Job Discussion Forums

[mrjohndub]

Is it just me, or does all Japanese beer taste the same, with only minor variations?

I've tried everything... draft beer, bottled beer, canned beer, 'premium' beer, microbrewed beer, even friends' homebrewed beer. Wtf? It's all the same. I know, there's the Asahi Dark, Yebisu Dark and Sapporo Dark, but these are rarely available in retail stores and never found in izakaya or bars.

And what's the seeming obsession with malts? Is there something wrong with hops? Are malts some sort of silly calling card for quality? Just like pouring a beer with an enormous amount of head? Ridiculous.

Obviously, the Japanese did not invent beer. I know that they like to take things from other cultures and put their own little minor stamp on it and call it their own, but it just confounds me that they only appreciate lagers.

Sorry, part of this is just venting, but I really don't know what to drink. I can barely tell the difference between Draft One and any other given beer anymore. Remarkably, I've even enjoyed a Budweiser (for the taste) for the first time in my life. This is, friends, a serious red flag.

Does anybody know a decent amber, pale ale, brown ale, stout, pilsner, anything?! Or a beer with any discernable flavor? Or a place to go get a real variety of draft beers (I live near Tokyo)? I'm going insane. I'm thinking of taking a vacation just to go drink beer. It's pathetic, I know.

[ndorfn]

You're right, I've not noticed any discernable difference between all the main retail beers. Having said that, it's the same in Australia. I used to make my own beer in Oz due to the sameness of the lagers and lack of good dark beers.

There are some good beers available though, you just have to be in the area that they're made at the local microbrewery. I've had some good beers, but not been able to find them outside of place they're made.

Otherwise you'll have to get down one of the imported food/drink shops like Yamaya or Meidaya.

Or get interested in making cocktails, with loads of spirits available for much less than at home, now is the time to savour all those drinks you've only heard of before.

Kanpai!

[casual]

In Osaka its pretty easy to get newcastle brown ale, but as we all know its only drank by old men. Sorry to be ageist!!

kintetsu department stores sell heorgaarden. Not sure if i spelt that correctly but its that belgian white beer for those not in the know.

[azarashi sushi]

[guest of Japan]

You can go to TY's brewery in Shinagawa. The beers are expensive, but quite delicious.

For beers at home I go with Sapporo black label and the occasional Ebisu. I hate everything by Suntori and Asahi, and would sooner quit drinking than have happoshu. International food stores can special order some premium international beers, but expect to pay a lot of money. I used to get cases of Samuel Adams and Bass for about 7000 yen. Eventually, I acquired a taste for the cheaper beers listed above.

Happy drinking.

[wintersweet]

Wait, all Japanese food tastes the same? Was that sarcasm, or do you need a medical checkup?

To the OP, bento.com (a good site) has an article on Japanese beer. I can't say if it's any good because I don't generally drink. But here it is: http://www.bento.com/beerfest.html

[Gordon]

[quote="mrjohndub"] Remarkably, I've even enjoyed a Budweiser (for the taste) for the first time in my life. This is, friends, a serious red flag.

quote]

You got that right. Next, you'll start to appreciate Coors Light.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[Sadken]

Okinawa's Orion is great stuff

[mrjohndub]

[Seeker of truth]

Have you tried the beer in Japan that comes in a blue bottle? It's on par with a German weizen/wheat beer. I thought it was delicious. I forgot the name of it though...it's been a while.

[Brooks]

Ginga Kogen comes in a blue bottle.
Microbrews are good, but aren`t always easy to find, and tend to cost more.
I was in Gotemba, Shizuoka, and Gotemba beer is made there and they have two restaurants.

[markle]

Well lagers are the most common form of beer outside of Europe so there is nothing new there, probably the eassiest to mass produce.
The way I understand it is that the reason there are so many mediocre beers is that a few years ago a loophole was discovered in the tax that kept the price of beer artificially high (most likely to protect sake and shochu producers) The tax was based on the percentage of hops in the beer so a artificial hop flavour was produced and the tax was avoided, which is why brands like Draft one and all the 'malts' beers are significantly cheaper than the older brands

[Big John Stud]

[quote="wintersweet"]Wait, all Japanese food tastes the same? Was that sarcasm, or do you need a medical checkup?

To the OP, bento.com (a good site) has an article on Japanese beer. I can't say if it's any good because I don't generally drink. But here it is: http://www.bento.com/beerfest.html[/quote]

I have to agree with the above. Like sushi taste just like sukiyaki!!!!

And for beer. I find Kirin to taste the best of all. However everyone has their own taste buds. I wonder for those who think all Japanese beer taste the same if they think all beer taste the same?

Anyway go to Kirin Palace in Osaka. They brew the beer right there. The beer there is the best tasting I have ever drank.

[OaklandZoo]

See I'm still somewhat fresh off college, so compared to the great sub-premium brands like Natty and Keystone light, happoshu is awesome. Besides, happoshu is still beer, if the US had the same standards as Japan did, those light beers will most definitely be considered happoshu. But I won't be touching その他の雑酒②

I miss Yuengling.