Odakyu Beacon

Ise Kadoya - Brown Ale

2010-02-03T01:57:00.000-08:00

Ise Kadoya - Brown Ale - Mie Prefecture - 5% - 500 ml bottle:
Taste: Vanilla, caramel, some spice, roasted malts, hops allow some bitterness to linger behind.
Smell: Syrup, sweet malts.
Look: Lighter shade of brown, poured w/ a foamy head, spots of lace leftover.
Verdict: Not as powerful as the Brownstone or Brooklyn Brown, but instead a more gentle flavor, allowing its flavors to come-through. This is a classic brown taste with a subtle mix of other flavors. Very enjoyable, but just a tad too light-bodied.

Uramura Kaki (Oyster) Stout - by Ise Kadoya

2010-02-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Ise Kadoya - Uramura Kaki (Oyster) Stout - Mie Prefecture - 6% - 500 ml bottle:
Taste: A sense of mildness from the oysters, coffee, chocolate, sharp-sour notes, vanilla character, milky.
Smell: Coffee & chocolate aroma.
Look: A dark coco-brown, nice oily shine, thin to no head, nor lacing.
Verdict: This was a very enjoyable experience - my first time with an oyster-stout! A medium-bodied beer at most, it held good carbonation for a stout, providing a smooth texture. Complex yet easy to drink.

Sayonara Tokyo :(

2010-01-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

All good times come to an end...

...life is full of ups & downs...

...and sometimes we must heed the call...

...sayonara Tokyo, I'll miss you...

...but life goes on...

...and I will always have a piece of you in my heart.

Beniaka - by Coedo

2010-01-26T12:56:00.000-08:00

Coedo - Beniaka (Premium Lager) - Saitama Prefecture - 7% - 333 ml bottle:
Taste: A sweet taste of raisins, other dried fruits, is medium bodied, not sharp- nor dry, but rather has a taste not too dissimilar to shochu (of the potato variant), and is crisp.
Smell: Aroma is sweet as well, whiffs of alcohol, grain and malt.
Look: A nice looking red/orange gives way to a small slightly stained head, leaves no lace nor hardly a bubble.
Verdict: This was a very enjoyable beer, one of the more unique tasting beers here, and had a lovely taste of potato alcohol, such as the shochu I mentioned. Definitely a great take on the premium lager style, and again, the use of potatoes in this brew is unique and delicious.

Bayern Meister - Edel Weisse

2010-01-26T11:51:00.000-08:00

Bayern Meister - Edel Weisse - Shizuoka Prefecture - 5.5% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Getting wheat, citrus, banana, spices, cloves and hay; a medium to light-bodied affair, finishing doughy with rounded mouthfeel.
Smell: A sweet & spicy aroma albeit slightly musty - that is coriander & citrus, w/ cloves, yeast, and banana.
Look: Pours a cloudy dark yellow / opaque gold colour with a sticky white foam.
Verdict: In brief - a refreshing standrad weizen, nothing new going on here, but that's not a bad thing. Pleasant and enjoyable.

Instant Ramens

2010-01-26T11:30:00.000-08:00

The following are instant-ramens I had on occasions when I was too lazy to go out but had that hankering for a good slurp (& clearly they are superior to the dehydrated nonsense we sell here in the States):

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

Aso Farmland - Porter

2010-01-26T11:04:00.000-08:00

Aso Farmland - Porter - Kumamoto Prefecture - 4.5% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Roasted grains, malt, cocoa, coffee, a hint of dark brown sugar, and some light woody smokiness; decently carbonated, a medium bodied beer that finishes dry.
Smell: Slightly sweet roasted malt aroma with a hint of fruitiness and hops.
Look: Dark brownish-black color, thick off-white head, and spots of lace.
Verdict: I don't have much to say about this one except that it met my expectations by being a balanced porter. Neither too smoky, sour or sweet - I guess you could offer this as a good entry-level porter -- me, however, I like my porters with a little more umph!

Morioka Weizen - by Baeren

2010-01-25T10:57:00.000-08:00

Baeren - Morioka Wezien - Iwate Prefecture - 5.5% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Wheat, yeast and banana make up a light-to-medium body, citrus- orange provides a sharp finish, mildly spicy notes give this weizen just enough pazzaz to make it interesting.
Smell: Banana at the front, wheat & yeast.
Look: Cloudy- unfiltered with sediments in suspension, big frothy head, some patches of lace. Verdict: After having some delicious Baerens' and happily proclaiming them the best makers of German brews here in JP, I had this weizen. While it was good and very classic, there was nothing that really made this stand out from the pack. All-in-all a refreshing weizen, but would pick up a Coedo Shiro over this one if the choice was presented.

Shiga Kogen - Porter

2010-01-25T10:52:00.000-08:00

Shiga Kogen - Porter - Nagano Prefecture - 5.5% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Medium-bodied and somewhat dry, flavors of nuts, watered-down coffee, cocoa-powder and a subtle smokiness. Nice lively mouthfeel which leans a tad more hoppy than creamy.
Smell: Deep aroma of roasted malts, mochaccino, traces of smoke and molasses.
Look: Pours out in a dark brown colour with a small beige head.
Verdict: While a good porter for sure- and probably tied with the best I've had here- this is shy of being an excellent beer. Porters to me are a very tricky beer, I like them to be a full-medium bodied experience and complex - which this light/medium bodied beer just misses out on being. Recommended none-the-less.

Kyara - by Coedo

2010-01-24T22:46:00.000-08:00

Coedo - Kyara (Vienna Lager) - Saitama Prefecture - 5% - 333 ml bottle:
Taste: Nicely malty- sweet & roasted, caramel, biscuits and grains, hops provide a balanced bitterness to the rich malts.
Smell: Aroma holds roasted malts, grain and sweet grass accents, some hops.
Look: Pours a clear deep golden orange with a healthy white head.Verdict: Kyara is a nice vienna - providing the rich malt flavor with enough hops to balance while being unobtrusive. Coedo has a nice selection of lagers for sure, and none of them disappoint.

Yasubee (Shimokitazawa branch) - Ramen Shop

2010-01-24T11:21:00.000-08:00

Sun Lager - by Hideji

2010-01-24T10:16:00.000-08:00

Hideji - Sun Lager - Miyazaki Prefecture - 4.5% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Sweet malts, citrus- orange & lemon, sharp, apparently hoppy too.
Smell: Orange with slight whiffs of sourness.
Look: Hazy orange/yellow, poured with a small head, leaving no lace.Verdict: This is a refreshing and easy to swallow beer, as a good pilsner should be. Winner of the pilsner Gold medal in the Japan Asia Beer Cup 2009 -- I can't argue against that.

Aperitif De La Nuit Blanche - by Niigata

2010-01-23T09:31:00.000-08:00

Niigata - Aperitif De La Nuit Blanche - Niigata Prefecture - 4.5% - 350 ml bottle:
Taste: This is a sharp somewhat acidic beer, notes of banana, peach, vanilla, malt, and not really hoppy at all.
Smell: Aroma of banana, faintly fruity in general.
Look: A semi-opaque yellow, poured with a nice head, nicely carbonated, no lace.
Verdict: Well this is definitely different, its almost in-between a lager and a weizen. But it's a rather mild, weak bodied beer - there is definitely "something" missing... hops for starters, but ultimately other things as well. Calling this one a dud.

Shiga Kogen - House IPA

2010-01-22T09:41:00.000-08:00

Shiga Kogen - House IPA - Nagano Prefecture - 8% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Both sweet and hoppy to a balanced perfection, raisins, fruity- mandarin, floral, and pine are the big players here; medium bodied and resiny.
Smell: Sweet fruity aroma with pine.
Look: Hazy deep orange copper, small head and just a little lacing.Verdict: This is a great IPA, love the high ABV without ever realizing it! Another victory for Tamamura-Honten!

Shikkoku - by Coedo

2010-01-21T09:36:00.000-08:00

Coedo - Shikkoku (Schwarzbier Lager) - Saitama Prefecture - 5% - 333 ml bottle:
Taste: It's all about the roasted malts here, the sour-level is held in-check - a very nice balance, hops are apparent and balanced as well, slightly smokey giving hints of wood, meat, coffee and chocolate.
Smell: Earth, hay, and a slight coffee scent.
Look: Dark brown to the point of looking like a porter, poured with head and leaving rings of lace.Verdict: This is a very good dark lager, providing a subtle but complex taste, very enjoyable, very German!

Ramen Jiro (Shinjuku branch)

2010-01-20T20:13:00.000-08:00

I had one classic High School fight, you know the kind- "meet me at so-and-so @ such-and-such a time" -- I picked this fight for being called a "poser" (at that age you really can't be called anything worse! And yes, I won.) But now I've actually come full-circle, by having gone to Ramen Jiro this late in the game and after having read an endless amount of other people's reviews - I am officially a poser. But you know what, I don't care anymore, and you know what also, I'm f'n glad I went!
If you "claim" to know anything about ramen in Tokyo, well then, you claim you've been to Jiro... successive times and multiple locations. And if your not claiming this... well then let me rap a little and fill you in on what your missing out of. Garlic. Oh I'm sorry, were you expecting something more? Maybe like "this ramen is influenced by French culinary arts... blah blah blah." Nope, this most popular ramen chain has built up its empire of devoted followers based on one taste - garlic, and lots of it!
This is simple stuff to comprehend here and you can pretty much make a decision right now if your gonna love it or hate it (there is no in-between with Jiro). Well, as for me, I'm a huge garlic fan, I use it in almost all my recipes, so let me just say right now that this is the best ramen I have had thus far in my life and I can pretty much state without a second thought that I won't find something more satisfying to me.
This is not fancy or delicatessen in any way; they don't make their own noodles, there is no balancing act to be found, the joints are for the most part greasy, ingredients aren't the freshest out there -- but they make an intensely garlic flavored ramen; and I can't ask for anything else. Ya'wanna'fight'about'it!?

Single Malt Du Soleil Couchant - by Niigata

2010-01-19T09:58:00.000-08:00

Niigata - Single Malt Du Soleil Couchant (Belgian Strong Ale) - Niigata Prefecture - 7% - 350 ml bottle:
Taste: Sweet roasted malts, chocolate, sour cherry, raisins, vinous, and also some brandy or cognac character, complex to say the least; full bodied with a dry finish.
Smell: Sweet & sour scents.
Look: An unclear dark red-brown, pouring with a stained head, no lacing.
Verdict: While this started off a little too tangy for me at first, it began to grow on me as I took more sips. Of interesting note is that Niigata recommends aging this beer up to 2 years, stating that after a 6 month period the hops will become more defined, while waiting an additional 6 months more will balance the malts to the hops. Unfortunately for me I drank this beer only a month or so after it was born.

Ursus Winter Beer - by Baeren

2010-01-18T01:00:00.000-08:00

Baeren - Ursus Winter Beer - Iwate Prefecture - 7% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Quality wheat flavors, citrus- lemon/orange, banana, creamy, slightly sour, pepper corn.
Smell: Wheat notes, earth, and tapioca pudding.
Look: Earthy muddled brown, unfiltered and opaque, thick off-white head, come carbonation, patches of lace.
Verdict: Ursus has a great balance, and holds a complex flavor for a weizen-style beer. This was a pleasure to drink on such a cold day; I'm becoming a believer in Baeren with each beer of theirs I drink.

Fujizakura Kogen - Rauch Bock

2010-01-17T18:42:00.000-08:00

Fujizakura Kogen - Rauch Bock - Yamanashi Prefecture - 7% - 500 ml bottle:
Taste: Smokey, roasted/smoked malts, some sweetness, some hops, black pepper, black liquorish, burning wood (ash).
Smell: Sweet notes dominate, smokey as well.
Look: A very dark brown, big tan head, little to no lace, carbonated.
Verdict: Like the Rauch Beer this is a truely smokey beer brewed in a rare fashion. Most of all I appreciate the work put into this beer, it is very unique indeed. I feel like I should be eating a pile of BBQ while drinking this and kinda feel guilty that I'm not.

Shiga Kogen - Pale Ale

2010-01-16T20:57:00.000-08:00

Shiga Kogen - Pale Ale - Nagano Prefecture - 5.5% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: A fruity, hoppy flavor, caramel in the back ground; smooth, malty character with a nice medium-bodied mouthfeel; nicely balanced taste right through with a lingering bitter finish; crisp and drinkable.
Smell: Hoppy aroma, fruity, pine, earth, some citrus, along with some sweet malt.
Look: Lovely yellowish orange colour- somewhere between pale amber and deep golden; poured with a foamy head and some lingering lace.
Verdict: This is the quintessential session ale- at 5.5% and with its perfectly balanced flavor, it is due for repetitive visits in one sitting. If you ever felt the need to shy away from the intensity of an IPA but still wanted a quality hop taste this is where to go! As with all the Shiga Kogen beers I've had, this is a superb ale and is highly recommended.

Ivan Ramen - Ramen Shop

2010-01-15T05:27:00.000-08:00

99.9% of my ramen knowledge was learnt in the past two-plus months; yes I had had it before, but aside from the fact that I knew I loved it, I actually knew nothing about it. So on this particular trip to Tokyo I took it upon myself to gain some insight on this meal-in-a-bowl. Talking about it proved to be one good source of information, as I have learned many times over- when you express your interest in something Japanese, most locals will go out of their way to help you in any way they can. This is how I originally learned about Ivan Raman - from a friend who wanted me to know about a hot noodle joint that was operating out of my hood - Setagaya-ku!
This picture speaks volumes. For real. This guy posing above is doing something that is huge; I'm not talking about his ramen (it's good) - but rather I'm talking about changing-the-game. Ramen in many ways defines what Tokyo is; and in a land where ramen chefs are national celebrities, opening up a successful shop has a much deeper impact than just filling up some bellies. It's refreshing to see and experience something different, something out-of-place, and something of good enough quality that it changes people's long standing views and opinions. This is what Ivan is doing.
But ultimately he's making ramen and goodies to compliment it. Take his rice side-dishes for example, something that you don't expect to see except for at a select few ramen joints. My friend and I ordered the roasted tomato construction - it was absolutely tasty and fresh! Yes, that's a point that came up time-and-time again, every ingredient was so fresh.
The main course was gratifying as well; from studying the menu while waiting in line I had decided on the salt-ramen with extra chashu. The presentation was pleasing, with a unique taller-than-usual bowl and metal soup-spoon taking the place of the common ceramic one. As already stated, the taste was up to par with other great ramen shops of Tokyo -- the home-made noodles were thin and firm, broth was deliciously heavily salted, chashu was tender, menma cut rough, and the negi topping was crisp and (yup) fresh.

I really enjoyed my visit to Ivan Raman; I've learned so much in so little time and with every joint I hit up I gain a little more insight - at Ivan's I learned allot, not just about ramen, but about courtesy, outside points-of-view, and following your dreams. Thanks dude!

Shiro - by Coedo

2010-01-14T18:05:00.000-08:00

Coedo - Shiro (German Hefeweizen) - Saitama Prefecture - 5.5% - 333 ml bottle:
Taste: Banana! - wheat notes, fizzy, cream, caramel, citrus fruits, cloves and hops.
Smell: The usual suspects: wheat, yeast, banana, and citrus.
Look: Cloudy deep golden-straw, strong head and lace, continuous flow of carbonation.
Verdict: I had this beer months ago but forgot to record any info on it, I really enjoyed it and it's been on my mind ever since. Today we became reacquainted by chance... and I still love it! This could be the best weizen I've had - definitely the best I've had out here (sorry Ginga Kogen). Lots of banana (my favorite fruit), yeah other flavors too... but if there ever was a banana-beer - this is it! Yay banana! Highly recommended!

Baeren - Chocolate Stout

2010-01-13T19:21:00.000-08:00

Baeren - Chocolate Stout - Iwate Prefecture - 7% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Bitter & sweet, semi-sweet chocolate, deeply roasted malts, sharp, fizzy, espresso beans, vanilla beans.
Smell: Sour notes, roasted malts, whiffs of chocolate.
Look: Nearly pitch black- but caught a dark brown around the edges of the glass and when I got down to the last sips, tan head, strong lace.
Verdict: I've been waiting too long for a solid stout here (probably my own fault) - but this was reward enough! This one holds a strong chocolate taste with perfect hints of coffee - just the way I like 'em. This is a classic take on the style, no experimentation or extremities here - just a solid beer all around.

Musasabi Bohemian Garnet Lager - by Hideji

2010-01-12T19:18:00.000-08:00

Hideji - Musasabi Bohemian Garnet Lager - Miyazaki Prefecture - 4.5% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Sour, grapes, roasted malt, earthy, semi-sweet chocolate hint, hardly bitter, classic German dark lager taste; while not bitter, a true roasted malt taste.
Smell: Roasted malts, earthy, sweet.
Look: Dark brown in appearance, small head, no lace.
Verdict: I don't particularly think this style of beer is too complex, but I appreciate it for what it is, a traditional German brew. I usually drink this style (dark lager) at beer halls so I'm familiar with the taste- and I feel that this is a good interpretation here.

Ruri - by Coedo

2010-01-11T19:04:00.000-08:00

Coedo - Ruri (Pilsener Lager) - Saitama Prefecture - 5% - 333 ml bottle:
Taste: Matly, semi sweet, some bitterness- hops are evident, metallic (medicinal) tinge as associated with pilsners, relatively crisp dry finish.
Smell: Malts & hops.
Look: Golden- a'little deeper than common macros, carbonated, no head or lace.
Verdict: Japan is heavily stocked on pilsners, it's by far the most popular kind of beer sold and drunk - and why not- it goes great with the food consumed here (raw fish, noodles, etc.). So I've had a chance to drink more than my usual intake of this style. Ruri is good, I felt this was on a level of quality higher than some other; not the best I've had, but certainly not the worst.

Seisyomaru - Ramen shop

2010-01-10T18:58:00.000-08:00

Being absent minded is not always a bad thing, sometimes good things can come from your "faults"; in my case- forgetting to take a certain path home led me to this particular ramen shop. I caught my mistake when I came across this strange aluminum-sided building advertising some tasty looking ramen - I instantly knew I had not walked by here before. And isn't it amazing what can be hiding just out of sight; for months I was passing by just one block away from this shop, always turning off it's street just prior to it coming into view... food for thought (no pun intended).
It wasn't long before I had a chance to see what fate had placed in my lap (or on the counter in-front of me). A friend and I did a little homework first and we found out the ramen served here is thick-soup based, a style that due to strong flavors- I have found to be particularly pleasing to my pallet. That was enough for me to go on, well that and that it's only a few minuets walk from my apartment- no excuses, must now eat.
Knowing that I enjoy this type of broth in the tsukemen fashion I ordered exactly this... but before you get distraught from the above picture - I know that egg isn't supposed to come with this dish... it's just that I was in the mood for tomango, asked nicely and they obliged... nontraditional yes, but I know your jealous just the same ;-P

Seisyomaru make their broth with pork & chicken bone, fish and vegetables. In the tsukemen soup- chashu is cut into course chunks that sink to the bottom, vegetables in general are cut smaller and blended-in to make this more stew-like than soup, topped off with [fish powder] which is seen here sitting on-top of a piece or nori, a slice of [fish paste] sits atop of it all adding some color to an otherwise unlively soup.
My friend wanted to see the range offered here and so went with [soup-based] ramen. Here the toppings are cut broad- completely hiding the noodles, and again portraying that this place is more about substance than style.

Seisyomaru is not the best ramen in Kyodo, but it plays an essential role in the limited offerings of this town- serving up a thick broth and satisfying tsukemen.

SunSun Organic Beer - by Yo-Ho

2010-01-09T01:41:00.000-08:00

Yo-Ho - SunSun Organic Beer (Lager) - Nagano Prefecture - 5% - 350 ml can @ Nagano Sake Village:
Taste: All malt taste here, very sharp, accustomed metallic bite, hops aren't established enough, grassy.
Smell: Hops are a little more noticeable here, some whiffs of malt as well.
Look: A clear light golden, carbonated, weak head.Verdict: Unimpressed with this beer, period. Okay it's organic... so? I can't even recommend this over certain macros. My opinion - if you want an all malt premium beer and don't want to support the big guys, go with an Echigo Ikinama -- actually scratch that- get yourself a Coedo Ruri- at the moment it's easy to find and so much better!

Minamishinsyu - Golden Ale

2010-01-09T01:39:00.000-08:00

Minamishinsyu - Golden Ale - Nagano Prefecture - 5% - 330 ml bottle @ Nagano Sake Village:
Taste: Fruity upfront, malts and hops lay dormant here.
Smell: Very nice fruity aroma is present, but again not much else.
Look: A very golden look, clear and carbonated, with a bright white head which settled at a somewhat leisurely pace, leaving some lace in its wake.Verdict: This is a very drinkable beer, with more of a fruity taste than bitter or earthy. This is probably the best of the lot I've had from Minamishinsyu, but still would appreciate it more if they just gave it a little more umph! I could consider this a session beer, and would definitely recommend it to those who are not into bitter beer and are also not fond of all malt beers.

Minamishinsyu - Dunkelweizen

2010-01-09T01:38:00.000-08:00

Minamishinsyu - Dunkelweizen - Nagano Prefecture - 6% - 330 ml bottle @ Nagano Sake Village:
Taste: Roasted wheat grain, sourness, not really hoppy in character, taste in general is subdued.
Smell: Sweetness from the roasted grain.
Look: Dark brown, poured without head and not much lace trailed.Verdict: The third Minamishinsyu I've now tried and the third I've came away from mainly unimpressed. This has to do with the intensity of the flavor, not the flavor; the quality is fine for sure, its just that nothing stands out in particular, its well balanced for what it is (a dark wheat beer) - they just need to pump up the volume!

Aooni IPA - by Yo-Ho

2010-01-08T18:44:00.000-08:00

Yo-Ho - Aooni IPA - Nagano Prefecture - 7% - 350 ml can:
Taste: Sharp bitter hops, not enough malts - this is unbalanced, fruits are here though, fizzy, pine-y, spicy, and soapy; quite dry- leaving a fair amount of bitter aftertaste.
Smell: Fruity (pineapple, grapefruit) & hoppy aroma.
Look: Golden orange, quite beautiful, semi-opaque, head in place, nice lace too.Verdict: I was really looking forward to drinking this beer; gotta say I feel pretty let down. After having three great beers by Yo-Ho - I've been stung twice in a row now by some average-at-best beers -- first was the SunSun Organic Beer and now this. I see what they are trying to do, make an intense West Coast style IPA... but this is a miss. Not enough malts, nor fruit to balance the amount of hops here. Cannot recommend this one unfortunately.

Menya Musashi (Shinjuku branch) - Ramen shop

2010-01-07T17:59:00.000-08:00

Ask anyone (in Tokyo) to name their top five favorite ramen stops and your bound to get Menya Musashi in at least 95% of those lists; yeah this place is popular! Don't believe me- check out my pics, the line was about 40 minuets long, and this was on an ordinary day in the early evening. But there's reason for this madness- their ramen is tha bomb!
This was a joint that I had been meaning to hit up since I got here, but as I've learned- there's always another ramen shop on the radar and so it takes patience and persaverience to make it to the ones you want. I'm very glad I made it here; Fu-unji had been sitting high on my "best of ramen" list for far too long, it was getting lonely there all alone, but no longer. Menya Musashi, welcome, you just placed a very close 2nd - but ultimately your just a tad too expensive to overtake my reigning champ.
Musashi’s ramen is served in a light, shoyu (soy sauce) based broth and upon placing your order you'll have a choice to have your ramen either kotteri (heavier flavor) or assari (lighter flavor). This depends entirely on your preference and neither is "better" than the other - however I went kotteri-style, which is what is pictured here.

Think your man enough to handle this?!

I can't end this post without a shout-out to their chashu- cut rough and in large chunks the fat was fully intact and in-force! As large as these pieces were they literally melted in your mouth, an amazing sensation here ;-) The egg was half-boiled (nice!)- but for Y1000 I want a whole egg dammit! MM is a tad expensive- but worth every yen.

Seasonal 2009 ESB - by Yo-Ho

2010-01-06T18:12:00.000-08:00

Yo-Ho - Seasonal 2009 ESB - Nagano Prefecture - 6% - 350 ml can:
Taste: Bitter, IPA like, sweet sharp maltiness, pine, subtle underlying fruitiness- peach, orange & grapefruit.
Smell: Fruity aroma, malt is at the forefront while hops stay in the background.
Look: Clear deep golden color, carbonated, weak head, and no lace.
Verdict: Another great beer by Yo-Ho - this time in their ESB, a perfect take on this American style. Tastes like an IPA; similar to their Yona Yona but a little more intense. Not a overly complex flavor, but hits the important notes very nicely. Highly recommended.

Miyama Blonde - by Shiga Kogen

2010-01-05T18:17:00.000-08:00

Shiga Kogen - Miyama Blonde - Nagano Prefecture - 7% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Citrus, floral and fruity flavors, malt stays in background, medium amount of hoppiness here; crisp, dry finish that is sharp rather than sweet. Body was not light (as is associated with blonds)- more of a medium body, some wheat-like notes and a hint of pepper.
Smell: Lemon is apparent, hops, sour fruity aroma.
Look: Light golden, carbonated, poured with strong head and lace is abundant and holds well, this is in between clear and cloudy.
Verdict: I've always enjoyed a good blonde, in-fact my drinking buddies can attest that I usually go for a Checker Cab when I reach my hop-boiling-point (get it?). Puns aside this is the best blonde I've come across in awhile; and I especially like the uniqueness which Tamamura Honten brings by adding Miyamanishiki (home-made sake rice) into the pot. You see, sake rice is of higher quality than rice used in macro produced beer, and thus is not intended as a cheap substitute to barley, but rather it imparts its own flavors - the quality can be tasted immediately! This saison comes highly recommended.

Prinz - by Bayern Meister

2010-01-04T17:55:00.000-08:00

Bayern Meister - Prinz (Lager) - Shizuoka Prefecture - 5.5% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Bitter & sour, malt & hops - large taste for a Japanese lager, floral, sweet, but not really fruity, has small bite.
Smell: Malty aroma, not catching the sourness I taste, but do smell the floral / sweetness.
Look: A very light golden color- light body, carbonated, pours with short lived head.Verdict: It's a classic no-frills German-style lager. I know that Bayern Meister is going for a true Germany-thing with their beers, as the brewmeister is a native of Bavaria and the brewery offers a solid selection of German classics, released according to season; even their malt, hops and live yeast are all imported from Southern Germany. This beer is exactly what you would expect from it and for that I can easily recommend it.

Kobushi Hana Sparkling Malt Liqour - by Hanyu

2010-01-03T15:35:00.000-08:00

Hanyu Brewery - Kobushi Hana Sparkling Malt Liqour - Saitama Prefecture - 5% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Prominently malty, litter sour, apple juice, creamy, fizzy and a metallic hint.
Smell: Sour apples, malt, faint whiffs of cream.
Look: Very light in color, strong carbonation, poured with head that settled quickly.
Verdict: Pretty good for what it is- that is, being a light bodied malt-liquor. However the quality is quite good, I can't say I've ever enjoyed a malt-liquor as much as this guy! This would compliment raw and fresh foods nicely I think.

Not So Mild Ale - by Shiga Kogen & Nøgne Ø

2009-12-29T11:14:00.000-08:00

Shiga Kogen (in colabartion with Nøgne Ø) - Not So Mild Ale - Nagano Prefecture - 5% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Hops, roasted malt - both prominent, not really sweet- more of an earthy edge, just a taste of sour plum.
Smell: Hops & sweet malt, banana, apple, pear...
Look: Murky chestnut brown- mahogany even, no head, nor carbonation, little stings of lace but not much.
Verdict: Honestly this is not as grand as I was expecting it to be considering who they collaborated with for this, more of an experimentation than a true & tested brew. Not saying this was bad- as it's unique in taste, can't think of another beer like it; but definitely not as satisfying as other beers that Tamamura-Honten is doing.

Kobushi Hana Maerzen Lager - by Hanyu

2009-12-28T16:50:00.000-08:00

Hanyu Brewery - Maerzen Lager - Saitama Prefecture - 6% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Malty sweet, touch of honey, faint sour notes, smoothly fizzy.
Smell: Malts, whiffs of grape, other sweets, again with a slightly sour hint.
Look: Deep copper-red, poured without head, left no lace.
Verdict: Brewed in the classic German Maerzen style, this lager was pleasant and had a nice medium body. Malts play the big role here and they don't disappoint, this beer is brewed with care as is evident in the balancing of other tastes. For those looking for a darker lager, this beer is recommended.

Ikinama - by Echigo

2009-12-26T18:23:00.000-08:00

Echigo - Ikinama (Super Premium / All Malt Beer) - Niigata Prefecture - 5% - 350 ml can:
Taste: Malt is dominate and provides a nice earthy taste, hops are blended-in giving way to some bitterness, there is some resemblance to apple juice here, carbonation produces the fizziness associated with this style, refreshing.
Smell: A balanced malt and hop aroma.
Look: Very clear, light golden, a nice looking Pilsner, poured with a small head which settled quickly.Verdict: Nothing too special here, but do feel this is slightly better than similar class-lagers most macros producing.

Espresso De La Nuit Norie - by Niigata Beer

2009-12-25T23:40:00.000-08:00

Niigata Beer - Espresso De La Nuit Noire - Niigata Prefecture - 7% - 350 ml bottle:
Taste: Variety of flavors here: espresso coffee, chocolate, nuts, very sweet, bitter aftertaste, hits of vanilla extract, heavy/syrupy texture, Guinness-like but more intense, not hoppy- but has a bite similar to bitter-chocolate.
Smell: Potent chocolate & coffee, whiffs of vanilla extract, alcohol and sweetness.
Look: Black- can't see through this beer, small but beautiful brown stained head which dissipated in about 2 minuets, just a little lacing lingers; looks like black coffee, noticed some shades of brown around the rim of the glass.
Verdict: Yeah I like this; guess I like most stouts then, but this one hides its high ABV reasonably well with its complex flavor. This a better than average stout but far from the best; I just really like to root for the little guys. The bottle is simple yet mysteriously attractively- it's what caught my attention in the first place. I drank this on Christmas Eve alone- so it holds a special place in my heart now ;-)

Ramen Hide (Kyodo branch)

2009-12-24T18:08:00.000-08:00

Ramen Hide (pronounced he-day) is the perfect example of an excellent ramen shop that probably will never garner the recognition it deserves. The competition is too fierce in battleground: Tokyo; and Hide is nested in the small town of Kyodo- which is known for it's salons more than food offerings. This might actually be to Hide's benefit though as it's King-of-the-hill in this quaint town.
I came across Ramen Hide early on in my stay here- as I was walking down Suzuran Dori and noticed a small camera-crew in-front of the store preparing to shoot. I slowed down to see what all the hub-bub was, and afforded a look-in. Instantly I felt acquainted with its 1950's-diner look, and the chef was being interviewed; this was a joint I had to hit up! I've since had two enjoyable meals here and look forward to coming back at least once more before I jet town.
Their Kyushu-style tonkotsu ramen is very approachable, the broth is not very thick- rather it's more on the lite side, and has a great balanced taste. It's not so strong as to scare away those who prefer a traditional taste, but is potent enough to keep veterans coming back for more. The noodles are straight, thin and firm which is a great balance to the soup's consistency. Also notable is their chashu- which is a beautiful pink cut with minimal fat; and their egg while not semi-boiled the way I love- is at least nicely marinated.
On my second visit I was feeling adventurous and ordered a speciality dish- karai (spicy) ramen; I opted to try this in the tuskemen (dipping) style as well. The chef warned me this was hot, but I paid him no attention as I had yet to taste anything in Japan resemble the spices we play around with in the US. To my complete surprise- this shit was hot! I had my Japanese friend try it out just to confirm that this was indeed out of character, the twisted look on her face was all the confirmation I needed.

I think the nori is actually melting from the heat of the peppers!

All-in-all I did enjoy this dish; again the quality of ingredients was excellent with pork chunks as well as ground-up pork settling at the bottom of the thick fiery-red broth. My stomach might disagree with this last statement, but I still claim that I would order this dish again... just not next time ;-)

Tokyo Black Porter - by Yo-Ho

2009-12-18T11:28:00.000-08:00

Yo-Ho - Tokyo Black Porter - Nagano Prefecture - 5% - 350 ml can:
Taste: Chocolate, coffee, smoked & burnt malt, sweetness, syrup, dates, not very bitter- though it is there.
Smell: Smoked malt aroma is most prominent, subdued sweetness.
Look: Great look, close to pitch black- but held in direct light revels deep tones of brown, dark body, almost no head at all- but what forms is darkly stained, no lacing, this stuff is silk-like.Verdict: I love this porter, one of my favorites - possibly because its so similar to a stout, love the look of the beer and design on the can. Will always bring forth fond memories of my first tastes of jibiru back in 2007 at Ushi-Tora (hand pumped there of-course).

Kawabata - by Aqula

2009-12-16T14:28:00.000-08:00

Aqula - Kawabata Pilsner - Akita Prefecture - 5.5% - 330ml bottle:
Taste: Prominent malts, hops present to a lesser extent, citrus hints, delicious creamy head, fizzy body, refreshing.
Smell: Malts, cream and lemon scents.
Look: Body is a light golden brown, steam of carbonation, small but strong head, some lacing.
Verdict: This gold medal winner of the Japan/Asia Beer Cup in the Pilsner-family division is truly a great malt beer- the best I have had so far in Tokyo, which says allot since it's a popular style here. Highlights include the creamy taste of the head, and crisp refreshing feel from the carbonation level.

Minamishinsyu - Apple Hop

2009-12-14T19:01:00.000-08:00

Minamishinsyu - Apple Hop - Nagano Prefecture - 6.5% - 330 ml bottle @ Nagano Sake Village:
Taste: Sour apples, apple skin, lightly hopped, fizzy, sweet & sour fits this well.
Smell: Apple, sweetness... candy apple, wheat malt.
Look: Opaque yellow, weizen-looking, carbonated, no head.
Verdict: Another strike for Minamishinsyu; while I was happy this was not a hard-cider and was actually a beer brewed with apples, the hops were far too light, and without much other flavors this ended up tasting like apple juice more than much else. Points given for creativity- but that's it.
After-thoughts: Maybe this would work very nicely for fans of white wine; its got that apple-taste, has some fizz, is very lite, hardly bitter... hmm, this might actually play a useful role in certain situations... okay, giving them a half-pass here!

Biere De Rydeen Porter - by Oh! La! Ho Beer

2009-12-14T16:12:00.000-08:00

Oh! La! Ho Beer - Biere De Rydeen Porter - Nagano Prefecture - 5% - 350 ml can @ Nagano Sake Village:
Taste: A mild tasting porter, roasted malts, some smokey flavor- but not much, there was a sour note to it as well.
Smell: Malt comprised most of the aroma.
Look: Body was a dark brown, poured a weak head which settle fast, was lightly carbonated.
Verdict: This was an unimpressive porter; the taste was subdued in all the important areas, not enough smoke, roasted flavor, nor hops, although the level of sourness was fine. Not recommending this one- better off with a Tokyo Black!

Minamishinsyu - Amber Ale

2009-12-14T15:54:00.000-08:00

Minamishinsyu - Amber Ale - Nagano Prefecture - 4.5% - 330 ml bottle @ Nagano Sake Village:
Taste: More malt than hops- mild hops here, some hints of fruit if your looking for it- very subtle; this is easy to drink and refreshing but ultimately lacking in taste.
Smell: Malts are present, subdued hops, faint traces of fruit.
Look: A light red/orange and clear, didn't produce much of a head nor lace.
Verdict: I was not very impressed with this beer, it's an easily drinkable ale - but I cannot recommend this when an alternative such as Echigo Red Ale is accessible and superior on all counts.

Nagano Sake Village

2009-12-14T15:45:00.000-08:00

Searching out jibiru in Tokyo can be a daunting task, it's not as easy as you think it would be -- you know being in a ginormous savvy metropolitan and all. Actually it's been a chore; but as with any problem- solutions are abound. Antenna shops have become one such solution to my dilemma. For those of you who aren't in the know, Antenna shops are stores representing a specific prefecture- the products and produce they sell are from that prefecture. See where I'm going with this? ...That's right, if a prefecture has a local brewery (or two) then it's likely you'll be able to find that beer in an Antenna shop of that prefecture. Whew!
Nagano Sake Village is one such place- representing the prefecture of Nagano (duh)- and the best Antenna shop I've been to to boot. Their set up is more as a standing-bar than a store, but it's this arrangement that makes this shop so rewarding. Since they sell their regional beverages and food at retail, you also have an option to drink & eat there what you purchase- at retail price! Buy a beer and they give you the proper glass to drink it in, order sake or shochu and it's the same deal.
Their back-r00m is lovely, as in it's the type of room that makes my heart flutter. Small, dimly lit and stocked to the brim with hard to find jibiru, sake and shochu. Prices here are very reasonable, and consider this probably the most complete selection of alcoholic beverages from Nagano in all of Tokyo. And trust me, you want to drink beverages from Nagano! The jibiru offered comes from breweries such as: Shiga Kogen, Yo-Ho, Minamishinsyu, and Oh! La! Ho.

Horse meat and beer!? Who would have thunk it?!

As mentioned, the food selection is nice and cheap, all plates are served in appetiser sizes- perfect to compliment your drink(s), and prices range from Y100 to Y300 per dish, honestly this is one of the best deals I've come across here.

I highly recommend stopping by Nagano Sake Village for a quick drink & bite to eat - get a taste of what Nagano prefecture has to offer and buy a bottle of sake or jarred goods to bring home with you. Cheers!

Taishoken (Ikebukuro branches) - Ramen shop

2009-12-11T22:41:00.000-08:00

Ramen has traditionally always been served in hot broth (soup); however a relatively recent trend is tsukemen style, in which the noodles (served luke-warm) are dished separately on their own plate while the broth remains served in a bowl. The idea is simple yet fun, take some noodles and dip them into the hot broth, consume, repeat.

Tsukemen is now a mainstay and is offered at almost all Tokyo ramen shops; however its origins go back about 40 years when then inspiring Ramen chef Kazuo Yamagishi was "caught" (viewed by a customer) dipping his noodles into a separate cup of broth. Today Yamagishi-san is retired and considered a legend for the contributions he made to this once simple dish.
Tsukemen broth is usually a thicker and more hearty than its counterpart's. Taishoken's is made from pork, chicken and anchovies and is boiled down until additional ingredients are added, such as shoyu, miso, or spice.
I've been to the two Ikebukuro branches, unfortunately neither are the original shop- which was torn down a few years ago due to a city construction project. On my first visit I had to go with what made them famous, the tsukemen. The broth was almost sweet & sour in flavors, and was a little thinner than I was expecting. I consider it excellent tsukemen, but not the best I've had. On my visit to their other Ikebukuro store I tried out their traditional soup-based ramen; again the broth was on the light side (though broth can definitely get lighter). And again I very much enjoyed the quality and taste, but... I've had better.

Baeren - Rye

2009-12-11T17:40:00.000-08:00

Baeren - Rye (Specialty Grain) - Iwate Prefecture - 5.5 % - 330 ml bottle @ Bulldog Pub:
Taste: Surprisingly very weizen-like (citrus/banana), rye is apparent in aftertaste though, sweet (not bitter like other ryes).
Smell: Wheat-notes, whiffs of orange & banana.
Look: Medium body, semi-opaque, golden orange w/ brown tones, highly carbonated, frothy head, lace lingers a little before settling.Verdict: Best Rye I've ever had - why? Because it didn't have a trace of that weird bitterness I usually taste from "bigger" rye beers (e.g. Hop Rod Rye by Bear Republic or Righteous Ale by Sixpoint). I recommend this an an alternative to a regular weizen, this is much more interesting!

Ozeno Yukidoke - IPA

2009-12-10T17:55:00.000-08:00

Ozeno Yukidoke - IPA - Gunma Prefecture - 5% - Japanese Pint @ The Cat & Cask Tavern:
Taste: Grapefruit is the major player here, citrus hop flavor with a juicy bitterness, hints of pine.
Smell: Grapefruit, citrus, and hops.
Look: Hazy pale golden, orange/yellow hue, poured with minimal head, some spotty lace lingered about.Verdict: An American citrus IPA, very similar in style to the Mojo IPA by Boulder Beer Company. This is a highly recommended beer. Could see the grapefruit making this ideal in

40th Anniversary Ale - by Shiga Kogen

2009-12-10T17:47:00.000-08:00

Shinga Kogen - 40th Anniversary Ale - Nagano Prefecture - 8.5% - US Pint @ The Cat & Cask Tavern:
Taste: Bitter & sweet; different somehow... a unique taste... it's pine- very sharp & bitter; this is a funky beer, a mash-up of fruits, butter, caramel, a bit of vegetable.
Smell: Sweet, funky mix of ingredients, and alcohol whiffs.
Look: Opaque, red/orange, no lace, no carbonationVerdict: This is an interesting, though weird beer; I love the high alcohol level, but the beer itself might not have matured quite how they would have liked in taste. Unlike most beers from Shiga Kogen this is a rarity that I cannot recommend, not that its a bad beer per say... get it??
Notes of interest: To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Tamamura Honten (40 years of Sake & 4 years of jibiru), they have released this beer- a specially long-aged version of their House IPA.

Gallowsgate IPA - by Swan Lake

2009-12-07T18:11:00.000-08:00

Swan Lake - Gallowsgate IPA - Niigata Prefecture - 5.5% - UK Pint @ The Aldgate:
Taste: A strong hoppy nicely balanced bitter taste, malt is detectable but stay in the background, hints of citrus, grapefruit, caramel, has a subtle sweetness to it.
Smell: Citrus, floral, hoppy aroma.
Look: Opaque golden orange, reminiscent to a cloudy honey, nice head with good lace as shown in the picture.Verdict: This is a great take on a US West Coast IPA; big & hoppy! This would play its part perfectly at any serious beer bar and I have no doubt would make a devoted following even if priced a little higher than a US domestic micro.

Preston - Brown Ale

2009-12-07T18:07:00.000-08:00

Preston - Brown Ale - Ibaraki Prefecture - 4% - US Pint @ The Aldgate Pub:
Taste: A good amount of malty taste, not very bitter, and semi-sweet, hops are hiding somewhere I guess..
Smell: Sweet- more-so than in taste, malt, banana nut bread popped into my head.
Looks: Brown-ish/red, no head, no lace, no carbonation, a very clear beer here.Verdict: While not a bad ale- I was not completely impressed with this Brown. I could never fully recommend this over a Hakusekikan brown variety, and definitely not over the amazing East Coast browns back home (Brownstone by Sixpoint, Brooklyn Brown by Brooklyn Brewery, or Old Brown Dog by Smuttynose).

Fujizakura Kogen - Octoberfest Weizen

2009-12-06T17:27:00.000-08:00

Fujizakura Kogen - Octoberfest Weizen - Yamanashi Prefecture - UK (weizen-style) Pint @ Bulldog Pub:
Taste: Wheat brings out banana, hints of orange & lemon, slightly smokey, fizzy from carbonation.
Smell: Bubble gum is up front here, whiffs of banana.
Looks: Great thick head, strong lace which hold, very opaque - reminiscent of apple cider, remains carbonated even after an hour! (So I was drinking slow - problem for you?!)Verdict: Maybe I've mentioned I'm not too into wheat beers, but here in Japan I've had an opportunity to expand my mind and try some interesting takes on this style, this Octoberfest weizen was smooth, creamy and actually hit the spot nicely, much more enjoyable than a regular weizen.

Jangara Ramen (Harajuku branch)

2009-12-05T18:52:00.000-08:00

[Above pic "borrowed" from here]

Jangara Kyushu Ramen is a well-known chain specializing in the Kyushu-style, and the shop in Harajuku is probably the most popular of them all- so of course I wanted to take my guests here for an authentic Tokyo-feel... although after having gone, I would say it's more like an authentic Harajuku-feel, meaning very lively, vibrant and colorful. There was a line (as expected) and we waited for about 15 minuets in it before we were ushered to the upstairs restaurant only to continue waiting in another line for another 15 minuets; waiting in lines is just part of the Tokyo ramen culture- it's best to just except it early on.
So what makes Kyushu ramen different from other styles? Well it's made with a lite but very oily shiro (white) tonkotsu (pork bone) broth which provides a very rich, buttery flavor. The noodles are on the thin side and are cooked to be firm rather than soft and chewy (don't worry- there's still a "chew" to them!). This dish's signature however is the pork! Unlike most ramen, where the focus is on the broth or noodles, here the pork garners most of the attention and with good cause, as there's allot of it, and it's fatty! In every bowl two styles of pork are dished- chashu and slow-stewed buta kakuni; as if the noodles weren't filling enough already- the pork is just simply overload!
Jangara is good ramen no doubt- but it's not the best, not by a long-shot. What it provides is a foreigner-friendly place to get your feet wet; they have an English menu, it's a crowded place, located in an entertaining area, and dishes are of good quality & quantity- so it's a good base on which to judge future ramen outings in Tokyo.

Sumidagawa - Porter

2009-11-30T22:13:00.000-08:00

Sumidagawa (Asahi) - Porter - Tokyo - ? ABV - Japanese Pint - @ The Dry Dock:
Taste: Roasted coffee, bitter, minimal smokiness, chocolate hints, some malt, less hops, not very sweet either- though some caramel in the background.
Smell: Faint nose, some coffee, toffee, and roasted malts.
Look: Dark brown, like black coffee, big stained head, strong lace.Verdict: This is more similar to a stout than a porter; that being said this is a decent beer but ultimately I could never fully recommend it for two reasons; first there are better porters and stouts out there; and second this brewery is a subsidiary of Asahi.

Keel's Lager - by Hitachino Nest

2009-11-30T22:08:00.000-08:00

Hitachino Nest - Keels Lager '09 (a Dry Dock original) - Ibaraki Prefecture - ? ABV - 330 ml bottle @ The Dry Dock:
Taste: In your face hops, nice sharp bitter bite, hops drown out any other flavors that might be in there!
Smell: Hops of course, some malt, and a faint trace of fruits.
Look: A beautiful deep copper red/orange with a brown tint, slightly cloudy, poured with head, but little lace retention- hardy any actually, and not really carbonated.Verdict: I really enjoyed this beer; very reminiscent to Dogfish Head 60 Minuet but more intense! One of the best Japanese American-style IPAs I have had and fully recommend this to any hop-head.

The Dry Dock

2009-11-30T19:16:00.000-08:00

The Dry Dock was a joint I wanted to hit up just on the basis of the name & location alone. To me this is the ideal bar, its got a nautical theme and is in a seedy location- literally directly under the tracks of the biggest train line in Tokyo (the Yamanote Line). What this means is such: its a shady looking place where at no matter the time of day- sunlight ain't gonna reach it; AND every 4 minuets or so the entire structure shakes under the force of the trains passing overhead.
The nautical theme begins from the exterior with some key details; first the structure is submerged so that the first floor is actually 1/2 underground, a few circular nautical windows are in place (just like on a ship) so that you can peek in (or out); next is the front door- it's a beautiful stained wood which also has in-place a circular hatch window; and it's damp (no sunlight remember) adding to the effect of being port-side.

[Above picture "borrowed" from Chuwy Reviews]

The nautical theme is carried over even more so once inside; with more wood paneling and captain's wheel and instruments front & center at the bar! There is an upstairs, but it's sit-down dining only and carries a stiff cover of Y500 per head! If you ain't gonna eat (or with a date) stay below decks at the standing-only bar and save the yen for another round.

The beer selection, while decent, had some flaws that really rubbed me the wrong way. I was expecting to find a decent jibiru selection but the night I was there they had only one or two. They did have some nice American microbrews (courtesy of Nagano Trading) and also some Japanese macros. And not to sound too petty (but I am), they were served in Japanese pint glasses but were priced on par with US pints... and to add insult to injury, were served with a big wasteful head... yeah the worst, I know.

Hitachino Nest - Keels Lager '09

Sumidagawa - Porter

[The Dry Docks website is here]

Ginga Kogen - Weizen (Star Bottle)

2009-11-29T15:33:00.000-08:00

Ginga Kogen - Weizen (Star Bottle) - Iwate Prefecture - 5% - 300 ml bottle:
Taste: Common wheat-beer flavors: banana & citrus; hints of custard; light hops; very refreshing; carbonation produces a fizzy sensation.
Smell: Potent banana & citrus aroma, with whiffs of cream.
Look: Cloudy mellow yellow; carbonated; head forms - however no lacing lingers.Verdict: Compared to their Pale Ale this is far better; I really like this weizen, it's simple yet tasteful and refreshing. This is the "star" of the Ginga Kogen lineup! "German Purity Law was declared in Bayern by Wilhelm IV and stipulates that beer is made of only malt, hop and water.
We are brewing beer as "natural food" instead of industrial product according to German Purity Law. So, Ginga Kogen beer is made of only malt, hop and water.
According to Japanese liquor tax law, beer may contain some kinds of auxiliary material such as rice and cornstarch.
Ginga Kogen beer that includes 100% of malt and no auxiliary material will provide the sweet taste from malt" -- gingakogenbeer.com

Fujizakura Kogen - Rauch Beer

2009-11-28T01:34:00.000-08:00

Fujizakura Kogen - Rauch Beer - Yamanashi Prefecture - 5.5% - 500 ml bottle:
Taste: Smokey- but not overwhelming so; wood; bacon; very unique & pleasurable.
Smell: Smokey- yup it's at the forefront here too; burning wood; burnt meats; creamy scent emanates from its head.
Looks: Clear light shades of brown; lots of carbonation; big frothy head that lingered about for a few minuets; lacing which holds strong.Verdict: Drinking this beer conjures up images of sitting by a log fire burning on a winter's day, really what others beers do that for you?! There is a reason why Fujizakura wins medals, and this beer is reason enough! Couldn't drink this on the regular, but can appreciate the craftsmanship behind it.
Notes of interest: Fujizakura Kogen Brewery is located near the base of Mt. Fuji from which the water source is drawn; the beer is solidly German in style, with Rauchbier (smoked beer) being a rare German style from the Franconia region. A small portion of the barley malt used in the beer is smoked and the malt used in the Fujizakura Kogen version is smoked over cherry wood. The resulting beer is world-class. The rich layers of malt flavor are tempered with a subtle smokiness, allowing a free flow of comparisons with top-shelf single-malt whisky. Pairing it with smoked prepared meats such as ham or sausage results in a seamless marriage of flavors.

Ramen - Shimokitazawa

2009-11-27T21:33:00.000-08:00

90 Days Stout - by Echigo

2009-11-26T17:32:00.000-08:00

Echigo - 90 Days Stout - Niigata Prefecture - 7% - 330 ml bottle @ La-Cachette bar:
Taste: Light roasted malts; hints of bitters (chocolate & coffee), caramel, and smoke; nothing is overwhelming here.
Smell: Roasted malt aroma, nothing else really makes its presence known.
Look: Medium body for a stout (dark brown), wimpy head & lace.
Verdict: This is what you call a light stout- this is not a bad thing actually, as it would go great with raw fish or fresh vegetables. I've had better stouts out here, namely the Tokyo Black and Harvestmoon Double Stout, but as mentioned this could play an important pairing role.

Preston - Pale Ale

2009-11-26T16:23:00.000-08:00

Preston - Pale Ale - Ibaraki Prefecture - 5% - 330 ml bottle @ La-Cachette bar:
Taste: Light to medium hops and malts- not too bitter nor sweet; subtle fruitiness- apple, orange, peach; clean, crisp & refreshing.
Smell: Whiff of hops, sweetness, honey.
Look: Golden-yellow, light brown body, a little hazy, poured with head, left behind some lace.
Verdict: I go to pale ales to escape the intensity of IPAs- if I want a hoppy ale I simply order an IPA- so I can't say I was disappointed with the low intensity of the hops. This turned out to be the refreshing beer I was looking for. How about it as a Pale Ale though? Okay I guess... I can't complain; though at this point I gotta admit I'm not sure how into Preston I am...

Harry Porter - by Swan Lake

2009-11-25T18:03:00.000-08:00

Swan Lake - Harry Porter (an Aldgate original) - Niigata Prefecture - ? ABV - UK Pint @ The Aldgate pub:
Taste: As a good porter should be this is a smoky and complex beer, malt steps up here while the hops settle in.
Smell: Smokey, roasted malt aroma.
Looks: Near black- but a deep brown from certain angles, head dissipated fast but strong lace is left behind.Verdict: Although porters are not my most favorite of styles (I like stouts more), this was delicious indeed. To me the importance lies in getting a smokey flavor, but one that does not overpower the taste; this is a great example of balancing roasted smoked malts to an enjoyable drinking experience.

Swan Lake - IPA

2009-11-25T17:59:00.000-08:00

Swan Lake - IPA - Niigata Prefecture - 6% - UK Pint @ The Aldgate pub:
Taste: Hops have a nice bite, bitterness of pine, but balanced with raisin, orange peels and butter that lingers.
Looks: Orange/red medium body- though leans closer to orange, creamy head, lace is thick & holds.
Smell: I get citrus- orange in particular, hops, malt, and some sweetness.Verdict: Since I've only had this beer once and the Gallowsgate version once- I can't really compare the differences too much. What I can say is that like the Gallowsgate, this is another excellent Left Coast IPA and highly recommended!

The Aldgate Pub

2009-11-25T17:37:00.000-08:00

[Above pic "borrowed" from Chuwy Reviews]

Located not far from Shibuya station, The Aldgate is a perfect escape from all the craziness of the surrounding area. After crossing the Hachiko Square intersection, having a latte at the world's busiest Starbucks, or going on a shopping excursion at 109 - The Aldgate provides an atmosphere a little more relaxed... a little more British. Shibuya already offers a large selection of bars and isakayas, so why The Aldgate? Well, this little pub serves an excellent selections of American microbrews and Japanese jibiru; yeah maybe they have some British or European ales as well- but they're just cannon-fodder.

[Above pic "borrowed" from Chuwy Reviews]

The bar itself is on a second floor and is windowless, actually there are windows but they just show off the foundation walls encapsulating this hideout, which is partially why I say The Aldgate is an "escape". Resemblance to the British pub it strives to be begins the all wood paneling and furniture and continues with the decor decorating the walls; oh and the clientele- well allot of Brits actually stop in here for their daily swill. I also can't give a complete review without mentioning their absolutely amazing music selection, all vinyl, from classic oldies all the way through to what the "kids" are listening to today!

Enough banter- on to the beer!

Swan Lake - IPA

Swan Lake - Harry Porter

Preston - Brown Ale

Swan Lake - Gallowsgate IPA

[The Aldgate website is here]

Popeye Beer Club - Stong Ale Fest

2009-11-23T17:21:00.000-08:00

The Strong Ale Fest at Popeye, having sold-out completely, was split up into two "sessions"; the first group got rolling at 1pm and were allowed to stay until they could no longer stand (or stay awake -- I love how in Japan it's not embarrassing/or illegal to fall asleep in a bar - or anywhere for that matter!) I was in the second group which got started at 3pm. For Y5000, patrons were given 10 tickets (one per beer); included also was a fancy-cheese plate, and a main course (more on that later...).

Having called numerous times to confirm my reservation, they were clearly expecting me; as I walked up to the maître d' he took one look and greeted me with a cheerfull "Ahhhh Justin-san"; and then proceeded to seat me at a table with 3 other locals who knew enough English to entertain me throughout - this was specifically arranged for me and I was truly taken aback by their concern of my comfort. At this point let me say that although I was not taking any particular notice - I did not see any other Westerners. I was surprised but also happy to see so many Japanese taking pride in their domestic microbrews, as I was beginning to get the impression it was Westerners here in Japan that were at the forefront of the consumer end.

But enough introduction -- on to the beers!: [Disclaimer: descriptions are based on my taste-buds & pallet.]
1st up: Ozeno Yukidoke - Heavy Heavy '09 [IPA] [8.2% ABV] [100 IBU] [60ml] -- This IPA was brewed with hops for 60 minutes in honer of DFH 60 Minute; however this was quite stronger in taste to DFH - the hops here were very present and dominated the flavor (nice!). Clear and golden in color, leaving behind layers of lingering lace; and hoppy aroma all around. An impressive IPA that didn't try to balance its hops with other needless fruits!
2nd: Minamishinshu - Kido [Icebock/Winter Ale] [20% ABV] [unknown IBU] [30ml] -- Cask aged for 1 month and yes you read that right - a whopping 20% ABV! They called this style "Icebock" but I'd call it some tasty syrup; sure there were hints of raisins & dates but with its smooth velvet-like texture you could honestly pour this over a stack of steaming pancakes. The color was a deep golden-brown which only helped to further its reminiscence to maple syrup; smelled as sweet as you'd expect.
3rd: Harvestmoon - [Double Stout] [9% ABV] [60 IBU] [60ml] -- I love me some stout and the more coffee taste I get out of a stout the better; needless to say this had the jolt I was looking for! However true to the 60 IBU listed it was more on the sweet side than bitter. A beautiful pitch black, with no lucency even when held up against the light; a stained frothy head held for a few minutes before settling in. The aroma was subtle but hinted of coffee with honey.
4th: Ise Kadoya - [Imperial Smoke Porter] [8% ABV] [25 IBU] [60ml] -- For me, stouts & porters compliment each-other nicely - so it was porter time indeed! Complex in taste (a good porter always is) with an all-around smokey taste and hints of black liquorish; low IBUs allowed the smoke to proclaim itself here, but not overstatedly, a good balance for me. Holding against the light revealed deep dark shades of brown; and whiffs of smoked malts were detectable. I didn't take many pairing notes, but this beer was just begging for some stinky blue cheese -- oh lucky me, I just so happened to have some! A perfect match!
5th: Yo-Ho - [English Ale '07] [9.23% ABV] [67.65 IBU] [60ml] -- Obviously this brewery takes their measurements seriously, as it was the only beer listed where the ABV & IBU each went into double-decimal-point digits! Two years of cask aging helped to add layers of flavor to this ale resulting in a complex taste, featuring bitters, sweets, and dried fruits; with aromas of nectar and whiffs of alcohol contrasting against a nice earthy-malt essence. A lighter shade of brown nicely complimented this elaborate beer.
Main-course arrives: At around this point in my euphoria a waitress arrived with a hot plate of food... well, okay luke-warm - but no reason to complain as I was overwhelmed by the variety of dishes served: Stew-beef baked inside a flaky-critter; a Japanese-style quesadilla, a slice of quiche, a steamed sausage over veggies and all the tempura you could eat -- yeah that's right, a waitress circled the room with a platter of tasty batter piled-high for you to poke at with your chopsticks! I guess the only down-side to all this food was that it completely soaked-up any buzz I was starting to feel... oh well, still had 5 tasters to go!
6th: Hakusekikan [Brown Ale '99] [8.8% ABV] [22 IBU] [60ml] -- I'm a sucker for Brown Ale and anything Hakusekikan! This particular batch had actually been aging since 99' - hard to believe, but who am I to question the Master?! While the hops as expected laid low, tastes of earth, malt, syrup and alcohol danced on my tongue. The aroma was low key as well due to the low bitterness levels, but I detected whiffs of earth and malt. The color was a lovely golden brown reminiscent of a quality brandy.
7th: Preston Ale - BaBakan '08 [Double IPA] [8% ABV] [75 IBU] [60ml] -- Off-the-bat the name "Babakan" struck me funny - however it turns out it is actually someones name... "who's" I'm not sure?... Finally hops were back on the radar here with a nice 75 IBU and as with most ji-biru I've tasted there was a distinctive sweet syrup-y taste in the mix. Also this was lightest hued beer of the evening with what I would describe as a clear liquid-golden color; the aroma produced hops and sugar.
8th: Haksuekikan - [Brown Ale '07] [8.8% ABV] [22 IBU] [60ml] -- Back to my precious Browns; this one the same style as before but from an '07 batch. Nearly identical to my pallet, but definitely had a little more life to it (not that a subdued ale is anything bad if aged with care). I couldn't decide if I liked this one any better though - just another great Brown really! A darker shade of brown was noticeable against the '99; and again, gave-off detectable whiffs of earth & malt.
9th: Hakusekikan - Super Vintage '03 (Dry Hop Verion) [Barley Wine] [14.5% ABV] [35 IBU] [30ml] -- Barley wine is always a great nightcap, especially this one; being a dry hop version brewed in 03' - another oldie! I really think Japanese have a sweet-tooth as again syrup was the overwhelming flavor here - this is not a bad trait though as the quality of sugars is top notch. A beautiful deep golden brown in color and aroma of sugar and dried fruits.
10th: Hakusekikan - Super Vintage '07 [Barley Wine] [14.5% ABV] [35 IBU] [30ml] -- As I wiped away the tears building under my eyes, I reminded myself how all good things must come to an end... and with that I took a sip of the 07' Super Vintage. Seems that the more this ale is aged the sweeter it becomes, as this batch retreated just a tad in sweetness from the '03, and to me that made for a more balanced taste, as fruits got a chance to remind me they were in there... somewhere. Nearly identical in looks & smell to the '03.

So here is my wrap-up on this wonderful experience: This was truly a unique peek into a new world of beer for me. I finally saw Japanese get loud, break glasses, and seem truly enthusiastic about the lesser known breweries from their homeland. If there was one overwhelming theme found throughout the beers, it is this, they are sweet! Coming from American where we love our hops to dominate, it was nice to see the Japanese have found something of their own. I know that this was a "strong" ale fest and high alcohol levels bring out the sugar in beers, but this is something I've noticed in ji-biru of lesser ABV. Hops are here too, just not the dominating factor. This experience only makes me more excited for ji-biru and I'm looking forward to my next drink! Cheers Japan, you deserve it!

Echigo - Red Ale

2009-11-21T22:16:00.000-08:00

Echigo - Red Ale - Niigata Prefecture - 5% - 350 ml can:
Taste: Hops are present as is malt; bitter (sour) cherries; other fruits too; not overly sweet; smooth yet has a bite; really a big complex taste here.
Smell: Apricot possibly; sour fruity whiffs; and yes hops & malt.
Look: Absolutely f'n beautiful; crimson (deep) red w/ a tint of orange; head & lacing in attendance.Verdict: Echigo is a pioneer out here, proclaimed as Japan's first microbrewery; and their beers are good to boot! But what do I think about this particular beer? Love it! Too often Red Ales don't pack the bite I'm looking for, but the hops are here and the bitterness is balanced to perfection!Pairing Notes: A perfect snack locally bought in Kyodo: Echigo was selling for a short sweet minuet at the Sunkus on Nodai street; the taiyaki came from the bakery Kanbou on Suzuran street.

Ramen - Kyodo

2009-11-18T20:24:00.000-08:00

Kinshachi - Weizenbock

2009-11-15T17:34:00.000-08:00

Kinshachi - Weizenbock - Aichi Prefecture - ? ABV - US Pint @ Bulldog pub:
Taste: This is a sweet beer, rich in wheat and some of that banana/bubble gum flavor you expect from this class of beer, albeit not as light as a regular weizen.
Smell: Banana aroma, wheat, sugar.
Look: A beautiful multi-toned brown, poured with head and had great lace retention.
Verdict: This "limited edition" beer was very good, and one of the few weizenbocks I have ever had - so all I can say is that this was a unique beer for me and I thoroughly enjoyed drinking it ;-)

Kinshachi - IPA

2009-11-15T17:23:00.000-08:00

Kinshachi - IPA - Aichi Prefecture - 7% - US Pint @ Bulldog pub:
Taste: Hops make their presence known, nice bitterness, malt, has a big taste, butter, sweetness of raisins or dates.
Smell: Hops and toasted malts.
Look: A clear amber brown body, a deep caramel, medium body, a thin head, though with great long lasting lacing.Verdict: This is in the style of an American IPA and therefore is a winner in my book. Kin-Shachi beers have been good to me, this one is no different. I've reviewed this same beer from a bottle- check it out to compare. Recommended.

Bulldog - World Beer Pub

2009-11-15T16:37:00.000-08:00

Bulldog is a "world-bar" - the decor is primarily wooden, giving a sense of an Irish pub, UK tavern or a bar you might see in Anywhere USA -- excepts that it's located inside on the second floor of a mega-mall.
You wouldn't know it though once inside; decorating the walls are miscellaneous beer branded posters which don't give insight to a particular regional theme, knick-knacks adorn the ceiling cross-beams and an array of glasses hang by their stems above the bar.
Although typical in many ways- this is not a bland or boring bar by any means; its located in the heart of Ginza (think 5th Ave on steroids), has decent prices, and is hosted by a very friendly staff whom all of speak English enough to guarantee you get what you ordered. When I stumped a waitress with a question the Bartender was more than welcome to come out from behind the bar and explain to me the differences between two similar beers.
What I also really like about this bar is the opportunity to "people watch" - one of my favorite drinking activities. Looming over Sotobori Dori provides a scenic view of the bustling street which never ceases in activity or entertainment.

But I really go here for the beer, of which Bulldog offers at any given time 4 taps devoted to jibiru; here are some of the beers I have been sober enough at the time to document:

Kinshachi - IPA

Kinshachi - Weizenbock

Fujizakura Kogen - Octoberfest Weizen

Baeren - Rye

Kinshachi - IPA

2009-11-13T19:15:00.000-08:00

Kinshachi - IPA - Aichi Prefecture - 7% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: I got a sweet and hoppy taste from this IPA, detected malt, and raisins contributing to the sweetness.
Smell: Sweet to the nose as well, honey, and dried fruits.
Looks: A deep caramel, an average head and decent lacing.Verdict: I gave this beer on draft a positive review and it's no different here. A great strong IPA; I really enjoy strong brews- you don't have to drink as much to get going; the trick is to find that balance between taste and ABV- Kinshachi nails it here!
Pairing notes: I happened to drink this while eating a lunch box in which there were some caramelized onions, I couldn't help but to note how good this beer went with their sweet roasted taste.

Minoh - WIPA

2009-11-11T17:39:00.000-08:00

Minoh - WIPA (double IPA) - Osaka - 9% - 1/2 pint - @ The Cat & Cask Tavern:
Taste: Layers of sweetness: raisins, dates, sugars, syrups, hint of red wine, hops are present but drowned out- you taste them in the background.
Smell: Honey, syrup, alcohol whiffs, faint trace of malts & hops.
Looks: Almost purple in color, deep violet brown, no head, no lace.Verdict: Tastes so much more like a barley wine than an IPA. The quality in ingredients is definitely there, but I could never recommend this to someone thirsting for an IPA. This is a nightcap beer with its extreme sweetness and high ABV.

Shiga Kogen - IPA

2009-11-11T17:29:00.000-08:00

Shiga Kogen - IPA - Nagano Prefecture - 6% - US Pint @ The Cat & Cask Tavern:
Taste: Fresh hops, grapefruit-y, peachy, lightly toasted, medium malts, caramel, dryness, pine, tart.
Smell: Citrus, orange, hoppy aroma.
Looks: Dark amber, deep red/orange; pours with white head.Verdict: I really enjoy Shiga Kogen, one of my favorite Japanese brewers; they do an American style very good, quality on par with West Coast breweries! This is a great hoppy & potent IPA!

Shiga Kogen - Draft Pale Ale

2009-11-11T17:17:00.000-08:00

Shiga Kogen - Draft Pale Ale (Harvest Brew) - Nagano Prefecture - 5.2% - US Pint @ The Cat & Cask Tavern:
Taste: Some malt presence, heavier on the hops, grapefruit and other citrus, hints of other fruits, clean & refreshing taste.
Smell: Hoppy aroma with whiffs of citrus, and fruit blend.
Looks: Golden color, very clear, pours with head of which there is good retention, as well as lacing.
Verdict: This is the kind of beer I like, an American-style Ale, heavy on the hops, citrus in place for balance, malt present but in the background. This would fit the American pallet very nicely.
Notes of interest: The DPA is limited to draft only; it uses pilsner malt and four types of American and British aroma hops that produce its strong nose.

The Cat & Cask Tavern

2009-11-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

Early into my trip, while browsing Metropolis I came across an article on The Cat & Cask Tavern which immediately caught my attention; as a British-style pub in Tokyo serving ji-biru I imagined a potentially interesting place to grab a few pints at. Always being one to thoroughly cross check my references before spending precious beer-money - I ran a quick search and was directed to BeerInJapan.com, a local beer-site also posting a positive article on this peculiar pub. With two inspiring reviews and some spare cash in my pocket I was all ready to get out of the apartment and onto the train to Ikebukuro.
Oddly, The Cat & Cask Tavern is located in a residential area, a setting a far cry away from where anyone would expect a bar to be. As I navigated off the main street and into the residential neighborhood, the street lights faded away and a sense of intrigue crept into my mind; though before I knew it I had arrived, standing infront of an ordinary house with only a small seal representing that this was indeed the place.
Deep breath and open the door...
Immediately upon entering all notions of this being an ordinary house were left outside; what I found inside was an absolutely charming pub!
Owned & operated by the resident of the house, Wayne - a British gentleman who came to Japan in the early 80's and has remained here - realized his life dream of owning a pub only just recently, but obviously the wait was well worth it. Beautifully dark stained wood paneling define the decor which is complimented with wooden tables and chairs. On the walls hang what you would expect to find in a British pub: various posters and mirrors of UK beers, which are decorated tastefully and sparingly to compliment the fresh stain of white painted walls. And notably there there is a coat tree, oh how very English indeed! It's the small details which create the pleasant atmosphere.
While Wayne is master of the bar, his wife, Yuko, works the kitchen and creates the food menu; also notable is Lonnie a neighbor to the pub, loyal patron, and the bar's in-house jazz musican.
The Cat & Cask offers four taps: 3 local japanese microbrews, and the fourth being a mainstream larger serving the purpose of being more affordable and palatable to some. The following is just some of the beers I have had there (i.e. those which I was able to document):

Shiga Kogen - IPA

Shiga Kogen - Draft Pale Ale (Harvest Brew)

Minoh - W-IPA (double IPA)

Shinga Kogen - 40th Anniversary Ale

Ozeno Yukidoke - IPA

[The Cat & Cask Tavern's web site is here]

Fu-unji - Ramen Shop

2009-11-10T23:16:00.000-08:00

[Above photo "borrowed" from here]

Put simply, Fu-unji is [some of] the best ramen I have ever had! And I've had allot of ramen. It's in their broth, man; it's thick, strong and musky. If it's too strong for your tastes- you can mix-in a light broth to water it down; this is common for their tsukeman (dipping ramen - pictured) to make easier drinking what remains once your noodles are gone.
So their broth is heavy (my preferred style) and is a tonkotsu (pork bone) gyoukai (fish & clam) broth containing a healthy amount of chopped-up chashu (pork slices), onions and menma (bamboo) making it almost stew-like. Pay attention while your here and you'll notice small details which attribute to their outstanding quality, for example they pre-warm bowls using broth- which is drained just prior to the noodle placement.
Don't be surprised to wait in line for 45 minuets during peak lunch hours, or 15 to 30 mins at other times; but it's well worth it. Just standing in line watching the master and his underlings work is worth the wait and keeps your mind at ease. The master is a true gentleman and keeps the line organized and moving, an essential part of running a successful ramen shop.

I've been here twice now for their tsukemen, but plan on hitting it up one more time to try the traditional soup based ramen; stay tuned...

[Fu-unji's website is here]

Harvestmoon - Apricot Ale

2009-11-09T14:21:00.000-08:00

Harvestmoon - Apricot Ale - Tokyo - 5% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: A tart sour taste, vinegar and acidic, apricot provides both a tangy and sweet taste to this beer.
Smell: Apricot, sourness, faint whiffs of sugar.
Looks: Pleasant pastel shade of orange- i.e. apricot color, poured with head, lacing holds, a little carbonation present.
Verdict: This is among the more odd beers I have had; it took more than a few sips to adjust to it, however once I did I kinda liked it. Well, at the very least I enjoyed tasting something different, I'm a fan of experimentation. I would recommend this to a fan of Lambic beers, or to anyone in the mood for something different.

Harvestmoon - IPA

2009-11-08T15:37:00.000-08:00

Harvestmoon (w/ collaboration from Tamamura-honten) - IPA - Tokyo - 6% - 330 ml bottle:
Taste: Provides a strong hop taste, a balanced bitter, pine, citrus hints.
Smell: Hoppy and floral aroma.
Looks: Caramel, deep golden, red-orange, carbonation gives a steady stream of bubbles, pours with head, lace clings w/ a slow withdrawal.Verdict: Smart move on Harvestmoon's part to collaborate with Tamaura-honten (Shiga Kogen for those of you not paying attention). I'm guessing the collaboration involved using Tamaura-hoten's own hops (which gives their own beers such a wonderful & unique taste), and maybe they got some notes on brewing as well (I kid). This is a wonderful IPA which I fully endorse!

Tanakaya - beer, wine & spirits shop

2009-11-07T23:07:00.000-08:00

A good liquor shop can be a challenge to find; a good beer store can be impossible to find -- so if you do discover one, it become precious, and if you happen to find one in Japan- well, it becomes sacred.

This is just one of 4 isles, all are stock to the brim!

Tanakaya is hand's down the most complete beer/wine & spirits store I have ever been in; I'm just amazed a place like this exists in Tokyo - and luckily for me, not too far away either.

The jibiru is placed in an open-cooler

Tanakaya is where I go to find the best selection of jibiru; they switch up their offerings often- giving me a compelling reason to hit it up week-after-week. On any given visit you can expect to find a complete offering of Shiga Kogen, Swan Lake, and Baird - but they rotate through the other small breweries of Japan quite regularly; I've bought beers from Fujizakura, Bayern Meister, Harvestmoon, and Hakusekikan to name just a few. You won't find a better selection of jibiru anywhere.

Much more consideration is given to the imported beers

They have quite an amazing selection of beers from all the key countries- meaning America, the UK, Germany and Belgium; while I'm not here to buy any of those, I've browsed through and have decided their offering from these countries is superior as well. For a city that doesn't stray much from Super Dry or Premium Malt- Tanakaya bests the best NYC has to offer... and don't get me started on their Whisky selection and separate temperature controled Wine room.

Just one of 3 glass-racks!

And just to make sure their offering is superior to all others- they have the most complete glass selection I have ever seen! Tanakaya is my savior out here; without this store I would be a much poorer person.

Yona Yona Ale - by Yo-Ho

2009-11-05T18:09:00.000-08:00

Yo-Ho - Yona Yona Ale - Nagano Prefecture - 5.5% - 350 ml can:
Taste: Fruity foremost, tropical, medium hops, subtle malt, a truly good balance. Although no bubbles to show- it feels somewhat carbonated.
Smell: Fruit variety, subdued hops & malt, a very pleasant aroma.
Looks: Golden and clear, pours with a healthy head- which settles in about two minuets, lace is strong, beautiful.Verdict: As far as jibiru goes, I have a longstanding relationship with this beer- as it was my initial introduction to good Japanese beer back in 2007. What else can I say, I love this ale, except that I love it even more as Real-ale (i.e. cask-conditioned). I've drank this many times and frankly I don't get sick of it; this is a great session beer!

Ginga Kogen - Pale Ale

2009-11-04T20:10:00.000-08:00

Ginga Kogen - Iwate Prefecture - Pale Ale - 5% ABV -350 ml can:
Taste: Tropical fruit juice (orange/banana/amongst others); sweet; not very hoppy- only slightly bitter.
Smell: Whiffs of tropical fruits; a little malt; but not much else.
Looks: A very hazy orange, pours with head which dissipates quickly, not too carbonated.Verdict: Can't say I'm impressed with this Ale; sure I'm happy to see this selling in a variety of locations, and maybe it's its subdued taste that allows it to sell along side Kirin and company, but I like my Ales packing more of a punch.
"Ginga Kogen started in 1996, as the project to economically develop Sawauchi village in Iwate prefecture, by Isao Nakamura who established Higashi Nihon House Co., Ltd. [...] Sawauchi village is the heavy snowfall area, so it has rich natural fresh water. And, it is similar to Bayern in Germany in climate. So, Sawauchi village is the appropriate [location] for [a] brewery." -- gingakogenbeer.com