Great STONE videos!!

It's no secret that I love Stone beer and really respect what Greg Koch has done for craft beer in the US, and around the world. Heck, he even was nice enough to do an interview with me, remember that?

Check out these videos of the Stone boys taking a trip to Norway!!!! Double click the video since this crappy blog design won't show the whole HD picture!

You can check out Part 2 and beyond here.

You Just Never Know....

Friday is here again! If you are like me, you've been waiting 4 days for this most glorious of occasions. I've got a fun filled weekend of wedding planning ahead of me, but I hope to get to a few local spots tonight before the misery...er...."fun" begins!

My big news is that I got an order full of Baird Beer in this week! Sure, most people think it's crazy to spend a week's salary on craft beer--but not this guy! (Ask me again when I am broke...) I've got some seasonals, some regulars, and a few surprises. I'll keep you updated!

A friend referred me to the newly designed Buffalo Trace Saloon website. It has some new content and is really cool. Plus you can see pictures of hot girls from Kentucky. You can't beat that. I was trolling around the website this morning and saw a bald guy in the back that looked like me. "Self", I said to myself, "Self, that looks like us." It was only after further inspection that I realized:

HEY THAT'S ME!!!

Yes, it turns out that you never know where ole DH will turn up. It seems that he even is shootin' the bull (buffalo?) at the internet bar. When I think about it, it's actually pretty cool. No matter where I go, in the crazy world of the mystical internet, I am always at the bar.

You didn't know I was so talented did you? Yes, back in my days of less weight and more hair. Your's truly did a few modeling gigs. I'll buy you a round if you can find the internet site where this pic comes from!

Sapporo Creamy White

Hitting your shelves March 3rd, is Sapporo Creamy White. It does contain some malt and hops, but I'm not going to say it's going to taste good.

Sapporo is leading the way when it comes to trying to venture into the craft beer market. They did have a beer, only available online, even called Sapporo Craft Brew. Got to give it to them for at least trying.


But, Suntory's The Premium Malt's still kills Sapporo Black Label. Apologies to Chris P. !

$10 Strawberries????

Yes, that is a strawberry that costs 1000 yen next to your run of the mill strawberries. No joke, 1000 yen for ONE.

The sun is shining bright, the classes are almost over, and I just found 10 yen in my pocket. Friends, if that won't make your day, you need to reexamine yourself!

Last weekend I made my trek down to Tahara, and I admit it is still strange to visit the old town and not find Nate there. I miss his penny pinching, bourbon loving, home-brewing ass. Tahara just isn't the same anymore, and I don't assume it ever will be.



We did visit our super rich friends though, which is always nice. I don't know if you have any super rich friends, but if you don't I highly recommend getting a pair. The next best thing to being super rich, is to have rich friends who let you come over and pretend like you are. We spent the weekend drinking a 1.8L bottle of Houraisen Gin, the most expensive sake in Aichi, and eating Matsuzaka-gyu and $10 strawberries. Seriously, each strawberry cost $10. That should be illegal.

There's about 10,000 yen worth of berries in that pic. Are you serious????

For sure this Country Boy from the hills of KY has come a long way.

British Pub TAP

I made it to the Gaijin Bar. Actually, it's called British Pub "TAP", and is located very close to Toyohashi. Last Friday night, I grabbed a few street beers, and headed towards TAP. I stopped out front, looked up at the second floor windows bearing the name, built up my confidence, and headed up the stairs to PUB TAP.



I opened the doors, was smacked in the face by a wave of "Irasshi"s and looked around. I was hoping to see a bustling new bar packed with cute girls and interesting guys. No dice. What did I find?

NOT A SOUL.

There were seven people in the bar, all of them were employed by said establishment.

I took a seat by the window, and I admit, it was awkward. Let me rephrase: It was really awkward. The seven people that were working there looked at the door and waited for more people to come in, and I was sorry to disappoint them. I was meeting some friends later on, but there was none to be found at that time. I'm sure many of you have hit the local watering hole alone before. But has anyone ever gone into a new place, and found that you were the only one there??? YIKES.


The menu has the standard pub fare, and looked pretty decent. Of course, I was interested in the beer menu. I noticed that their menu just said the prices for "nama" in different sizes, but I was intrigued by the pretty impressive beer lineup (no Japanese craft beer though) in bottles on display above the taps. I walked up to the bar and asked one of the seven people staring at me if I could have a Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout. He said sure, so I asked the price. He looked at the bottle and told me 1000 yen. By this time I was already committed, since everyone was staring at me and seemed confused that I wanted to buy a beer that the staff hadn't sold too many of before. (Obviously)

The cute girl told me that she would bring me my beer, so I went back and sat by the window. Did I mention I was by myself, since I was THE ONLY PERSON IN THE BAR at 8:00PM on Friday?????




I looked up when the cute girl was coming my way with my beer. I noticed that the place where I had pointed at the Oatmeal Stout now was missing a bottle. She said the beer in front of me. It was only after I grabbed the bottle and found it room temperature that I realized: They just took the bottle off of the shelf, popped the top, and gave it to me. CLASSIC.

I drank the brew (which was tasty by the way) and said my goodbyes. I had checked out the place, and I admit with a bunch of guys, it could be fun. They had a 6 course set with all you can drink for 3000 yen, which isn't bad for Toyohashi. As I was leaving, I asked the girl if the place was always so dead. She said, "YES! It's always not busy. Please come back and bring your friends!!!!"

I might have to do that. Of course, when ordering a beer next time, I will make sure that it comes from a fridge, and not from the shelf.

Bourbon and Beer!

Enjoy this video from a friend, Tom Fisher who runs The Bourbon Blog (linked on the left) back in the US. You gotta love what he is doing for bourbon, and the South. Japan has the best selection of bourbon in the world, so enjoy it while you are here!!!

Cheers to Tom!

Hangover Cures?

Ukonnochikara, Gatorade, Coke, Pocari Sweat...the list goes on and on.

What's your hangover cure?

Mine is a little thing I like to call......the Hair of the Dog.

Have I told you I love Fridays?

Happy Friday Friends! Hope you are doing well. The sun is shining here in the mountains today, and that is always a good start to the weekend. I'm headed into Toyohashi tonight, probably to hit a few spots around the station. I know that sounds like a killer Friday night to all of you, but hey--I live a pretty exciting life. Besides hitting up all of the conbinis and local jibeer spots, I may venture into the new Gaijin Bar. It's called: BRITISH PUB. If you get there from 6-7PM, you can enjoy 160 yen cocktails. I will not be enjoying 160 yen cocktails.

I found a whole slew of old pictures on the girl's computer, and hope to steal them this weekend. There are some good shots from KY!

I heard word that Baird's online site will be up and running soon (2 weeksish) so it should be easier for you to order that goodness straight to your door. Also, Dark Sky Imperial Stout is out again, which means if you are in traveling distance to one of the taprooms, you should probably go try it out. Anyone care to comment on this year's version?

If you want to pick up some chocolate beers for your sweetie for Valentine's day this year, it's never too early to start. Goodbeer.jp has a lot to choose from, and some sets that have different chocolate beers from different brewers. I know what I'm getting myself this year for Valentine's Day!!

I've got a few pics still left from the Tokyo trip a few weeks ago. The first involve the GREAT sushi we were able to eat in Tsukiji. If you are a sushi lover (and can tell the difference between the good stuff and the bleh) you will love this pic!



We also had to try some whale while we were there. Hey, the sucker was already dead. However, I did watch "The Cove" this week, so I wonder if this really was whale.... I do know one thing that it was though......tasty.



You have got to love technology. Nothing better than an ice cold Kirin, the world's best and freshest sushi....and watching poker on ESPN via the Ipod.



This is the picture of some of the jibeer that we were able to sample at a friends house in Tokyo. Looks like a pretty nice spread, huh?



Lastly to make all you bourbon fans jealous....who wants to come to my house for a little get together with my friends???

Invasion of the Japanese Whisky!!!!!!!!

The Gaijin Bar

You know the place. You've probably been there. Hell, you might have been the guy/girl who hung out there all of the time. Maybe you still are.

The fact remains that if you are a foreigner in Japan, you probably have been there......

The Gaijin Bar.

You know the place. If you live in a city with any size, most likely there is one to be found. I mean, even Toyohashi got one recently. Of course, there isn't one in my town, probably because I am the only Gaijin.

Anyways, the first time that you went you were probably dragged by a friend who swore up and down that this was "the best bar in the world" or "packed with tons of hot girls" or "has a ton of beers" or "is a place you have to go just once" or some combination of them all. I admit, it was that way for me.

Maybe you were just longing for some other foreign company. Perhaps your long days spent with the natives were making you a bit restless and you were longing for a taste of home. You might have been lured in by promises of Budweiser, American Hamburgers, REAL fish and chips or (like me) Mexican night and 100 yen tacos.

However you found yourself walking through the doors of The Gaijin Bar, after you entered you would never be the same. Loud drunks speaking English berate you from all sides. Smoke fills the air. Two geeks who could never score a girl back home are talking to a beautiful Japanese girl who is way out of their league, she just doesn't know it.

The place probably is made to look like an English/Irish pub, and to be honest they have done a decent job. The place is packed with dark stained woods, brass tap handles, and pictures of green spaces that only exist in dreams here in Japan. The place probably has a really unique name like: THE BAR or THE PUB or THE IRISH PUB or, maybe if they got really avant-garde and dropped the "THE" from the name it is called "PUB". There are signs for unique and interesting beers on the wall. You ask the bartender for one. He tells you that they don't actually have that beer, it's just for decoration. He offers you a Kirin Lager or a Kirin Stout, or an AMAZING new concoction....a mixture of them both.

You notice more and more Gaijin piling in the place as you seach for a place to drink your beer. You notice the ad for happy hour and 150 yen gin and tonics. You throw up a little in your mouth.

More Gaijin now. They are drinking cocktails, fizzy yellow beer, and doing shots of tequila. "No lime for me", one macho black thick rimmed glasses wearing English teacher says. "I shoot straight." You remember his face later when you see him puking in the sink of the bathroom.

A few Japanese girls come in. Usually in twos, most times in threes, never alone. Coming to The Gaijin Bar alone if you are cute Japanese girl is like wearing a bologna suit to a weight watcher's convention. It is not going to end well.

The Japanese girls order their drinks: soda water with a splash of Ume-wine, Coke with a dash of rum, or Gin and tonic--hold the gin. They sit in the corner by the window and pretend to look like they weren't there last night, the night before, the night before.....

The place gets crowded and by the time you realize you need another drink, you see that it is impossible to plow your way to the bar. You could use the facilities, but a table full of fat Americans here on business are blocking the path with the extra six chairs they commandeered from the rest of the bar. You turn and walk away.

You walk down the street, duck into a Yakitori joint, pull a chair up to the counter, sip your Kirin in peace and swear again that you are not going back.

Baird Beer: 2010 New Year Seasonal Releases

January 20, 2010

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

We are three weeks into 2010 (the beginning of Baird Brewing’s second decade) and this is our first New Year email bulletin. This Internet silence has not been due to a barren beer cellar. In fact, we are bursting at the seams with a bevvy of winter seasonal brews awaiting release. Today, we announce the debut of several of these.

• Dark Sky Imperial Stout (ABV 8.5%): This foreboding stout is a beer lover’s winter dream come true. It is pitch-black in color, unctuous in body, elusively complex in flavor, warming in alcohol and piquantly hoppy. This 2010-release version is slightly more British in character than previous versions: e.g. more British malt, lower IBU and milder hop varieties, less use of Japanese black sugar, and fermentation with a British ale yeast.

This year, due to my own forgetful blunder, only one double-batch of Dark Sky was brewed and all of it was bottled (633 ml). None of it, therefore, is available on draught. It will be available in bottle-conditioned form beginning Thursday, January 21 at all of our Taproom pubs and at other fine Baird Beer retailing establishments in Japan. Next year, so long as I manage to keep my job, I promise broad draught availability.

• Okini Old Ale (ABV 6.5%): Old Ales derive their name from the fact that they undergo a long period of ageing in the package before release. The historical roots of this classic ale style are English. Old Ales tend to be moderately high in alcohol, medium to full in body, and somewhat sweet and vinous in flavor. Okini (meaning ‘thank you’ in Kansai dialect) Old Ale is the brainchild of our former brewer, Molly Browning. She formulated the recipe and brewed the beer on her final day of work back in August, 2008 and she did so in a spirit of thanks to all those who had given her support and friendship during her tenure in Japan with Baird Beer. Molly, we say ‘thanks’ in return.

Okini Old Ale is available both in kegs and bottles (633 ml). It will begin pouring from our Taproom taps on Thursday, January 21 and should be on the shelves and behind the bars of other Baird Beer retailers in Japan on or around the same date.

In addition to these two general releases, we also will be hooking up the hand pumps this Thursday at our Fishmarket and Nakameguro Taprooms to begin pouring a new small-batch Real Ale: Wheaty Porter (ABV 5%). This moderate strength, smooth drinking Porter has the unique attribute of being wheat-based (55%) rather than barely-based. It is a terrific winter session beer. Also relatively new to the hand pumps at all three Taprooms is another maiden-brewed Real Ale: Kiwi Single-Hop Dark Ale (ABV 4.8%). The single hopping of this fruity, low-gravity dark ale occurs with the New Zealand hop, Hallertau Aroma. It is another excellent moderate alcohol winter alternative in this season of otherwise very strong beers.

Finally, please mark your calendar for the dates of the upcoming Nakameguro Taproom Big Beer Winter Week (Thursday, February 11 through Friday, February 19). This is the week in which we feature a huge lineup of strong ales and lagers and match them with special treats from the kitchen. This year, we will be working in tandem with the team at Nagano Trading to offer a broad menu of Big Beers imported direct from the United States in addition to a robust lineup of Baird Big Beers. More event details will be announced shortly.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Asahi Strong Off

You have to wonder when this will cease. It's crazy that in Britain laws are being lobbied for to increase the price and lower the alcohol content of booze, but here in Japan, we have just the opposite.

If you are new to the Japanese beer taxation system, suffice it to say that the system makes it not only possible, but profitable for mega brewers to produce drinks with a high alcohol content, and sell them at a relatively cheap price.

I.E. Asahi Strong Off. Besides having a terrible name ( Do you think they check with any English speakers first?) Asahi Strong Off boasts 7% alcohol and probably no taste. It isn't beer at all, just flavored alcoholic water. When we first started we used to try to buy all of these beers and taste them, so we could write about how bad they were. I quit, because I began to worry not about my liver, but my stomach lining.

However, if you have the urge to try, feel free. Just don't say I didn't warn you!

I smell Spring!

I'm rockin' my Peter Parker Swag.

It's still cold up here in the mountains, but today was so sunny I couldn't help but feel that spring is on the way. For my money, spring in Japan is just about as good as it gets. The cherry blossoms are in bloom, everyone is ready to shake off the winter chills, and of course---us teachers have spring break. Does it get any better?

I'm going to be posting some pics from the Tokyo trip, but I'll start with some beer news. In Toyohashi I found that Sapporo and Royce Chocolate's Chocolat Brewery (the bitter version) is back and this time in conbinis. I bought a few last weekend, and while it is chocolaty, it's not because they put a ton of roasted malts in there. It's worth it to try a few, but don't expect it to be top of you favorite beer list. It looks like this year that a new 'sweet' version is available on the net only....

I also drank a few Halida beers from Vietnam this past weekend. These only served to cement my opinion that most beer from Southeast Asia tastes......

bad.


SO, back to Tokyo! Of course last week we started off the trip with a trip to the Harajuku Taproom, where a few good brews were had. I didn't care for the Kiwi Real Ale (forgot the real name) but there were several others available that I enjoyed thoroughly. The highlight of the night might have been when Chuwy cracked open a bottle of his homebrew!

A little of Chuwy's homegrown!

We also hit up the Aldgate where as usual, the beers were good. I had the Baren Alt and of course the lady had the Preston Stout. I'm not sure what the Preston beer folks are doing...but I like it. Both the Stout and the IPA were in top quality.



I've got a busy week ahead, but I'm planning on doing some good posts to get some conversation fired up here again. Also, anyone out there planning on hitting the Real Ale Festival? I could do it...and might be tempted to take a vacation day just for such a special occasion.

Readers will be glad to know that I found a ton of old pics on the girl's computer last weekend. You are going to enjoy seeing the Country Boys in some new, but classic shots!

Hope your Mondays are going well.....

We made it to Popeyes!!!!!!

So I admit, it was about two years too late. I first heard about Popeye almost two years ago...and I just was able to take my first trip last weekend. I had been missing out.

Oh no...Chuwy on the loose in Popeye!!! And could that be....the Great Phred???

For those of you who may be new readers or are unfamiliar with the great great bar Popeye, let me explain briefly. Popeye has about 70 beers on tap (according to the website and the menu!) and most of the brews are good jibeer. In the craft beer community here in Japan, Popeye is probably the most well known and well respected bar. The proprietor, Aoki-san, can be seen in many a youtube video and many a blog, and his white shirt and back bow-tie have become somewhat of a jibeer icon.

How many beers does your local bar have??? (Notice the Popeye uniform...but that's not Aoki-san!)

I made the trek to Popeye with some good friends, and several new ones. Big thanks to all of the Tokyo craft beer fans for showing us a great weekend. I have said it before and I will say it again, one thing that never ceases to amaze me is the kindness and acceptance of craft beer fans. Our group at the table that night consisted of a Czech guy, an Irish guy, several Japanese, several people from the UK and one lowly Kentuckian. Great times!

Of course Chuwy knew a homebrewer who was there that brought out a bottle to sample!

Popeye is somewhat deceiving from the outside at night. But once you step into those doors, you know you have come to the right place! The place was hopping and good beer was found in great abundance!

We were a group of ten, so that means I tasted so many beers!!! Again, most craft beer fans are the type to order a brew--then pass it around for all to sample. There is nothing better than sharing a good beer with friends, and introducing a new beer to someone! I am happy to say that I had several new beers that night, including Swan Lake Amber (normal, cask and through two different Randalls--a great experience!), Fujisakura Wiezen, Iwate Oyster Stout, Ozenoyukidoke IPA, Preston IPA and more....


The Preston IPA was in top shape and was the best beer of the night. Great hop aroma and flavor and great balance---a great overall beer!!!!!!

Of course she had to have her stouts!

Once again, thanks to the Tokyo crowd--and thanks Popeye!!!

If you haven't had the chance to get there next, make it priority #1 on your to-do Tokyo list!!!!

It'll never work.

Seriously. Where were this guy's real friends when he came up with this idea?

I imagine the conversation went like this:

"Hey guys, I've got a gem of an idea. What if I open a bar, although instead of serving beer...we won't. What do you think???"

FOOLPROOF!!!

Non-Alcoholic Bar Closes

Only in KY.

Back to work!

Wow. What a great weekend in Tokyo. I got to meet many new friends, try a ton of new beers, eat some great sushi, and manage to finish all of the visa work!!! Awesome, what a load off. Now, I need to set my focus on literally taking a load off, because as of right now I have about one pair of pants that actually fit. But, that just means I am healthy, right?

This time in Tokyo I went to a really cool Czech place with a Czech brewer and some good friends, I also hit Aldgate and managed to get to Popeyes!! All of the places were fun and I have tons of pictures to prove it. I just don't have them here with me at school today! Look for a post tonight with some pictures and some more new beer info.

On the horizon is the Tokyo Real Ale Festival on February 14th, 2010. Can you think of a better way to spend Valentine's Day? Make your plans to get there early. I am not going to be attending, as that weekend I will be snowboarding with the lady. I know, I know...but I will try to drink some craft beer on the slopes as well!

Enjoy your Tuesdays!

YEE HAW! TOKYO!

I'm heading into Tokyo today folks! The country is heading into the big city! Going to try to hit Popeye's, Thrash, Aldgate, one of the taprooms, and anywhere else Chuwy says. If you are free---come out for a pint! ( Buy Me and the girl a pint to celebrate our last visa appointment!!!!)

Stay tuned to the twitter feed for updates!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BBC Rye 75 IPA

Well, that was a quick break. I've been busy wedding planning and trying to see friends and family while trying to observe Christmas and New Year's. I had to come back to Japan to relax. Of course seeing friends and family and the homeland was great, but man was it tiring!

I'll get going in full swing in a few days, but first had to post a pic of a great brew that I drank in KY, bought for me by a good buddy and brewed by the good folks up at BBC.

I tried to squeeze in as much time for recreation and good beer hunting as possible, but I just didn't have as much time as I wanted. I was able to go rabbit hunting once, and to hit the good beer store once. Not enough of either!

Really good beer here this BBC Rye 75 IPA!

I only have about three months left here in Japan, so I will be filling them with as much good beer travels and posts as I can! Hope all of you had a great Holiday season, and that you are recharged for the new year!!!!!!