HAHAHAHAHAH! STONE 13th!

Goose Island Bourbon Co. Stout........TOUGH....... KIKOMAN!

13th!!!!....... JEALOUS????????

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout!

I found out that a boy of mine had had a bottle of '06 (I think) 11% ABV Bourbon Co. Stout Sitting on the shelf. Let's give her a whirl.

MoriMoto Black OBI SOBA ALE

Stone Calie-Belgie

This is me in KY drinking some Stone Cali-Belgie.....hahaha!! Hope you love it. Good Beer Boys, I'm bringing some to Numazu for us to taste!!!

Ahh...Sunday Sunday Sunday

I took a trip to Jungle Jim's International Market yesterday, which does nothing but make me mad in the end----Japan needs more stores with great collections of international beers!! Jim's has over 800--and for sure more than you can look at in one day. I would have taken some pictures, but of course--no cameras are allowed inside!!

On one of the international racks, what did I see staring me back in the face???? Why Baird's Angry Boy Brown Ale and Rising Sun Pale Ale of course!!* They also had a nice supply of Nest's XH aged in Shochu Casks. It was good to see Japan representing with some good brew.

While in the Cincinnati Area I also came across a beer festival, but my granny was with us so stopping was not an option....

I hope your summer days are filled with tons of great brews and relaxing with friends. If you don't know--I am in KY and Nate is still in Japan-terrorizing combinis and local grocery stores. We aren't posting as much, since the summer is the time for beer drinking outside with friends. In KY, we are filling the days by sitting by the creek/pool and planning on how to get a microbrewery off the ground. Don't worry--we will be "planning" for a while...

I'll continue to post random pics from my days here--hope you enjoy!!!

Now, time to head to church with the family, then cookout with the boys. Life. Is. Good.

* I am SO GLAD to see Baird making its way around the world. Bryan and Chris should be PUMPED. Their beers were displayed on the end of the aisle in full view of the hundreds who come in Jungle Jim's each day. I know that we promote Baird on this site often, and we WILL NOT make any apologies about it. As far as beer in Japan goes, Baird is at the forefront of the craft beer movement. For sure there are many other brewers doing great things in Japan--but right now--Baird is King.

Good Times Continue

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin 2009 #18

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin 2009 #18

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The sultry heat and torporific humidity of a Japan summer are heavily upon us. Fret not, though, for the most refreshing and revitalizing antidote to this seasonal languor is being released tomorrow: Baird Cool Breeze Pils 2009.

Cool Breeze Pils 2009 (ABV 5.5%):

Brewed annually, Cool Breeze Pils is Bohemian in style, cleanly malty in body, coquettishly floral and spicy 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 in tank, unfiltered, and re-fermented and naturally carbonated in package where it has undergone a 6-month maturation. The result, we believe, pays handsome tribute to the glorious history of this storied lager beer style.

Cool Breeze Pils begins pouring from the taps of our Taprooms in Numazu and Nakameguro, as well as at other fine beer establishments throughout Japan, on Friday, July 24. 633 ml bottles also are available for purchase through our fine network of Baird Beer retailing liquor stores in Japan. Also, we have lagered a small portion of bottles from the 2008 batch of Cool Breeze Pils for vertical taste comparison. We highly recommend this fun and instructive method of comparison.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
www.bairdbeer.com

Wednesday Night My Place.

My Old Kentucky Home

Well, I won't say that I apologize for not posting more, because I have been hard at it since I have been home. It has only been a few days, and already I am used to not wearing shoes and my accent is worse than ever... I like Japan, but I love Kentucky!

I made a trip to Liquor Barn when I got home and stocked up on some good beers. For sure, your dollars go a lot farther here than in Nihon. I already drank Stone's 13th Anniversary Brew, and wow was it a hoppy dog. I mean hops. I think I had the hop runs the next day from it and about ten other DIPA's the night before. You wanted to know that.

Here's a pic of what's in my fridge, Wednesday morning 10:28AM:






I'm heading to Pazzo's tonight for pint night. Tomorrow is their "Stone Levitation release party on July 23! We will have Stone XIII Anniversary Ale (double IPA) and Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale on tap!" I would go, but I am picking up a shift bartending at the local pub here in town for our pint night. Should be a blast. I'll post some more pictures from KY soon!

Beer Quotes

I apologize for the infrequency of posts recently but, with DH back in KY at the moment and me heading there soon, we've been a little busy. In the meantime here are some great beer quotes for you to enjoy.

"Beer has food value, but food has no beer value." -J.R. Robertson

"Alright brain, I don't like you and you don't like me - so let's just get this over with so I can go back to killing you with beer." -Homer Simpson

"Beer makes you feel the way you ought to feel without beer." - Henry Lawson

"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." - Dave Barry

In KY !!!

Here in KY.... Drinking ShinerBock and hanging with the boys. I'll post tomorrow when I have time!!!! Great beers here so far. Tons of ruination, stone 13th anniv, and bells. Heaven!!!

Proton pack strapped on my back!

So DH is gone and I'm still here until August 10. Tick.

Miyuki's cousin got married this past weekend and the wedding venue had a unique contraption that the groom strapped on to pay respect to all of the guests at his wedding. It's like a Ghostbuster's Proton Pack but, rather than shoot ghosts, it dispenses beer! Here is the groom filling Miyuki's dad up with Super Dry.
And here is Miyuki modeling this beer dispensing back unit.Also, I just finished watchingthe documentary Beer Wars. It is good but I was kinda disapointed that the only craft breweries she talks with are Stone, Dogfish Head, and New Belgium. Well, she visited Yuengling too but...didn't dwell there like she did up in Milton, Delware where Sam and the Dogfish boys play. And who really cares about Moonshot caffeinated beer? That woman should have never left Sam Adams!

Anyway, if you visit surfthechannel it will link to Megavideo to watch it. Defintely worth watching.

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin 2009 #17

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin 2009 #17

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The world began accelerating toward the Pacific Century with the economic takeoff of Japan that launched in the early 1960s. The general economic and socio-cultural impact of this emergence of Pacific Basin societies hardly needs mention. In our niche world of beer, this is the Pacific Century also. The reorientation of the beer world from the Atlantic to the Pacific began in full measure in the 1980s with microbeer movement that kicked off on the shores of America's west coast. This movement is building force in Japan and throughout East Asia like a slow-forming tsunami. Today, Baird Brewing releases one symbol of the coming Pacific Beer storm: Pacific Century Ale.

Pacific Century Ale (ABV 6.5%):

The stylistic genesis of Pacific Century Ale is a classic English India Pale Ale transformed into an American west coast-style IPA through the use of pungently aggressive pacific northwest hop varities (Simcoe, Columbus, Amarillo). Additions of the freshly squeezed juice and shaved peels of the Japanese Amanatsu citrus fruit (from the garden-orchard of the brewery's next door neighbor, Otani-san) make this unique IPA a Pacific Century Ale.

Pacific Century Ale will be available on draught at our Taprooms and at fine restaurants and pubs throughout Japan beginning Thursday, July 16. 633 ml bottles are available for purchase through the fine family of Baird Beer retailing liquor stores in Japan. Supplies are limited so order quickly!

Fishmarket Taproom 9-Year Anniversary Celebration (July 18 - 20):

We will be celebrating the 9-year birthday of our Numazu Fishmarket Taproom on the three-day holiday weekend of Saturday, July 18 through Monday, July 20. We will be open each day from noon until midnight. Highlights of the weekend festivities include:

(1) Baird Fruit & Beer Festival (Pints 700 yen; Half-Pints 500 yen; Tasters 250 yen):

The use of fresh, whole fruit as an integral beer ingredient has become one of the hallmarks of Baird seasonal brewing. The following fruited ales will be available for tasting during the festival:

*9-Year Anniversary Ale (Dekopon Ale) (ABV 5.5%)

*Pacific Century Ale (Amanatsu) (ABV 6.5%)

*Shizuoka Summer Mikan Ale 2009 (Natsumikan) (ABV 5.5%)

*Mikan India Pale Ale (Mikan) (ABV 8.0%)

*Saison Sayuri 2009 (Daidai) (ABV 5.5%)

*Carpenter's Mikan Ale 2009 (Mikan) (ABV 6.7%)

*Asian Beauty Biwa Ale 2008 (Biwa) (ABV 5.5%)

*Japan Tale Ale 2008 (Ume) (ABV 6.1%)

*Yamanashi Sumomo Ale 2008 (Sumomo) (ABV 5.6%)

*Jubilation Ale 2007 (Ichijiku) (ABV 6.5%)

*Country Girl Kabocha Ale 2007 (Kabocha) (ABV 5.5%)

(2) Fishmarket Taproom Buffet (1,500 yen per person; all-you-can-eat); Sidewalk Barbecue (3:00 - 7:00 PM each day) (kushi-yaki skewers 100 - 200 yen per):

Our chef, Michiru, possesses amazing culinary skill and this beer-inspired buffet is not to be missed. We will be grilling some wonderful kushi-yaki specialties downstairs on the sidewalk each festival day from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. Order you beer upstairs in a plastic "bura-bura" cup and enjoy it outside in the glorious seaside summer sunshine while feasting on sumptuous sticks of barbecue.

(3) Baird Brewery Tours:

We will conduct brewery tours twice a day, departing from the Fishmarket Taproom and 2:00 and 4:00 pm. No sign-up necessary.

(4) Live Shows (Music & Magic):

Some local Numazu talent will be contributing to our weekend celebration with live acoustic musical performances on Saturday evening (6:30 - 9:00 pm) and Monday afternoon (2:00 - 4:00 pm). An entertaining magic show will be staged Sunday evening (beginning around 6:00 pm)

We look forward to celebrating the 9-year birthday of the Fishmarket Taproom together with each and every one of you.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
www.bairdbeer.com

Going to KY!!!!!

I'm heading to Centrair now jibeer friends. I'll arrive in KY sometime on Thursday, which will seem like 2 weeks from now I am sure.

I'll keep updating from home, but expect a lot of news on the beer scene in KY and the US. Also, Nate and I will be launching another website soon--geared towards brew in KY.

I hope all of you have great summers and enjoy the events that Japan has to offer!

If you are free this weekend, Get to NUMAZU!

Of course, I'll be updating twitter constantly like a nerd, so follow me on the right.

Catch you on the flipside...

The Past Weekend's Beer Fun

Toyohashi doesn't boast any great beer bars, and truth be told--there's not that much jibeer to be found anywhere near the station. However, don't let that fool you. Toyohashi can give you some great times. Nate and I met up at the station last Friday night for the real Last Street Drink, and it was a good one.



We started out with a few street brews, and they we knew it was going to be a good night--because we saw the Booze Train. Many don't know, but Toyohashi is one of the only cities left in Japan that has an extensive street rail system in place. Street cars are everywhere and can be a bother for the first time driver, or my girlfriend.



Anyways, the Beer Train is a special car that runs in the summer. It is simply a car with a table and beer taps in it where you can drink beer while it makes the circle from the station around the city. You have to reserve the whole car, and I think it's booked until the Second Coming. If you get a chance to see it, it's a sight to behold. The only downside is that I heard there isn't a pisser on board. Anyone who has ever drank a few brews knows what it is like to need to go and can't find the proper facilities. WOW. You can read more about it here, here and on GaijinTonic's page here.



All of you conbini hounds might have seen the new Asahi Super Dry aluminum bottles taking up more space in the coolers. We had to have just one. Yup. Tastes the same. The metal itself isn't so bad though.

Also, if you are in Toyohashi, you must check out this pizza joint near the station. It's called Dia, I think. It's only about a 5 minute walk from the east side entrance, and is the best deal in town. For 850 yen you get a 8 inch pizza, a beer, and your choice of an appetizer. As we say in KY, that kind of deal is like a sore pecker--you just can't beat it.

Beer : 30

You know it's about that time. I'm hoping the last day of work goes quickly! For me, 4PM today signals the beginning of summer vacation.

Nate's double-fisting Baird Beer already.* What are you going to do to celebrate?

Don't worry friends. Nate will be in Japan drinking and blogging until he heads home on August 10th. I'll be updating from home as well, most likely making you all jealous with the awesome brews I can get in the homeland. Enjoy your mid-week brews tonight. I will be.

* Leave that one alone chuwy!

I am too busy!

I've been busy this week and I don't like it. Work wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to....work.

Just got done watching Beer Wars. Check it out. Nice film about beer in the US. I swear after watching it I will never drink Bud again. Unless it is free. And then I will drink it. Seriously, check the movie out. I am going to try to get an interview with Sam of Dogfish Head as well. Wish me luck!

The big news this week has been the merge of Kirin and Suntory. However, this probably won't mean jack to you and me. Just like Bud being bought by Inbev didn't deter the local redneck from drinking "The King of Beers", don't expect this to have any lasting real affect on the average drinker. And for heavens sake, drink some local beer if you can. Your local brewer thanks you.

I'm getting all my stuff packed to leave here on Thursday. Already I am planning on visiting about 8 breweries and trying to do as much beer sleuthing as can be done. Wish me luck.



I found a picture of me and Nate (and Nick) drinking Baird Beer's Japan Tale Ale. It was good, but wasn't my favorite. It was the morning. Forgive the sleepy looks.

We had Nate's going away party last Sunday night. WOW. Pictures to come soon.

I need to finish packing and get some sleep, so I'll be back with more tomorrow. Hope your nightly beers tasted as good as mine did. I had some Malt's and some of Nate's Oaked Bourbon chips Infinite Sadness. It was good. And I'm out. Dang.

Kirin and Suntory to Merge???!!!

In the biggest news to hit Japan since Nate's surprise going away party last night in Toyohashi, Kirin and Suntory are planning to merge by the end of the year. Not sure if they have announced that they will make a hybrid Ichiban Shibori and Malt's beer yet, but they did assure the public that they will continue to brew cheap happoshu to keep the homeless drunks in front of Toyohashi station happy.

Whew. That was close.

Many of you know that Kirin already owns beer brands from around the world, like San Miguel. Many don't know that San Miguel is the worst tasting beer in the world. We voted last night.

Hope your Monday's are as exciting as mine!

Friday News and Pics 7/10/09

It seems like Fridays come quicker and quicker each week! I hope when I am back in KY they slow down...

After school today I'm headed into Toyohashi to meet Nate at the station for a few street brews. This will be the last street drink, and we plan on making it a good one.

I'm not sure of any beer events going on this weekend, so how about enjoying a few local brews at a BBQ in your local park? It's always a good call to dust off the old grill, haul her to the park, pop a few brews, and let the coals to the work. Take advantage of Japan's awesome rule that lets you drink outside in the public parks. They got that one right!!!!

Speaking of grilling, check out Another Pint Please. Wow. That guy knows his way around the grill.

I finally got the pictures of the Beer nerd meetup in Numazu. I hope you can tell how much fun we had. I'd say it's safe to say by looking at the pictures that everyone had a great time. I can't wait until September when we can do it again, and hopefully taste some good brews that I bring back from home!!!

Becken employees: fired or loved up?

DH just reported that Becken Beer is restructuring. What he didn't report is how he found out that information. He sent the Japanese article to Miyuki and I. Miyuki read it and posted back. This is the conversation I found when I checked my facebook after school.

Miyuki:

They don't completely go under.
They are stopping working and don't know when they can work again.
All of employee got laid.
They are discussing how to work again with Miyoshi city.
I checked MIXI's Becken beer community, the brewmaster said they have a small chance to start working again but it is not sure when.

DH:

MIYUKI! Thanks for the info...remember!!!!! "All of the employees got laid."---means that they all had SEX!!!!

"All of the employees got laid off."--means they got fired!!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHA! too funny! Thanks for translating it!

Miyuki:

Thanks for teaching English.
But I can't say they all didn't have SEX....


-Very true, Miyuki. Whereas we know the employees are not working now, we can't be sure of the extent of their individual love lives. Well played.

I want to drink good beer in Japan!!!! Help!!!!

Don't be fooled...This store in Takayama (Gifu-ken) isn't your normal beer store!!!

Tokyo really doesn't do the rest of Japan justice. The beer scene there is great, and it seems like more and more good bars and beers are popping up all of the time. It stands to reason that one of the world's largest cities would have a good selection of beers...but what about the rest of Japan?

The problem with Tokyo is that many of the folks who only live in Tokyo--don't understand what it is like to live in the far reaches of the nooks and crannies of Japan. I've gotten several emails recently from people asking where in the world can they find craft beer in Japan? Since Nate nor I live in Tokyo, I thought it was time we got back to the basics of where to find good jibeer in Japan.

(Being an English teacher, I know that many new teachers are about to come to Japan in the late summer/fall to start their teaching assignments. Often times these people don't have too good of an idea of where to find good beer in this country. I hope this helps.)

If you live outside of Tokyo, but still in a bigger city (Sapporo, Osaka, Nagoya, etc.) you probably are still in luck. However, be prepared to find that the beer scene in every other city of Japan can't compare to Tokyo. I live near Nagoya, and I can count the number of bars on one hand (that I know of!) that are serving Japanese craft beer.

In the bigger cities, the first thing you need to look for is an international store. Stores like Seijo Ishii and Yamaya are goldmines when it comes to finding good jibeer from Japan, and the rest of the world. Ask around and see if anyone knows of a good international grocery or liquor store in your area. Chances are you can find the most popular and widely distributed jibeers in these joints.*

After that, hit up your department stores. Stores like Matsuzakaya and Mitsukoshi usually have nice 'grocery' and specialty food shops in their basements. More often than not, this means that they will have a liquor department. Many department stores carry several types of jibeer, usually only from the area and surrounding regions though.

Once you have checked all of your department stores, it's time to hit your major supermarkets. Stores like JUSCO, AEON, Domi, and other bigger supermarkets will usually have some kind of jibeer for you to choose from. In Aichi, we have Atsumi Foods, a great local supermarket that carries a great selection of jibeer.

Now comes the tricky part. You can hit your conbinis, but more often than not their shelves will be full of The Big 4's brews and Chu-hai. Now it's time to look for your liquor stores in town. Most liquor stores won't have too big of a beer selection, but you may get lucky. The best thing to do is to develop some kind of relationship at a store, and then ask the owner where you can get jibeer. I always find that people are more willing to help AFTER I have just bought something from them. It may be worth dropping 1000yen on a cheap bottle of sake to help your chances of finding a good jibeer spot.

The hardest place to find jibeer (in Aichi at least) is at your local bar. Most bars only serve one of the Big Four's Brews, and that's that. When you ask for a beer, you will be served a 'beer' and won't even be told what kind. Don't worry. It's Japan. However, the bar is a great place to meet (surprise surprise!) other drinkers who love beer. Try asking some of the locals if they know of any places to get jibeer in the area.

The Japanese people might not be as helpful as you imagined when you ask them about jibeer in the area. I have been in Nagoya right next to the cities ONLY brewpub and had people tell me that they had never heard of beer in Nagoya before. Don't get discouraged.

Lastly, to those of you living in the countryside: Gambatte. I do, and I can't buy any kind of jibeer for miles and miles. This just means that I have to know where to look on the weekends and stock up when I am in the big cities. ALSO, don't overlook the Internet. Many Japanese brewers offer good deals with beer shipped right to your door. The beer might have been mistreated a bit, but wouldn't you choose a mistreated good beer over no beer at all?

Many ask us where Nate and I find so many jibeers in Aichi, since we don't have all the availability from Tokyo. The answer is simple: We are very tenacious. It's not uncommon to find us walking around Nagoya early on a Saturday morning hitting up all the usual spots, looking for anything new. We put a lot of effort (and travel!) into tracking down some good beer here, and it can get tedious. Keep fighting. Great is your reward!

Remember, if you are having trouble locating good Japanese beer in your area, get on the net. Chances are, someone is/was having the same trouble that you are. Get on sites (like this one) and ask people about the local beer near you. Don't be afraid to ask!!!!!

So, as we all wait for the day when our cities have beer scenes that can rival Tokyo's--let's keep hunting for the best beer we can find here. You never know

* The most available jibeers in Japan are from Yo Ho Brewing (Yona Yona, Tokyo Black, Aooni, etc.) and Ginga Kogen (white ale, weizen, pale ale). They usually run about 260-300 yen a can and are good beers. These are a great place to start if you are getting into the jibeer scene here in Japan!

Miyoshi Becken Beer-- See ya!

In other breaking news (from Chuwy and BeerKat)--Miyoshi Becken Beer is going the way of the Dodo. Becken did make some good stuff--and I recall TimE saying that Becken was making the best German style beers in Japan. Nate thought they sucked, mainly becuase he met someone involed with the Becken business and thought that this lady had the personalty of a female canine.

I thought that the beers were good, and was hoping to make it down there next fall.

The story says that everyone will be fired, drawn and quartered, and sent to the far reaches of Japan as an example. Well, it does say that everyone will be fired.

Hope they can restructure and make some brew again.

Sankt Gallen Father's Day Edition Beer

This week has been a pretty quiet one in the beer world, and yet has seen a bit of action. The BeerAdvocate servers crashed last week and haven't got back on track 100% just yet, leaving thousands of RAT's with nothing to do! The boys promise a quick fix. I will not call the boys who started BeerAdvocate beer nerds, since they did in fact create a website that makes them money and lets them drink beer. I got a tweet a few minutes ago from one of the BeerAdvocate guys saying:
Jason: Quaffing a quick glass of PBR. While closing out Beeradvocate Magazine Issue 30. #beer

I hope to be drinking a few PBR's next week as well Jason!

The big news coming from the Tokyo boys has been the Ushi Tora's new opening and addition of more taps. Since I know nothing about Tokyo, read what Chuwy has to say about it here.

The Big 4 have been relatively quiet these days. After Asahi released The Master, we haven't heard too much from them. Many thought that an all malt version of the Super Dry was sure to come after Kirin switched the Ichiban Shibori to all malt, but when it comes to Super Dry--as the public is concerned, if it ain't broke--don't fix it.

I bought a Yebisu on Tuesday since it was on sale and I wanted to make sure that I tasted as bad as I remembered. It did.

Last weekend we drank the bif bottle of Sankt Gallen Father's Day Edition that I bought for my girlfriend's old man. It was good beer, nothing great--but he loved it. He must have said, "This is delicious beer!" ten times! My girlfriend's mom drank about two sips, got tipsy and asked me when we were getting married. No more beer for her.

I bought the huge 1.8L bottle at Okadaya in Nagoya. While Nate and I were trying to decide on what to buy, a couple came in and got one of the bottles. (They were hidden in the back.) I asked how many more the store had, and since they only had one--I snatched it up. It was a good choice. I recommend drinking it with friends though, it's hard to drink 1.8L before it gets hot--though I am sure it could be done.

Have a lovely hot, humid, wet Thursday. I am!

Kit Kats in Japan

My neighbor Jennifer, whom I also team teach with, writes a blog about Kit Kats in Japan. I'm sure you've seen all the crazy flavors that and appear and then disappear in combinis before you have worked up the nerve to buy them. Worry no more. Jennifer buys and tries 'em so you don't have to. She documents her finding at Jen Ken's Kit Kat Blog.


Justification for posting this on Good Beer Country Boys: Like craft beer, Kit Kats are an American perfection that is now being experimented on in Japan. Also, Jennifer went to college in Kentucky, even though she is from Ohio. Ohio has Great Lakes Brewing and Bryan Baird says he is from there. Finally, Jennifer doesn't drink alot of beer, but she likes the White Trash Ale that Miyuki and I homebrew. Japan.

Top 10 Boilermakers!

I grew up on the Irish Car Bomb. Always a classic. However, this list of the 10 Boilermakers that everyone should try is pushing it just a bit.

The question is this: Could you drop a shot into a premium brew like 90 minute IPA and not kick yourself???

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin 2009 #16

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Today we celebrate the 2009 release of a Baird Beer summer seasonal classic: Shizuoka Summer Mikan Ale.

A summer mikan ("natsumikan") is a grapefruit-like citrus fruit that is tart and sweetly sour in flavor and gloriously 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 both on the hot-side (during wort production) and the cold-side (right into the conditioning tank along with a dosage of dry hops).

Shizuoka Summer Mikan Ale 2009 incorporates a wheat accented grist bill that compliments our workhouse malt -- Crisp floor-malted Maris Otter. The hopping is all-citrus and all-American (Simcoe, Centennial, Amarillo). The alcohol is moderately strong, around 5.5% ABV. The quenching result is summer paradise in a glass.

Draught Shizuoka Summer Mikan Ale is now available at the Fishmarket Taproom, the Nakameguro Taproom and fine Baird Beer retailing pubs and restaurants throughout Japan. Bottles (633 ml) too are available for purchase through Baird Beer retailing liquor shops and direct from the brewery.

Reminder:

Fishmarket Taproom 9-Year Anniversary Celebration (July 18 - 20):

We will be celebrating the 9-year birthday of our Numazu Fishmarket Taproom on the three-day holiday weekend of Saturday, July 18 through Monday, July 20. Highlights of the weekend festivities include:

*Baird Fruit & Beer Festival

*1,500 yen all-you-can-eat beer-inspired buffet (our new chef, Michiru, has hit the ground running and this promises to be an extraordinary treat)

*Baird brewery tours twice a day (2:00 pm and 4:00 pm)

*Outdoor yaki-tori grilling below the Taproom (everyday, 3:00 - 7:00 pm)

*Saturday evening live music

*Sunday evening magic show

Please mark your calendar and plan a festive summer trip to idyllic Numazu for what promises to be a great beer bonanza! More detailed beer and event information will be forthcoming very shortly.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
www.bairdbeer.com

It's July 7th Already???

This weekend was a good one for saving a little coin. The avid beer drinker in Japan knows that hitting the bars (and combinis!) every weekend can take its toll on the old wallet. It's not unheard of here to drop $200 a night (20,000 yen) for two people just dining with a few drinks. Every now and again, it's good to take a weekend to let the bank account recover!

I did that this weekend by visiting my ultra-rich friends in Tahara. We ate Matsuzaka Beef (cooked in Horaisen's "Bi" sake) and drank Horaisen's "Ku", and Super Dry. This lady is typical of your Japanese person who loves expensive meat and drink--yet knows nothing of craft beer. Nate did see her mix some of Ise Kadoya's Stout with a Super Dry and said it improved the taste of the stout. For some people there is no hope.

My love affair at the immigration office in Toyohashi is over. I finally got my visa extended and my gaijin card updated. Talk about a headache! Oh well. I was going to ride my bike to the Store to get some malt's with which to celebrate--but the monsoon that came prevented that from happening--meant to be!

The good news is that I got my ticket to head home for the summer break. I will be leaving Nagoya on July 16th and returning on August 29th. I think that 45 days in KY will do me well, especially since the local Liquor Barn is starting to get some great events going, like this one where you could meet the brewer from Great Lakes!

Also, I just found out about Sergio's World Beer's in Louisville, which has over 800 beers--including Baird's Angry Boy. YEAH YEAH YEAH!



Sam Adams has a new brew coming out, I know Lance is happy. I'm sure it's pretty good, but nothing to write home about. (blog about?)


Huge brew fest going down in Ichinoseki August 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. Looks like just about everyone who makes good brew in Japan will be there. I will not be there though. I think some of the Tokyo boys are planning on making the long trek up there--'cause it ain't close! (The poster is from last year!)

Those crazy BrewDog Boys are in the news again. Remember who interviewed James Watt back in the day? Looks like they are still living the dream and making some good brews.

The next two weeks are filling up for me before I head home! This weekend I am going to hit up the Moku-Moku buffet and beers and then maybe finally get to Towser on Saturday night. We shall see!!

It won't be long until I am back at The Hofbrau House in Northern KY!!!!!

The Good Beer Country Boys make the KansaiScene!!!

Check it out online here. Thanks to Daniel Traylor for the sweet writeup!

Land of the rising microbrew

Two Kentuckians hop on the Japanese craft beer trail

Daniel Harrison and Nathan Coppage were less than thrilled with the range of beer choices when they arrived in Japan from the United States to teach English. But instead of settling for run-of-the-mill offerings from Japan's “Big Four” beer companies, they have made it their mission to discover and drink the nation's best jibiiru: craft beer produced by microbreweries.

The Kentucky natives are current Aichi residents and are chronicling their efforts on a website, www.jibeer.com (also dubbed "Good Beer and Country Boys”), which features reviews and commentary along with narrative accounts and photos of their beer-fueled travels across Japan. Individually or together, Harrison and Coppage have sampled brews from Hokkaido to Okinawa and many places in between.
The duo has found plenty to like in Japan where, prior to 1994, laws made it impossible for small breweries to operate. But in the last several years, microbreweries have popped up across the country; at present, just over 250 craft breweries are operating in Japan, according to the Japan Craft Beer Association.

Not all of the offerings go down smoothly. "There are a lot of breweries that simply are making bland beer," Harrison says. Coppage agrees: "Micro beer in Japan is being wonderfully crafted and improved by a select few, while others are still playing construction with their toy backhoe and dump truck in their sand box."

Naturally, the pair would like to see growth in the craft beer world, both in terms of quality and availability. "I hope that Japanese craft beer can catch on in the way that it has done back home," continues Harrison. "Once people realize that their local brewers are making a great product that they can be proud of, the sky is the limit."

One difficulty in finding new fans of craft beer among the local population is long-held ideas about what beer is, along with the growth in popularity of cheaper beer-like beverages known as happoshu, "I think many people here think beer should taste like Japanese light lager/pilsners… that's why many Japanese aren't familiar with craft beers. If you give someone a stout, bock, alt, marzen or anything darker than a Super Dry, most will call it 'Dark Beer' or 'Black Beer,' because the term ‘beer’ only refers to what they are used to."

But Harrison believes that ideas about beer in Japan can be easily changed: "I think it's only a matter of time before the craft beer movement here just explodes."

More important than the good and the bad, the pair uses the website to celebrate good beer as a way of life. "We are not a beer review site, but just a place to read good beer news in Japan," admits Harrison. "We use a little humor and our own experiences living here in Japan to hopefully entertain and enlighten."

The site has also served as a networking vehicle. "It has been crazy," says Coppage. "In four months we have made tons of friends all over Japan and have learned so much about beer in Japan."

Meanwhile, Coppage sees the site as an online community for unfiltered beer discussion. He notes that visitors can "agree, disagree, support, talk trash, drunk-type, or do anything they want in response."

Looking ahead, Harrison and Coppage want the site to become a primary source for information about craft beer in Japan. "What we are not and will not be is a blog covered in tacky ads in some crazy get-rich dream. We talk about beer, brewing, and our lives in Japan because we like it—not for money," says Harrison. "But if you see me out and want to buy me a beer, I'd take you up on the offer."

Beer Poetry

There is beer #3

There is beer brewed with adjunct,
Coffee, spice, fruit in the boiling pot
But water, malt, hops, and yeast
make up the Reinheitsgebot

And if, by that word,
You don't know what I mean
It's the German Purity Law
from fifteen and sixteen.

June 26

As usual, Friday Pictures

Just so you don't get too bored in the waning hours of the work week, here's a few pictures to keep you occupied....

Chuwy sent me this picture of Chris and Jonno...evidently Chris wasn't too happy about missing me and Nate....

I promise he is popping the top on that bottle, not putting a little pils in that beer...

And, just because I will be back in KY at my old apartment, (the coolest apartment you have ever seen--it's a renovated bar from the 1930's...) I will show you what a random Friday night looks like in KY when my girl comes in from Japan. Drinking Bud Heavy, High Life, Blue Moon, Umeshu, and eating dried fish. It doesn't get much better than that!!







By the way, since I mentioned "Tom Petty" in the post about The Fishmarket Taproom, it seems that Good Beer and Country Boys made it on some Tom Petty site that has articles about Tom from all over the web...

The 4th of July!!!

Another sunny Friday morning in the mountains. That never gets old!!! Time is winding down on this semester, and I am glad. In less than two weeks I will be back in KY for summer vacation, but I will be back in Japan in the fall. Just to make you jealous, I will be spending my time at Pazzo's Pizza Pub, and you can look here at their draught and bottle lists. Did you see those bottle prices??? I love KY!

This weekend will be spent running errands and trying to get my visa crap in order for the trip home. I don't know if I will have much time to go beering. I was going to hit Towser on Saturday night, but looks like we will be dining with friends instead. Oh well, at least these are the friends that have expensive sake!!!

On to some beer news from Japan and around the globe.....

1. Get to know the Kirin Jockeys.

2. Enter to win your Premium Malt's Jug here.

3. Next time you are drinking in your favorite mall, try this.

4. Summer is here and it's wheat beer drinking time. Educate yourself.

I've got some buddies at home trying to secure some Stone 13th Anniversary Ale this weekend. Wish them luck. This weekend looks like its going to be dominated by Yona Yona and Tokyo Black--and that is fine with me! Although, I think I will throw some Ginga Kogen in there if it is nice and sunny.

We had an discussion about HomebrewJapan in Numazu. No one who it is besides Chuwy. Apparently, he/she doesn't want to be known to the rest of the blogging world. Sounds a bit prudish to me. (It's about time we got a little friendly smack talking going...) We all know that if anyone was going to get busted for home brewing in Japan, it would probably be the hundreds of brewers who gather each year for the WanCup.

But, you can never be too careful. So, we are now changing the name of this site to "Good Beer and Baguettes" brought to you by Jean-Claude and Pierre.

Hope all of you enjoy your 4th weekends!!!! You know we will be!




Also, check out a nice video about love hotels!!!

Summer at Baird Beer's The Fishmarket Taproom in Numazu!!!

Can you believe that Nate has the nerve to chug in my face???

The meet up at The Fishmarket Taproom was amazing like Nate said. Good brews, friends, and fun were all had in plenty. Sunday was especially fun when more of the Tokyo boys came down, and I was sad that we just missed Chris by a couple of minutes!

I am sure the Tokyo boys found a few things out pretty quickly: 1. The country boy title ain't no joke, DH likes to tell stories about KY, and sometimes those stories get a tad bit embellished. However, as TimE so kindly pointed out in the comments a few posts ago, the blue people of Kentucky and the Melungens are real. All in all great times were had.

Capa, Nate, and Nick chatting while TimE buys something and DH sings Tom Petty to the ladies.

We got to the taproom about 1PM-ish on Saturday after leaving Toyohashi early in the morning. We parked near the big park that is about a 15 minute walk from The Taproom, and we made that our base camp for the weekend. If you go to Numazu, don't bother forking out the cash for a hotel, instead just bring your tent and crash in the park. As long as you don't make a huge scene and raise hell all night, you will be fine. We had three tents set up right next to the parking lot and didn't have any trouble at all. Well, I had a tad bit of trouble setting up the tent after a long night at the taproom, but my good buddies Nick and Nate helped me out.

Basecamp

After we got to The Taproom and had a few brews, we walked to the station to meet our friends Nick and Michelle. Contrary to what the lady at the combini told us, it is only about a 25 minute walk to the station, not 50. After that, we were going to go grab some food at a cheap joint where you can put a good base down, but instead opted to just head back to the bar. (Michi and I camped there all night, but some of the others went out for a bite later.)

At the bar we met Terada-san (Nate and Miyuki had met him before) who also is an avid brew lover and home brewer. We hung out and chatted, he bought me a few pints (thanks!!!), and eventually Chris Chuwy came barging in the door--root canal and all.

Chuwy had been around Izu earlier that day on his bike, and I will let you read more about his travels here.

Now, onto the beers. Normally I don't go for cask brews on hand pumps because I don't care too much for low alcohol, warm, flat, RAT brew. But, since I have heard others talk more about drinking these brews to start with and not jumping into your 8% stouts, I gave her the old college try. I opted for the Marris Otter Saaz, a 5% brew that was awesome. It had a great hoppy smell, and was super smooth to drink. I'm not sure how many of these we drank Saturday night and Sunday morning, but needless to say the barrel ran out just before the Tokyo boys arrived. Apologies. Baird also had a Faded Glory Mild on hand pump. I drank one but it tasted like water. BUT, it was my first beer ever in that style (only 3%) and I will say that it wasn't bad--just wasn't what I wanted to use the stamp spaces on the drink cards for.

Of course, Michi only drank the Morning Coffee Stout all weekend. She loves coffee and beer and thinks that the two that Baird put together are amazing. It is good beer, you should drink it.

Sunday morning coming down...

The Angry Boy Brown Ale was good, as was the Bureiko Jikan, Saison Sayuri, Double IPA, Rising Sun, Teikoku IPA, and all the standards. They had a Dark Wheat Lager that was my least favorite of the weekend, but it wasn't bad.

Sunday morning we took our time getting up and made our way back to the taproom about 10.3 seconds after it opened for lunch. The master behind the bar was certainly surprised to see us up and so chipper after the night before! We wasted no time disposing of The Marris Otter Saaz as I think it was the best beer of the weekend, next to Angry Boy of course.

All of the beer nerds (minus cameraman Chuwy)

There was a cat named Daisuke there who had also showed up the night before, and he joined Nick, Nate, Chuwy and myself around the table in the back. It seemed like in no time at all that Capa, Jonno, and TimE arrived from Tokyo--Jonno arriving the latest and the sweatiest. We all went to work around a table in the middle of the room. Since it was around 3PM on Sunday, we had the whole joint to ourselves. By joint I mean bar, not a monster doob.

The Full Sail Top Sail Imperial Porter

TimE so kindly brought down a big bottle of Full Sail Top Sail Imperial Porter, Aged in Bourbon Barrels (just for the KY boys!!). We sampled this fine fine brew as well as a few of Nate's homebrews as well, which I will let him write more about later on. Much thanks goes to TimE for bringing this brew that we all enjoyed immensely. It was my first time trying anything from Full Sail, and I will be trying some more.

Nate's Tsuchinoko IPA

We talked about beers, Japan, craft beer, our homes and so much more. I wish I could meet all of these fellas at the local bar every Friday night. Everyone there was a lover of good beer, but all very different. It was fun to hear everyone's opinions about the same beer, which often times differed greatly!!

I'll post some more pictures this weekend, and all credit for these goes to Chuwy and his tripod.


If you go, make sure you plan on staying for a while. The atmosphere is amazing, and the music is even better. I think that they played every Tom Petty song Sunday afternoon, and I sang them all in my girlfriends ear--much to her great appreciation. Also, make sure you get the nonbei card that lets you drink 12 pints for the price of 10. I went through 2 of those bad boys!!!

Baird Beer Boys (and Sayuri)---thanks for brewing up some great beers and for always being so hospitable!!!!!!!

A Magical Place

Baird Beer's Numazu Taproom is a magical place. It is more than just great beer, though that definitely helps. There is something about the Numazu Taproom that the Nakemeguro Taproom doesn't have...yet. Maybe it is the history. The Numazu Taproom is the origin of Baird Beer. It is where Bryan used to brew up his recipes on a 30 liter system. Here is a picture of Miyuki and I with Chris. Yes, that is a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale in his hand.

My friends Lance and Rob, who visited from Kentucky, both said that they felt more comfortable in the taproom than anywhere else they visited in Japan. It is the atmosphere, the beer, the location in Numazu, the music playing, and the people. All these things come together to make magic.

Baird Beer's new theme song (if they wouldn't get sued by Disney).

Be our guest, be our guest, put our taproom to the test
Take a pint full of Teikoku, Angry Boy will do the rest
It's so much fun, we have Pale Ale of the Rising Sun...
Be our guest...BE OUR GUEEEEST!!!!!!!!

If any of you all took pictures this past weekend and want to send them to me, I'll post them. I'll even give you the credit for taking them.

For those of you that just experienced the Numazu Taproom for the first time, What do you think?