Alright fellow freaks. This one is for the hardcore tickers out there (like myself; I admit) who are looking to scratch happoshu of the styles list. If you find happoshu anywhere outside of Japan, feel free to give us a report as to exactly where you found it and whether it was at a restaurant, bottle shop, the price, how much was left, etc. I find that random trips and happy coincidences have led to many a beer discovery for me personally. Hopefully this will lead to some BAs being able to scratch this one of the list. Maybe someone will find it near where you have friends or relatives that can pick it up for you or this thread can lead to a trade. Good luck! (And don't forget to watch the thread, if it matters to you.)
Beniaka might also be available at some Asian markets, along with all the great kimchi, shoyu, bento, pocky candy, you could stick a fork in to. Depending on liquor licenses of course state to state
Interesting, I would not have thought to find anybody actually wanting to find and drink Happoshu outside of Japan. Do you mind if I ask why you want to try it and what you are looking for when you do?
Those who want to try it most likely have a desire to try every beer style listed on this website - or they at least want to try as many different things related to beer as they can. Happoshu is one that is difficult to find in the US. Seems like most people cross this style off their list with Coedo Beniaka, but I would venture a guess that that particular beer is quite different from a typical Happoshu (if such a thing exists). @travelingrant - if you have any experience that could shed light on this it would be welcome.
Yeah, the typical Happoshu is a "beer" that with less than 50% of the fermantables being barely malt. It is made because it is in a cheaper tax bracket from all malt beer, so a 500ml can of happoshu is around a 150 yen or less ($1.50) while a can of all malt Asahi or Sapporo would be 250 yen or so ($2.50). It is a creation solely to satisfy the tax man and supply cheaper product, and most of the happoshu I have had is frankly an insult to beer. I always said that the mass market beer here is a slight cut above the mass market in the states, I would rather drink an Asahi than a Budweiser. But happoshu makes me dream of a Bud Light! All of that said, there is a small amount of craft happoshu, and it can be pretty good. Where that comes into the picture is it is easier to get a happoshu brewing license than a beer brewing license. The trick is then you have to make sure that you are using a lot of adjuncts in whatever you end up brewing. A lot of the happoshu craft guys here make fruit beers to fulfill that requirement. Sometimes its good. Sometimes its... not so good. Hope that helps explain my reaction! Good luck finding the Coedo, they do good work, and are getting better.
I've never seen any in NC. Although, it's not something I've ever sought out (or knew about until 6 months ago). Reviews look like crap too. Maybe stick with IIPAs.
I found this one with ease around Melbourne, Australia earlier this year. http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/865/27510/
I've heard from multiple places that Coedo isn't being brought into the US anymore. I had Coedo Beniaka at Sakura, a sushi restaurant in Brooklyn if anyone in NY is interested in having some before it dries up over here. They still have Beniaka and other Coedo beers there. I am still under the impression that if Happoshu is a style, Beniaka is not a fair representation of it (even if it is way better than most Happoshu). The beer I had was falling victim to oxidation, but despite that, it was a really nice red lager (better than the rating here would suggest).
I found a Coedo Beniaka at Weiland's Market in north Columbus (OH) this morning. It was in the Imports section of the B-W-S department. It was $6.49 for an 11.25-oz bottle and worth every penny.
