So, I was kicking around at Boundary Bay earlier today, and saw a bunch of plastic Sixth bbls piled up. I asked one of the brewers what was up with them. He told that a guy loads up a shipping container and exports the beer to Japan. This is the second batch that BB has sent. They're sending IPA, ImpIPA, Scotch, Oatmeal Stout and Old Bounder. I was surprised, to say the least. I also that it's kinda cool. Anybody know what other breweries the dude ships out?
Devil Craft in Tokyo has been rocking it with getting a bunch of WA breweries over there. I've seen Two Beers, Boundary Bay, American Brewing, Diamond Knot, etc. showing up on their tap lists. I actually had a buddy in Osaka go to the official American Brewing Japan launch party. Heading back to Tokyo and Osaka in April for 10 days with the wife. Will definitely be hitting them up.
Going through Untappd, DevilCraft has had WA beers from: Sound Brewing (DevilCraft has even done collab beers with Sound) Scuttlebutt Two Beers Boundary Bay American Diamond Knot Silver City Didn't see any of their beers checked in, but people were using Big Time pint glasses there, too. Lots of California breweries, Epic in Utah and also Lucky Bucket from Nebraska have made appearances at DevilCraft.
If I had to guess, I'd assume it was Fred, who owns Ezo in Tokyo. Many years ago when the station still shipped pallets upon pallets of beer we would occasionally help coordinate shipments for him, which were mostly Rogue products at the time if I remember correctly. In fact, I'm pretty sure he's the reason Rogue has such a big presence over there and has several Japanese re-brands of their beers like the "Red Fox Ale" (aka American Amber) and such.
Hey gang, Jason from DevilCraft in Tokyo here. My wife is the owner of Evergreen Imports, she imports Washington beers from Diamond Knot, Sound, Silver City, Scuttlebutt, Airways, Two Beers, American, Chuckanut, and Boundary Bay - we do sell a lot of it at DevilCraft, but it is also available at some 30 or so other bars and pubs around Japan - and growing! Cheers!
I can recommend Devil Craft. It's in "Japan Jaunt"; my zine with all the articles [not just craftbeer] that publishers have failed to publish over the last few years. Its deep-dish pizza would pass in Chicago.
