Home brewing in Japan

[tektonjp]

Thanks. I guess I got confused because you wrote Alibaba, the commercial site, when you meant Ali-express. No big. Thanks again for the links.

 

[sabotenfighter]

Ah yeah, sorry man. I have used the commercial in the past (large volume stuff for work), but refer to both as Alibaba.
IPA just went in primary. Initial grav of 1.067ish.

 

[sabotenfighter]

Does anybody want to do an Asahi order soon and split it? Just getting into prime brewing season.
Speaking of which, gonna make a milk stout on Sunday. Will split it and hit it with cocoa nibs and espresso in secondary.

 

[OppamaBrendan]

I just got my base malt a few weeks ago, so I will pass. Coffee milk stout sounds good!

 

[freshbret]

Hi Guys!

Has anyone of you attended classes at Advanced Brewing? I wanted to know how is the class like and the overall impression of it. They have this new class in Beer Tasting / Tasting Off Flavors and I am interested to join.

 

[Blue-Frog]

I would like to take that (and other classes) too.

Unfortunately, if I read the info correctly,
3, two hour sessions @ 15,000 yen a session is a bit high for me.

I do however think a lot of thought has been put into the class
(I especially like the 3 stage learning process: high conc. / low conc. /then blind tasting) and suspect it would be fun and informative for anyone interested in beer at this level and in this way.

However, if there are more than 5 of us (say 6~10?) willing to do a group self-taught class, I would prefer and suggest that as an inexpensive DIY alternative.

We can create the off flavors artifically (the usual way it's done) and do our own taste testing & learning.

Plus we would be able to choose the basic flavors (like the AB course) or a more complete choice of... bad beer flavors.

Less than 6000 yen I would guess... if anyone wants to try, I'd be up for it.
Chime in here or PM me.

bf

 

[mpearce]

Unless your Japanese is pretty good you might want to pass. I do know that several of us are looking at getting the tasting kit and going through the off flavors. Brendan or I will keep you posted.

 

[freshbret]

Blue-frog and mpearce

thank you for your inputs.
You pointed out my two main concern: money and language. It seems it would be risky for me shelling out 45,000 JPY without fully maximizing the sessions due to barrier in language.

I would be really interested if we can organise a self-taught session for this one. I would gladly raise my hand to help organise it.

regards

 

[Blue-Frog]

You are welcome, Freshbret.

There are several options for flavor self-study.
Co-Operation & Good Planning should result in Learning at minimal cost.

 

[Fastforwardx2]

I would be interested in the Taste Testing but I am gone a lot and not near anyone so I would have to travel to it. That is not to say that if you guys do set something up and it works into my schedule and you have room I would gladly attend. At the very least I would be interested in hearing about how it goes if it does.

 

[OppamaBrendan]

I just racked my American Stout to keg, it was sitting on bourbon barrel chips for a week. A bit of smoked malt in there too. This is tasty! I put a liter of it in a PET bottle that I will force-carb and bring to the home brew contest on the 9th. I have some that I bottled before the bourbon chips so we can compare.

:fro:Anyone on this forum coming to the brew-off?:rockin:

I have a custom wooden tap handle as one of the prizes, and there is a drink card for in it for the people's choice winner (redeemable at Nawlins).
Just a reminder to please sign up if you can make it, the forms are here:
English: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10MefR6yxrxntaWhGUwVlRVYlNFG5ypTM158UAl29JbY/edit?usp=sharing
Japanese: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MCq_sjAcLzvbsWKu869MFtm6pWaUGPan6AFloR2VJXM/edit?usp=sharing
Please be discreet with who you share this with, thanks!

We will be using proper BJCP scoresheets for the contest though there will be no requirement to fill in all the details. There will be beer style guides available to reference as well. This is an informal contest so you will be free to walk around and discuss things with other brewers/judges, and you may bring any style of beer to enter (though winter warmers is the theme). The main thing we want to take away from this contest is constructive feedback on our brewing and a chance to meet other homebrewers in the flesh.

**EDIT**
Looks like the links were giving 404 errors so I think I have them fixed now.

 

[OppamaBrendan]

Here's a pic of one of the prizes. This is a burnt and sanded short handle, the grain is wavy and the softer wood between "winter wood" is worn away so the texture feels really good in the grip.

 

[CB_in_Tokyo]

I would like to take that (and other classes) too.

Unfortunately, if I read the info correctly,
3, two hour sessions @ 15,000 yen a session is a bit high for me.

I do however think a lot of thought has been put into the class
(I especially like the 3 stage learning process: high conc. / low conc. /then blind tasting) and suspect it would be fun and informative for anyone interested in beer at this level and in this way.

However, if there are more than 5 of us (say 6~10?) willing to do a group self-taught class, I would prefer and suggest that as an inexpensive DIY alternative.

We can create the off flavors artifically (the usual way it's done) and do our own taste testing & learning.

Plus we would be able to choose the basic flavors (like the AB course) or a more complete choice of... bad beer flavors.

Less than 6000 yen I would guess... if anyone wants to try, I'd be up for it.
Chime in here or PM me.

bf

I recently took the BJCP tasting exam and qualify now for the subsidized off flavour kits. I can order 1 per year at the price of $100 USD. It takes at least two months to get from what I have read and each off flavour is enough for 20 samples.

So we can definitely arrange an off flavour tasting weekend (there are 24 off flavours) sometime in the new year. If we get at least 10 people then we can probably do it for 1500 to 2000 yen each (Kit cost, venue cost if any, and base beer cost if any).

I think a weekend would probably work best with maybe a morning and afternoon session with 6 off flavours each. With a little bit of planning I think it could be a good event.

Depending on the result of my test, I will also be helping get tests done in Japan in the future so if there is any interest, please let me know.

 

[CB_in_Tokyo]

I would be interested in the Taste Testing but I am gone a lot and not near anyone so I would have to travel to it. That is not to say that if you guys do set something up and it works into my schedule and you have room I would gladly attend. At the very least I would be interested in hearing about how it goes if it does.

Do you know your schedule well in advance? Can you get down to the Tokyo or Izu area for a weekend?

I have been thinking about this for a while but haven't posted yet.

I have a place in Ito, up in the mountains. There isn't much parking but a couple of cars could be okay. As long as people don't mind crashing on tatami I have an 8 mat room and a 6 mat room that people could sleep in (there are three toilets though!). I won't have enough futons for everyone, so you'd have to bring sleeping bags. There are also a couple of couches.

There is a hori kotatsu that can easily sit three people on a side. So I figure 10 to 12 people would be cozy but doable.

If we did a weekend we could have a couple of days of off flavour tasting, beer sharing and BBQ'ing if the weather permits.

I am thinking some time in March of 2015 would work for me. If there is interest, I'll set it up.

 

[Blue-Frog]

I recently took the BJCP tasting exam and qualify now for the subsidized off flavour kits. I can order 1 per year at the price of $100 USD. It takes at least two months to get from what I have read and each off flavour is enough for 20 samples.
...
If we get at least 10 people then we can probably do it for 1500 to 2000 yen each (Kit cost, venue cost if any, and base beer cost if any).

I think a weekend would probably work best with maybe a morning and afternoon session with 6 off flavours each. With a little bit of planning I think it could be a good event.

Yes, that sounds like a plan.
The subsidized advantage helps reduce price per person and the spring date
seems right... March~May

I have a lengthy orginal off-flavor check-list I use sometimes
as well as various files on flavors & tasting...
&... I enjoy consolidating info; so if anyone is interested...
I can receive, sort and coordinate data for putting in pre&post event reading packets.

I am not wanting to buy any new books for a while, but if someone is -
I can suggest a title or two, and any scanned or copied sections from those could be added as well.

There isn't much parking but a couple of cars could be okay.
As long as people don't mind crashing on tatami I have an 8 mat room and a 6 mat room that people could sleep in.... There are also a couple of couches.
~
If we did a weekend we could have a couple of days of off flavour tasting, beer sharing and BBQ'ing

Sofa's good. I can sleep almost anywhere if its not too cold.
With 2 rooms, might want to designate one for light sleepers...
(I keep hearing complaints from people sensitive to snoring ;
Strange, I never hear anything!

If there is an oven, I could bake some German Rye Bread, Plain Pizza, or something.

Just to clarify, Tokyo, IZU, ITO are all different locations?

 

[CB_in_Tokyo]

There is an Electric Microwave/Oven. There is an upstairs room (6 mats) and then the main floor.

Yeah Ito is in Izu, about 100 KMs SSW of Tokyo.

 

[Fastforwardx2]

CB_in_Tokyo ....... I am in Vietnam right now so I am not too sure on my schedule but in February I will be in Thailand possibly so if it was the end of March I might be able to do it.

 

[Blue-Frog]

ffx2

You wouldn't be in Saigon by any chance would you?

bf

 

[Fastforwardx2]

I can't really get into the specifics of were I am but I am gonna be in the jungle for the next month in the north..... won't have internet net there to get on HBT lol

But I have a copy of "Tasting Beer: An Insider's Guide to the World's Greatest Drink" by Randy Mosher to keep me company. I hope it is a good read.

 

[freshbret]

:fro:Anyone on this forum coming to the brew-off?:rockin:

I signed-up as a volunteer since my beer would not make it on the 9th.
It would be a pleasure to meet fellow brewers for the first time.

 

[freshbret]

Do you know your schedule well in advance? Can you get down to the Tokyo or Izu area for a weekend?

I have been thinking about this for a while but haven't posted yet.

I have a place in Ito, up in the mountains. There isn't much parking but a couple of cars could be okay. As long as people don't mind crashing on tatami I have an 8 mat room and a 6 mat room that people could sleep in (there are three toilets though!). I won't have enough futons for everyone, so you'd have to bring sleeping bags. There are also a couple of couches.

There is a hori kotatsu that can easily sit three people on a side. So I figure 10 to 12 people would be cozy but doable.

If we did a weekend we could have a couple of days of off flavour tasting, beer sharing and BBQ'ing if the weather permits.

I am thinking some time in March of 2015 would work for me. If there is interest, I'll set it up.

Ill help organize this CB_in_Tokyo!

 

[CB_in_Tokyo]

Ill help organize this CB_in_Tokyo!

Awesome, Thanks!

According to the BJCP site I am able to place my order for the off flavour kit, but according to the rules I need to be recognized or above. As I don't have my score back yet, it is a bit grey whether or not I can order yet. I will keep everyone advised.

 

[espyusmc]

Hello all,

I recently moved to Japan and am looking to contribute to the underground homebrewing scene. I haven't read the entire thread but I'm in the Hiroshima area (Iwakuni) if there's anyone near that wants to brew/swap beers. I really like the idea of the weekend brewcation; however, Tokyo is quite a ways north. Just wanted to introduce myself to the fellow homebrewers in Japan. Last weekend I brewed a Chocolate Cherry Porter and have a Japanese version of SD-SLIM's Lemon-lime Hefe on deck. Good times! Also, I'm a newly Certified BJCP judge if you need assistance with the off flavor kit or anything else. Happy Brewing.

 

[OppamaBrendan]

Hi espyusmc! Welcome to the big Japan thread! You can use the search feature to find things within this rambling conversation if that helps you skip the reading. There is a link to a document in the first post that contains some useful (though somewhat dated) information.
Cheers!
B

 

[CB_in_Tokyo]

Welcome to Japan espyusmc. Congrats on your BJCP certification. I am eagerly awaiting the results of my test (Taken September 6th). How long did it take you to get your results back?

 

[OppamaBrendan]

A huge thanks to everyone who participated in the Brew Off today in Yokosuka! Freshbret you were a load of help thank you for volunteering!
Great fun and good to see everyone that could make it!

 

[espyusmc]

Thanks all. I appreciate the warm welcome. It took 6 months on the nose to receive my first exam results. I took a second exam on 10 May 14, and I'm still awaiting the results. I expect they should be out soon as 10 Nov will be the 6 month mark. I was fortunate this summer, my wife gave me a pass to go to the NHC in Grand Rapids, MI. At the BJCP meeting they mentioned the extreme backlog of exams and a way forward to fix this specific issue; however, because the exam graders are volunteers it was doubtful if any fix would work. I'd expect sometime in March 15 for your results. That being said, I'll let you know when I get mine so you have a better baseline on what is the current wait.

 

[mpearce]

Welcome espyusmc,

Hope you have a good time here. Unfortunately for you most of us are in the Tokyo area. If you ever find yourself in the area let us know.

 

[espyusmc]

Welcome to Japan espyusmc. Congrats on your BJCP certification. I am eagerly awaiting the results of my test (Taken September 6th). How long did it take you to get your results back?

Just received the results from my second exam, 6 months to the day.

 

[Funkychef]

Who lives in Nagano in the alps? Just making sure all are ok??


Drink more coffee and do stupid things faster