Japanese Beers

Never really had Japanese craft. Whats a good one to start with?

 

If you haven't had any, start with this - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/697/2013
It's good stuff.

 

I've had the Nipponia also and my thoughts exactly.

 

A nice medium body brew for any occasion!

 

Absolutely!

 

I really enjoy Asahi Black.

 

I live in Tokyo and have been very impressed with the Japanese craft beers here. I have no idea if any of these beers export to the US (or elsewhere), but the beers and breweries I've had the most luck with are:

Sankt Gallen Brewery
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/7464

Swan Lake
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4893

Yona Yona Pale Ale
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3553/10429

Baird Brewing is also very good. Have only had their beer at their bars in Tokyo.

If you're in Tokyo and want a good sample of Japanese craft beer, stop by Craft Beer Market, which is a bar with very reasonable prices for Tokyo, and maybe 30 Japanese craft beers on tap. They have two locations, one in Shimbashi/Toranomon, and a new one in Jimbocho.

 

For those visiting Tokyo, here is a nice little article highlighting some of the better craft beer bars around the city:
http://www.timeout.jp/en/tokyo/feature/5263/Tokyos-best-craft-beer-bars/

I have enjoyed my trips to Popeye, Ushitora, and Devil Craft (extra points for deep-dish pizza!) while visiting friends. If anyone reading this ever swings through Sapporo, drop me a line and I'd be more than happy to take you around my local watering holes

 

That was also my experience. The best part about beer in Japan? Being able to purchase a 1 litre can from a vending machine on the street.

 

The Japanese Craft beer Scene is exploding right now.

I highly suggest following this site: http://japanbeertimes.com/

And then get this book: http://japanbeertimes.com/craft-beer-in-japan/



Then check out these breweries:

Coedo
Baird
Swan Lake
Shigakogen
Harvest Moon
Shiroyama
Owa
Ryujin Shozu
Ise Kadoya
Kiuchi
Toshi
Minoh

 

Yo-ho Brewing has some excellent beers and my understanding is that the head brewer used to work for Stone.

Check em: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3553/

I vouch for the Yona Yona and Tokyo Black. Love them both, although 12 ounce cans sell for $3-4 bucks here in New Mexico. I usually buy them at dinner on the town where paying $7 for them doesn't seem as absurd.

 

I went there last summer and I don't think it's as bad as you make it seem now. As long as you keep your eye out for some craft beer bars, you should be able to find decent beers at certain stores.

I was able to find Chimay and Yo-Ho relatively frequently.

Their IPAs are fantastic. Craftheads in Tokyo is awesome and I was able to get tons of American craft, even trying my first Alpha King. Then I was even able to find Cantillon Kriek and Lou Pepe at a store.

 

Just to let everyone know, I plan on doing a Japanese Craft beer event again and plan on making it bigger then the Italian one. Besides Italian craft, I LOVE Japanese craft beers!

 

My wife's family is in Japan and we visit on an annual basis. Hitachino's offerings are pretty solid with the Espresso Stout being my favorite of theirs, plus they're pretty prevalent in the US. Shiga Kogen's IPA was the best I'd found of that style until I was introduced to Minoh's W-IPA. Very good IPA that can stand up to most US offerings, but is not a competitor of the elite IPAs...yet. Next to impossible to find in the states but seek out Minoh when in Japan. I have 6 bottles of their Imperial Stout waiting for me at my in-laws house; cannot wait to crack open my first. Read some good reviews on BA and it's won some int'l awards as well.

 

Yo-Ho also makes a tasty witbier. Not as good as Hitachino Nest (which is one of the best wits, period, if you get a bottle that hasn't been collecting dust on a shelf for ages), but still excellent.

I've also had the Tokyo Black, which was good. And I've been trying to get my hands on the Yona Yona, but can only seem to find it by the 12-pack online, and I'm not keen on buying a beer I've never had in bulk online.

To the OP: Kiuchi makes some other good ones. I'll second Nipponia, and I actually thought Red Rice Ale was good, if a bit strange. Their ginger brew is also great. Didn't particularly care for either of their stouts or their hefeweizen.

 

Check out @Hiro22251 on instagram.

You'll find a buncha Japanese crafts, sprinkled in with a lot of American craft.

I want that Minoh glass with the gorilla.

 

I love Craftheads. It's my first beer stop when I visit Tokyo and it's very close to my favorite hotel. And there is a lot of great Japanese craft beer out there. Tokyo's craft bar scene is great. It seems like there's a new craft beer bar opening every week.

The Japanese Craft beer world is fairly young too. Only in 1994 could smaller breweries start producing beer since the law was relaxed from producing 2,000,000 barrels to 60,000 barrels. Also keep in mind that Japanese brewers are taxed around $340 for a barrel of beer, compared to about $7 here in the states.

So the downside of the Japanese Craft beer scene is that it can be expensive. ~¥1000 ($10-$13 depending on the exchange rate) for a pint of good beer is rough if you travel on a budget.

 

Sapporo Premium is better than any American adjunct lager. Very tasty.

 

I do t think I seen it,,,but Ginga Kogen " the plateau of the galaxy" ..one of the best Hefz I ever drank.