San Diego Beer Party

Well yesterday was a fun day. It was pouring rain most of the day, but just like any trooper in search of beer I made my way to Ginza for the San Diego Beer Party to introduce Ballast Point to Japan. 

Held at Salon De G, this was a well planned gig. Props to Andrew from Nagano trading (the importer) for this. When I got there I was one of the first in the door. 5000 yen got entry, food, lots of beer and a pint glass. I ordered the Big Eye first, which is a fantastic IPA.

Good to see many beer lovers there. The two Tims who are very knowledgable on beer and Chewy (who is a beer God!) I had met before. But met a slew of interesting and friendly people as well. One who stood out was Scott, who is a brewer now at Gotemba Kogen, having worked at Sierra Nevada before. He was very friendly and forthcoming. Cheers to all the other people I met.

The food was delicious and plentiful. Ranging from Organic vegetables, to mini hamburgers and fried shrimp to delicious olives. It managed to compliment the beer wonderfully.  As for the beer well the aforementioned Big eye was the highlight for me, but the rest of the beer was wonderful too. A quick run down on the beers I drunk are as follows-

Big Eye IPA (9/10)

Dorado DIPA (8/10)

Green Flash 30th street Pale Ale (7/10)

Bourbon Barrel Black Marlin Porter (8/10)

Victory at Sea Imperial Porter (7/10)

Stone IPA (7.5/10)

Abandon Hope Smoked (7.5/10)

Green Flash Trippel (7.5/10)

Calico Amber Ale (7/10)

So all in all a great time. I must have ended up having around 6 or 7 pints (US size) but kept well hydrated, so no hangover! I look forward to drinking more Ballast Point in the future...

ANZAC

Yesterday was Anzac day...Lest we forget. Thank you for everything you did.

Good man that Churchill

"Always remember that I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me."-Winston Churchill

"Make sure that the beer - four pints a week - goes to the troops under fire before any of the parties in the rear get a drop."-Winston Churchill to his Secretary of War, 1944

"Sir, if you were my husband, I would poison your drink."-Lady Astor to Winston Churchill "Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it."-His reply

So you think YOU look bad!

Finally sumped up the cash for a new camera. I have been taking photos with my camera phone recently. Got a nice little one on special at BIC CAMERA. Anyway heres the first shot using it...Me at the office, first thing. Yeah its not a flattering shot, but at least it I didn't break the camera!

Looking forward to the Ballast Point gig tomorrow! Should be a cracker...

Chuwy don't you lose my number...

Chuwy, who seems to be the only person who reads my blog (and vice versa!) seems to have disappeared...Hope your doing alright mate. Catch you at the Ballast Point gig!

EVERTON IN! Man U out!

Yeah the mighty 'ton are headed to the FA Cup final...first time in nearly 15 years, to take on the Chelsea money boys. We gonna do em right good son...

Any opinions where i should watch the final in Tokyo or Yokohama?

Courting controversy

Going for some controversy here...Want to split beers in to two categories. Worth a damn is the category for styles I generally always enjoy, regardless of the brewer. Wretched Lolly water for those I generally dislike. This is not to say there aren't beers in the style I don't like (Stones Old Guardian is a great beer for example), but generally they don't agree with me.

Whadda ya think? Opinions please...

Worth a damn

Imperial Stout (the quintessential high ABV beer for me)

IPA and DIPA (hop centric and bursting with flavour)

Bitter and Premium Bitter (ESB) (balance and parity)

Porter  (deep, dark and wholesome)

Wretched Lolly Water

Barleywine (over the top and sickly sweet)

Dry Stout (bad memories of Guinness - watery)

Belgian Tripel (flavourless for the high ABV)

Marzen and Octoberfest (true lolly water)

over to you if you have an opinion on these or other styles!

Hard Beer and Wives Tales

"Alcohol is 20 years old! Selling alcohol to minors is not permitted hard!" - literal translation from the Rakuten site about beer... In honor of this I bring an oldy, but a goodie...

Beer drinking

Whether one is "shipwrecked" or just plain "wrecked", perhaps the following words of wisdom might help one stay at or near the surface.

SYMPTOM: Feet cold and wet.
FAULT: Glass being held at incorrect angle.
ACTION: Rotate glass so that open end points toward ceiling.

SYMPTOM: Feet warm and wet.
FAULT: Improper bladder control.
ACTION: Stand next to nearest dog, complain about house training.

SYMPTOM: Beer unusually pale and tasteless.
FAULT: Glass empty.
ACTION: Get someone to buy you another beer.

SYMPTOM: Beer tasteless, front of your shirt is wet.
FAULT: Mouth not open, or glass applied to wrong part of face.
ACTION: Retire to restroom, practice in mirror.

SYMPTOM: Floor blurred.
FAULT: You are looking through bottom of empty glass.
ACTION: Get someone to buy you another beer.

SYMPTOM: Floor moving.
FAULT: You are being carried out.
ACTION: Find out if you are being taken to another bar.

SYMPTOM: Beer is crystal-clear.
FAULT: It's water. Somebody is trying to sober you up.
ACTION: Punch him.

SYMPTOM: Don't recognize anyone, don't recognize the room you're in.
FAULT: You've wandered into the wrong party.
ACTION: See if they have free beer.

SYMPTOM: Your singing sounds distorted.
FAULT: The beer is too weak.
ACTION: Have more beer until your voice improves.

SYMPTOM: Don't remember the words to the song.
FAULT: Beer is just right.
ACTION: Play air guitar.

I eat $150 dollar mangos all the time in Japan

Saw this at Sogo the other day. This was a mango they were charging 10500 yen for. I just about died when I saw the price. It wasn't even that big or juicy looking. Some people have more money than sense I guess....

￥10500 = $104.30US

￥10500 = $147.30AUS

Ballast Point

Ballast Point Beers outta San Diego are making their way to Japan, thanks to Andrew of Nagano Trading. I am the first to admit I have yet to put a BP to my lips, but I'm looking forward to having more than my share at the Welcome Party for Ballast Point in Tokyo. All I can say is welcome to Japan and I look forward to downing my share of West Coast goodness!

In honour of this I present my 5 favourite japanese brews that could stand up to anything produced in America at the moment...

1. Shiga Kogen House IPA - This is Japan's equivalent to a Pliny from Russian River. Not overpowering, but BIG BIG BIG. Very well balanced for a DIPA.

2. Hakusakien Super Vintage Ale - This is more like a port than a beer. Super smooth and alcoholy at 14.3%. Try the raisin version for extra OOOMMMPHHH.

3.Yona Yona/Tokyo Black - My two favourite readily available brews. Yona is perhaps one of the best pale ales I've ever had and Tokyo is a dark dream. Both amazingly flavourful for 5%.

4. Swan Lake Amber Ale - This is how to make an Amber ale. Full bodied and moreish with delicious caramel tones. 

5. Fujizakura Weizen - When I feel like a German this is the brewery to turn to. Their Weizen is the best I've ever had, Japanese or otherwise.

These are all year round beers. If I turned to specials I would include Shiga Kogen and Baird's Imperial Stouts...but then I am biased towards the dark lord of beers;)

Aussie Beer

Just got back from my Brother's Wedding on the Gold Coast (Australia). Great time had by all but I'm due a good rest now. Hopefully I'll post some pics when available...

On the night before the Wedding I was lucky enough to hit up a great bar in the Jupiter's Casino (!?) that has a focus on craft brews from Australia! Had a great time downing a few with my bro and his other best man Glen. It was a british themed bar by the name of the Prince Albert. They even served sausage by the meter!! Any way here are a few of the brews I tried..

• Alpha Pale Ale by Matilda Brewery (8/10) - Nice bitter APA, would stand up to a lot of Americans I've had


• Sheaf Stout by CUB (8/10) - Fantastically smooth Foreign Stout by one of the Majors!


• Pepperjack Ale (6.5/10)- Apparently they mix wine in this...It got better as it warmed


• Hightail Ale by Mountain Goat (7/10)- A nice smooth, caramely ale


• Little Creatures Pale Ale by Little Creatures(7/10)- Very fruity and a bit light but still great


• Fat Yak by Matilda Bay (5/10) - A bit disappointing no real life here


• IPA by James Squire (5.5/10)- A decent take on the style, but I've had better

To be honest I was a bit worried the quality would be a bit low after gorging myself recently on American and Japanese Craft beer, but in general the quality was quite good. Not world beating, but a good start. I think it is similar to Japan 5 years ago. Still learning the trade and in the years to come we could see an explosion of great beers from the Land Down Under! I look forward to trying more Aussie craft beer (and a Fosters or two - hahahaha)!

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