Microbrews in Japan: a pictorial

[A4J]

My wife is Japanese and still has family back in Japan so we try to go there as much as possible. I've been there 6 times now and now that I know what to look for, it's getting easier and easier to find some decent brews. If you ever get a chance to go to Japan and want microbrew, ask for ji biiru (地ビー&#12523.

My wife is from Hokkaido, the northernmost island, so my report is going to mostly about brews from around the Sapporo area.

Here's what you would find at a typical convenience store [this just happens to be at 7-11]

Untitled by jgalvan, on Flickr

Jack Daniels in a can! by jgalvan, on Flickr

This was at a grocery store.

Untitled by jgalvan, on Flickr

Many people have probably heard about Baird Brewery [Stone's collaboration Green Tea IPA]. They have a few taprooms around Tokyo, but I never got a chance to visit. Instead, I just order their beer online and get it delivered to my in-laws. Here's what I tried.
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Angry Boy Brown Ale (Baird Brewery) by jgalvan, on Flickr

Single Take Session Ale (Baird Brewery) by jgalvan, on Flickr


ji fubuki [blizzard ale, brewed at a temple] by jgalvan, on Flickr


Onamu IPA by jgalvan, on Flickr


Kurube Beer by jgalvan, on Flickr


Otaru beers by jgalvan, on Flickr
(l-r) pilsner, wheat, dunkel


Onuma Kolsch by jgalvan, on Flickr


Otaru Kolsch by jgalvan, on Flickr


Unazuki Kolsch by jgalvan, on Flickr


Unazuki Altbier by jgalvan, on Flickr


Unazuki Beers by jgalvan, on Flickr
(l - r) Kolsch (blue label), bock (purple label and in the glasses)

 

[ChessRockwell]

Whoa, they still have Zima there??

Pretty cool though, some of those look interesting!

 

[weirdboy]

Cool pictures.

Do you know where the jifubuki (地吹&#38634 is made? You said it's made by a temple, but which one?

It seems like there are a lot of altbiers there nowadays. I seem to recall reading that it was a popular style in Japan maybe 20-30 years ago in one of Michael Jackson's books, and looks like maybe it's making a comeback. Also I noticed 2-3 kolsch beers in your pics. Good fit for people used to drinking Asahi/Kirin/etc.

What kind of beer is that kurube? From the name I am thinking something dark...

Also, it's Onuma, not Onamu.　On their website they only list Kolsch, Alt, and IPA. Do you know when they started selling the others?

 

[BradleyBrew]

awesome! those looks good. I went to Mt. Fuji for cold weather training in the Marine Corps. Do they still have beer vending machines? They had them in the early 2000's!

 

[A4J]

Do you know where the jifubuki (地吹&#38634 is made? You said it's made by a temple, but which one?

baikouzan soutoku temple (崇徳&#23546

What kind of beer is that kurube? From the name I am thinking something dark...

I have limited experience in beer types so it would be hard for me to definitively say what it is [plus, that was actually last year and I didn't write down any notes on the tasting experience]. I remember thinking it would be an IPA by the picture of the hops on the label, but it was nowhere near as hoppy as I was expecting to be. It was copper colored.

Also, it's Onuma, not Onamu.　On their website they only list Kolsch, Alt, and IPA. Do you know when they started selling the others?

beats me. I only tried the Kolsch and IPA. Are you referring to the Otaru beers?

 

[A4J]

found a couple more pics

Otaru Schwarbier by jgalvan, on Flickr
at the Leibspeise brewpub in Sapporo.... I missed it, but they have all-you-can-drink every other Friday for 1800JPY (approx $20).


Beer selection at a Japanese grocery store by jgalvan, on Flickr


Bellevue Kriek by jgalvan, on Flickr
on tap at one of the restaurant at the Chitose-Sapporo Airport

 

[ShizuokaBrad]

Otaru has a couple of good beers! I was there two winters ago on a snowboarding trip around Hokkaido. The Baird beer you mentioned is great... and the original Taproom is only a 10 minute bicycle ride from my house!

BTW, in that first photo, not a single can on those shelves is beer. They are all called Happoshu, a wicked concoction of hangover inducing death. (almost)

 

[weirdboy]

My wife did a brewery tour some months ago when visiting her family, and one of the beers they had for tasting was the Belle Vue. It was by far her favorite. I haven't had one yet, but I have to assume it is more akin to the Lindemans-style lambic than something like a Cantillon.