Job Discussion Forums

matador · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 281

I always really enjoyed those Autumnal beer brews from Kirin, Asahi, etc. They would be sold around September ish time and always be something I relished about Japan.

Only in Japan!

Now I am in HK and my wife goes over to Tokyo now and then on biz. She told me that on her last trip last week she didnt see any commercials for the brew or the brew itself in any shops!

Say it aint so!

A case of the new cost cutting in Japan or just my wife not looking in the right place?

Cheers (...I hope)

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

Don't know about the rest of Japan but there's plenty of it in Nagano! Looking forward to a couple of cans after work in fact!

matador · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 281

I am totally jealous of you! Who does the best brew...Kirin...Asahi...Sapporo?

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

The only one I've seen is Kirin, and while I reckon it tastes pretty similar at 6% it has a slightly bigger kick!

Was down at the Yebisu Beer factory in Tokyo a few weeks ago and did a little testing session. They had this great beer (in a red can I think) which was English Ale style. I've never once seen it on general sale. Such a disappointment!

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

Suntory and Kirin have autumn beers and they can be found at some supermarkets, but often I saw them in 6 packs only, and they were not in refrigeration.

The Ebisu in the red can is seasonal. It should start being sold soon.

Gaijinheadpothead · Joined: 08 Sep 2009 Posts: 27

Autum beers??!! Razz

God bless em! There's　always something to look forward to in Japan.

Cool Teacher · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:37 pm Post subject:

I once had the red Yebisu in Sapporro at their beer factory they had there and that was great!!! Cool

These days I only drink Yebisu beer. The other stuff taskes too week. Confused

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

yes, it is true. I just drank a Yukata, which is a haposhu. It is weak, but my wife likes it. Even my in-laws think real beer is too strong.

desu · Joined: 14 Apr 2009 Posts: 38

Forget seasonal brew, any of you who haven't already tried it, you have to try what might just be Japan's finest beer (and may very well compete with some of the European brews as well) - Hitachino (sometimes called Nest Beer).

Frustatingly enough, even fairly locally the beer still commands Import prices, but by the same token it may for me be the one beer that is truly exceptionally tasty from Japan.

Just watch out for the White Ale, I personally find it has a kind of strange aftertaste (by contrast the Weizen is delicious, comparable to any German or Belgian Weizen beer like Hacker-Pschorr or Hoegarden)

robertokun · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 199

Anybody had Sapporo Hokkaido Namashibori? I had it years ago around November if I remember correctly. I haven't seen it this year since I've been back, so I was wondering if it was seasonal and am hoping it comes back. I think the can was white with a blue star or blue background around the star-- can't remember for sure though.

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

from October 9th to the 18th there is Yokohama Octoberfest at Aka Renga.
It is put on by a Japanese owner of German restaurants.

I recommend it.

Gaijinheadpothead · Joined: 08 Sep 2009 Posts: 27

How big is this 'Octoberfest'??

It sounds very intriguing!!

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

it does get crowded. The Yokohama one is the most popular.
It has expanded and now it is also held at Hibiya, in Shizuoka, Niigata and Nagano every year.

There is Japanese beer from the main brewers and from microbrewers.

The German stuff is from Spaten, Erdinger and another one. It starts with K.

There is German wine too, and lots of different food.

When you buy beer you have to pay for a deposit on the glass you use.
When you reurn the glass, you get your money back.

To get there take the Minato Mirai line and get off at Basha Michi.

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

Sorry, it isn't held in Nagano, I meant Sendai. Fukuoka too.

There was an article about it in Metropolis and also on the Japan Today website.

desu · Joined: 14 Apr 2009 Posts: 38

Wow, looks like at my supermarket at least, the Kirin winter brew is already in stock! I just got some and I must say for the standard stuff (yes I am really a Hitachino elitist!) it is quite good... good value too!