Tag: bloganuary
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Lunar New Year: Flaviar Japanese Whisky Tasting;
Today, 1 February, is the Lunar New Year. Growing up this was often referred to a the Chinese New Year. Having lived in Japan several times I am now wise enough to call it the Lunar New Year. This is due to the multiple Japanese people who have corrected me that it is not only…
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Beer & Book Review: Home Brewing Without Failures, H. E. Bravery
The book is written by Harold Edwin (more commonly H.E.) Bravery. After a good bit of digging I would not be surprised if this is a pen name for Noel Whitcomb. I make this assumption based on the forward written by Mr. Whitcomb in another Bravery brewing books, Home Wine Making Without Failures. In that…
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The Premium Malt’s, Premium Pilsner, Suntory
From the information page on Suntory website, “Suntory Group is a global leader in consumer packaged goods, producing and distributing a uniquely diverse portfolio of beverages, premium spirits, beer and wine, and wellness products throughout the world.” In plain speak I would say that Suntory produces a wide varieties of beverages that span from Japanese…
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Beer & Book Review: Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer, Maureen Ogle, 2006
The news of Monster Energy Drink buying CANarchy has fanned once again the craft beer purist complaint that another brewery has sold out to the man and gone against its core foundation. This same argument has been made when Bell Brewery was sold to Lion a subsidiary of Kirin Brewing and Goose Island was sold…
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Head to Head to Head with Japanese Whiskys.
We have recently discovered that Flaviar ships to Japan if you have a local address. Flaviar is an alcohol subscription service where once a quarter you receive a pre-selected three sampler tasters and a full sized bottle of your choosing. We began this when the world shut down in 2020 and we wanted to continue…
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Hefe-Weizen, Ginga Kogen Beer
With a name that translates into “The Plateau of the Galaxy”, Ginga Kogen started in 1996 with a goal to brew authentic weizen beers. Weizen are beers brewed with at least 50% wheat grain as part of their list of grains used and can also be called wit or white beers. The brewery is located…
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Beers & Book Review: The Brewers Companion, Randy Mosher, (c) 1993, 1995, 2000
Prior to moving to Japan I collected a solid library’s worth of old and new beer books. The thought was that it would be harder to get brewing books overseas, but I still wanted to learn. I plan to read through them all and provide my thoughts about the book, what I liked, disliked, and…
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Honey Liqueur
While exploring our new local bottle shop I stumbled down the nips isle. These bottles, also called shooters, airplane, mini-bar, or travel-sized bottles, contain 1.7oz (50ml) to 3.4oz (100ml) of alcohol. This is just enough alcohol to mix a drink and is a great way to try out something new. Looking through the shelves I…
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Twelve Drummers Drumming. Fukizakura Heights Beer, Rauch
Traditionally the Yule log was burned through the Christmas season. It seems only fitting that we end with this holiday tradition. On the last day of Christmas the Yule log would be completely burnt and this season would come to an end. To mark this occasion we finish with a distinctly unique style of beer. …
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Eleven Pipers Piping. Sierra Nevada Brewing, Barrel Aged Narwal
Ken Grossman the founder of Sierra Nevada began his brewery in 1980. In a time where small breweries were few and far between Ken took an unique approach to build his brew house. Taking up-cycled dairy equipment he developed a pale ale beer that was much bitter than any of the light lagers that existed…
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Ten Lords a-Leaping, Cliff Beer, For Whom the Bell Tolls
If you have not heard of this brewery you have probably not been to the island of Okinawa, Japan. Cliff Beer began in 2019 and is run out of what is best described as a converted home in a densely residential neighborhood. To get to the brewery you have to travel down what appears to…
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Nine Ladies Dancing, Yamaguchi Craft Beer, Hagi Yuzu Ale
The Yamaguchi Beer Company was founded in 1997. Their claim of distinction from other breweries in Japan is their limestone filtered water and horizontal fermentation tanks. This is different from what you see in most breweries that use the more common vertical conical tanks. While these do take up more floor space in the brewery,…
Luke Pernotto 