in Japan. WTF. I've had the 60 and the 90, but this was my first time drinking the 120. For those of you unaware, the 120 minute IPA is 20% alcohol and cost a staggering $10 bucks a 12 oz bottle in America! Read about it here. 120 Minute IPA is so good that I don't really want to say much about it. You have to drink one for yourself. damn. Who has had this beer?

OK, I'm done talking about about 120 Minute and touching myself. There is more I want to talk about. Of the many Tsuda-san homebrews we drank, there was one that stood above the rest. It was an IPA and it was labeled number 7. I'm guessing that it is Tsuda-san's 7th batch this year. This IPA is great! He gave us a bottle to take home and Miyuki and I popped it open today. Amazing.

Our tasting notes included "a citrus and malty balance that holds its own in your mouth...for a time" and "the stress free morning of a sunny day bottled." This beer is good. Tsuda-san, if you are reading this, I am naming the beer for you. From this day forward, I will refer to this beer as Tsuda-san's Lucky 7 IPA.

Some of you may know Tsuda-san and some of you may not. He was the winner of the first Wancup in 2005 with his American IPA. After drinking Lucky 7 IPA, I am warning all you gaijin homebrewers that have been dominating the Wancup in recent years. Tsuda-san is bringing it Lucky 7 IPA style in 2009! I would put money on Lucky 7. Be prepared.

Bryan Spitting Some Truth!

Cheers to Tuesday Pints for finding this article. Great read about the state of craft beers in Japan.

Landbeer's Kinshachi Beer--Yamaguchi-san!!!!

Last weekend we were lucky to get invited to Landbeer's Kinshachi Beer Brewery in Inuyama for a private, behind the scenes tour. We have wrote about their Imperial Chocolate Stout, IPA, Miso Lager, and the Red and Blue labels before--and they are all good. The Imperial Chocolate Stout is excellent and is my pic for best chocolate stout in Japan. Their IPA is no slouch either, and should be tried to be sure.

We walked to the brewery and found brewers Yamaguchi-san and Sugiyama-san inside ready to show us around. The brewery is located in a spacious old soda factory--and they definitely have room to expand their operations in the future. In one warehouse they house their brewing facility, bottling and kegging lines, cold storage, and corporate offices. It's a nice setup.

Kinshachi has a 2,000 liter system with 12 fermentation/maturation tanks. They employ eight people total, three of which are full time. Their most popular beer is the Kinshachi Pilsner (Blue Label), which I am sure surprises you. Sarcasm intended. It is a well made tasty beer, and at the brewery we drank some fresh--and it was stellar. Their Imp. Chocolate Stout was a winter seasonal, and now production has stopped. You may be lucky and find it somewhere on tap, but once it runs out--you will have to wait until next winter to drink it again. Darn. They are coming out with their Golden Ale in May, but I think it may already have hit the taps in the Tokyo area. Any sightings Tokyoites?

After we took a tour of the facilities, we went to Yamaguchi-san's (head brewer) office. We sat down, got a couple of glasses of the Pilsner, and started to chat. We talked at length with he and Sugiyama-san about Kinshachi beer and their view and plan for the future.

Since we talked casually and didn't do a real interview, I will do my best to portray their answers as best as I can. Also, much of what they said was translated by Miyuki--or me with my terrible Japanese.

Sugiyama-san has only been with Kinchachi for about a year and has only been brewing for 6 months. His favorite beer to brew is the miso lager, which he told us has a whopping 5 kilos of red miso per batch. That's a lot of paste! Sugiyama-san also said that the miso lager was his favorite to drink--but he was quick to add that he likes to drink all of Kinshchi's beers. Man after my own heart. Nate asked him about the Matcha Draft, and he said that there is 50 kilos of green tea powder added per batch. For those of you who have had it, I suggest they scale that back about 50 kilos. Sugiyama-san also was wearing some old beat up kicks--and when Nate inquired about their age--Sugiyama-san was noticeably embarrassed. He apologized for his ratty sneaks--and then said they were 4 years old. Nate liked them. Nate also asked him if Kinshachi had a beer swimming pool, which Sugiyama said sadly said that they didn't.

Yamaguchi-san is the brains behind the operation and all of Kinshachi's recipes are essentially his creations. He has been brewing beer for 20 years--and it shows. Before his foray into jibeer--he was making jizake--so he knows a thing or two. He has been with Kinshachi since the start in 1996.
Yamaguchi-san learned to brew at Suntory and in school studied fermentation technology. I am really mad at my college advisor, because when I was picking out a major I didn't even hear of that.

Yamaguchi-san is especially proud of Kinshachi's Aka-Miso lager and the Okazaki Miso lager which are totally unique creations. The entire recipe is original and secret--and was made for the Aichi Expo a few years back. Yamaguchi-san and Kinshachi are excited about making a beer that celebrates Nagoya's and Aichi's culture--and they think that the Aka Miso does just that. I asked if they had a "chicken-wing lager" planned--but alas, they do not.

We talked a lot with Yamaguchi-san about the future of Kinshachi and craft beer in Japan. As many have stated, Japan must get past the "toriaizu beer" mentality, which he also called the "One Cup Culture." I couldn't agree more. Yamaguchi-san was adamant about jibeer breaking out of the mold where most people think jibeer = dark beer and is not worth its expensive price tag. As is true with all Japanese Microbrewers, Yamaguchi-san is not a big fan of the Japanese taxation system--or the fact that he must call his Aka-Miso Lager "Happoshu" since it contains more than malt, yeast, hops and water.

It is Yamaguchi-san and Kinshachi's dream to one day be all over Nagoya. I think the day will come when most high end izakaiyas and restaurants will feature his "Nagoya Beer." Kinshachi is the only good brewer in the Nagoya area (sorry Loreley and DenBeer) and they have a chance to grab a huge chunk of the Nagoya market. I hope the day is quickly approaching when we have a Kinshachi Taproom in Nagoya! I am available for hire if the big wigs are reading....

Yamaguchi-san is a great guy--and I liked him even more when he told me he was a huge fan of Suntory's The Premium Malt's Beer. You know he gained some points with us with that remark.

If you are in the Nagoya area--hit up Beer Circus near Fuishimi Subway stop in downtown. Good beer and a great place to hang out. Kinshachi's beers are available at some supermarkets and convenience stores all around Aichi, and you can buy the Okazaki Aka-Miso at Yama-chan restaurants as well.

We wish Kinshachi good luck, and will be drinking more of their beers very soon. As a matter of fact, I wish I had one right now. Especially since I am at work on a Saturday. That sucks.

Kirin Free

Miyuki and I just finished brewing up her birthday white ale. As coincidence would have it, it was our 24th homebrew in Japan brewed on her 24th birthday. Strange how these things work out. Wait a sec, Miyuki just informed me that it will be called Miyuki's White Trash Ale. Anyway, while we were waiting for the wort to cool down we went and got lunch at Atsumi Foods. Right above all the beautiful Ji-Beer they stock was the new Kirin Free.

The can is covered with many boasts written in English. First glance gives you "Alc. 0.00%" and "Alcohol Free: Original Yeast-Free Process". A closer look reveals "Kirin's Innovation. The alcohol-free beertaste beverage" and "Refreshing and rich taste for your free life!"

Let's not candy coat it. This stuff tastes horrible. Miyuki said it tastes like chemicals. This is not beer, it is a noxious beer-flavored soda water. This stuff takes pure water, ruins it, then sells it for 140 yen a can. Kirin can market whatever it likes. My big problem with Kirin Free is that it was located right above the Ji-Beer in Atsumi Foods. I saw a younger Japanese man pick up a bottle of Kinshachi's Pilsner, examine it, put it back, then buy a can of Kirin Free! I understand Kinshachi's price tag is a bit steep at 425 yen a bottle, but come on man! Show some respect for what you put in your body!

Somebody is 24 today!

A Birthday Message

This is written for a girl that I know.
She was born April tenth, twenty-four years ago
In Japan and that is where I met her.
For two years she has made my life better.
She speaks English and translates for me
And this is good because I don't speak Japanese.
We share common interest like birds of a feather-
Good food, beer, and bourbon are enjoyed together.
Though we have had problems in the past,
With all considered, Miyuki is pretty badass.

April 10
I just cleared my throat, got her to look up and snapped this picture. Miyuki at 24 years and about 10 hours.

Happy Birthday Miyuki!

Saturday Work.

Friday is here, even though for me it doesn't feel like it. Just found out that I have to work tomorrow. That sucks. Don't even feel like posting a lot of Friday Pics. I'm not sure that there are many things in life worse than having to work on the weekends. If tomorrow is warm and sunny--I will officially be upset. Could I call in? Anyone care to share any "call-in" tips/stories/horror stories?



I'm posting this pic because the beer I was drinking was free and cold. That cheers me up.

Asahi's The Master All Malt!!!!!!

As the whole world waits for the release of Asahi's "The Master" in late May--I am about to let the cat out of the bag. A few weeks ago The Good Beer Country Boys were hanging out with Yamaguchi-san of Kinshachi Beer at the brewery in Inuyama. We drank some Kinshachi Beer in his office, which has a wall of beer bottles and cans from around the world that he drank. It was here that I spotted a can of...."THE MASTER"!!!! Yamaguchi-san managed to get his hands on a can, pre-release. I asked him if he drank it, and when he said that it was so--I inquired, "How did it taste?" His response?


"Neutral"

For those of you waiting to try it, apologies.

Beer Poetry #2

Since his return to Toei, DH has been tearin' up the posts. To tell the truth, his speed bloggin' has left me feeling rather lazy. Here is a poem written for him.

There is beer #4

To DH

There is beer that's cold you buy
And beer that's warm and free.
These don't sound too bad but...
Cold and free's the beer for me!

March 2009