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goat_power
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 9
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 Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:33 am Post subject: Homebrew in Japan |
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Does anybody Homebrew? More specifically, does anyone do All Grain brewing in Japan? Just curious about the availability of grain and equipment.
P.S. Yes, I know that it's "illegal"
P.P.S. Yes, I did use the search function. |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:45 am Post subject: Re: Homebrew in Japan |
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| goat_power wrote: |
| P.P.S. Yes, I did use the search function. |
And you didn't find this one: http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=20922 ???
Yeah, this is one of those questions that DOESN'T get asked that often -- but the few times it has, it's also yielded very few results. Why? I image that for most of the nomads living here in Japan, it's a lot of trouble to go to and expense to buy rare equipment that'll get used only for a short time before moving away.
That, and it also represents a very small niche overall, let alone in a country where it's frowned upon (at best) and illegal at worst.
Additionally, you could ask if any of the people in these rare threads have had any luck.
Someone WANTED to do it in THIS thread too: http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=46448&highlight=brew
One guy wanted to open his own brewery: http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=33641&highlight=brewing
I'll do a Google search in Japanese. Will post another reply if I come up with anything. |
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Nismo
Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 520
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:48 am Post subject: |
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| In a country where you get two years in prison for possession of weed? Good luck. Apartments are in close proximity, and neighbors are nosy. |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 9:00 am Post subject: |
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Gahhhhh!!!
This has got to be one of the most annoying Google searches I've done in Japanese. 
Okay, anyway, here's the scoop -- any info I COULD find about it was in Japanese.
For the record, brewing your own junk is NOT technically illegal... HOWEVER, your product cannot contain more than 1% alcohol... And I do believe there is a maximum quantity you can make (which is ridiculously low). Consider those loopholes. But there does seem to be a fairly stable underground homebrew community in Japan.
Alright, on to the good stuff.
Google keywords that may help you:
自家醸造 ビール (in case you can't read the kanji, that says: jikajyouzou and bi--ru in katakana)
There are many, many results. I just can't be bothered to classify, rank and rate them for you though.
However, I will give you the link to a company that does sell homebrew supplies.
http://www.amy.hi-ho.ne.jp/brew/
Good luck. Hope that helps somehow. |
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User N. Ame
Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 222
Location: Kanto
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Nismo wrote: |
| In a country where you get two years in prison for possession of weed? Good luck. Apartments are in close proximity, and neighbors are nosy. |
Yep. As an avid homebrewer back in Canada and CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) activisit, I recall making this one of my first research projects upon entering Japan many moons ago. The hassles, legalities outweighed the benefits, especially given I was living in a town-owned house, so I gave up quickly on trying to brew my own.
I had heard that a couple of gaijin brewers set up a micro-brew mail order/delivery club in Japan a few years ago. The idea was good. Subscribers to the club would get a batch of fresh, real beer every month delivered to their door for a decent price. But it went belly up.
The issue isn't so much Japan's ignorance of real beer (quite a few really good microbreweries exist), but the fact it's a corporatist culture. The laws, tax regimes (not to mention the propaganda machinery of Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo) are just too much of an obstacle to overcome for new brewers, or people wanting to make their own.
If you want to brew at home, it can be done, discretely, but it just doesn;t seem worth the trouble. |
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Hoser
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 694
Location: Toronto, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:24 am Post subject: |
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| Here I am, thinking that this is going to be a topic about playing NES games on your Playstation Portable. Oh well, carry on. |
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goat_power
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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Well, it's a good thing I like Japanese beer, eh?
Yeah, seems like I'd have to fork over some serious coin in order to get started. I'll worry about it when I get over there. Whenever the hell that may be.
Thanks folks |
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User N. Ame
Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 222
Location: Kanto
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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| goat_power wrote: |
| Well, it's a good thing I like Japanese beer, eh? |
Best big factory beer in Japan: Ebisu lager (tour their brewery in Tokyo, nice tasting room)
Best micro-style real ale that has a relatively wide distribution: Ginga Kougen (very tastey, especially if you can find it somewhere on tap)
Small, regional brews can be had, but be warned, due to aforementioned liquor/brewing/tax laws, these micros are forced to charge a premium for their product. A 355ml bottle of micro will cot you about 300-500 Yen. |
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ndorfn
Joined: 15 Mar 2005
Posts: 126
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:25 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, in Tokyo this weekend. I'm going to be there (already have my ticket)... If anyone wants to meet up, you can PM me.  |
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