The Final Weekend in Numazu...(for now)

DH and Chuwy with two of the 'Zu's Finest.

I can't tell you how much fun last weekend was in Numazu. Of course, all of the regulars were there, and it was awesome. Of course, the beer was great. Of course, the food was stellar. Now, the weather was good, which was quite rare considering this past winter. But by looking at those things separately you might not think we had that great of a time...but after a few surprises, it was one for the books.

You see, I am leaving this great country this Friday. I know I will be back one day soon, but I don't know what day or when that will be. So this was a send off for me of sorts. Chuwy came down, and it was our last bash together. Michi and I had just gotten married, so this was kind of a celebration.

Now, the biggest kicker of all was the fact that while we were there, Bryan Baird called from the World Beer Cup in Chicago to tell his wife that Baird won THREE gold medals. Wow. No other breweries won more golds, and only one tied with Baird, Ballast Point, who also happened to win small brewer of the year. That's pretty good company for Baird to keep.

Chuwy with some brew that Chris brought us!!!

After word spread about the news, we passed around sheets with the other winners and scoured through them looking for other winners and just how big of an accomplishment that this was for Baird. I don't think it hit us at the time, and maybe it still hasn't hit the boys in Numazu yet, but this is a HUGE deal. Japanese Craft Beer is on the map. The bar has been raised, and the gauntlet has been thrown down. People from California to Prague saw these results and are wondering just where in the hell Numazu is and what is going on there.

Many times on this blog I have told you that I feel like Baird is leading all of the Japanese Craft Brewers (by far) and they are the future of Japanese Craft Beer. It's true, and now the world knows it. Of course, there is more great beer out there in Japan. And this should just go to show that Japan is not the good beer void that I thought it once was.

Michi and the leftover hops from the Suruga Bay that Chris brewed up Sunday morning!

But the fight has just begun. Other Japanese Craft Brewers-- the bar has been raised. Japan has a world class beer (more specifically at least THREE beers that were judged the best styles in the WORLD) and making so-so beer will not cut it anymore. Sticking to the three "German" types of beer at your brewery will get you nowhere. It takes skill, a daring spirit, and as Bryan Baird himself likes to say over and over again--PASSION.

The Gold Winning Saison Sayuri 2010 and a blurry Chris. (We were the first to try it in Numazu---shhhhhh!!!!!!!)

I know the boys at Baird who brew the beer-Bryan, Chris and Shinya-- and they are NOT going to slow down. This will light a fire under their asses so hot that I bet they will still be feeling a year from now. This awesome success will push them for 10 golds next year and beyond.

Japanese beer drinker--get ready. You've only seen the beginning of what Baird Beer will be. And for Pete's sake son, if you haven't been to one of the Taprooms or ordered some Baird Beer yet....DO IT.

The best guy I know in Numazu, Chris Poel-Baird Beer's lead brewer.

(Also some notes about Baird's golds. Numazu Lager, which one best American Style Amber--is one of their year round beers. It's just a one time specialty ale--it's a year round constant. That says something about Baird's quality and devotion to their year-round line-up. Saison Sayuri, which won gold for best Belgian and French Style Ale, was voted the best out of a group of 57 other beers. 57. That beer didn't win a new style or a category with only a few entries. 57. WOW.)