Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2009/22)

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin 2009 #22

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Football season has kicked off and fall is in full motion. We are responding at Baird Beer with the release of two more autumn season brews: Sparkling Strawberry Ale & Brewmaster’s Blunder Rye Lager.

*Sparkling Strawberry Ale (ABV 7.0%):

Each year we brew a special ale with freshly picked Shizuoka strawberries. This year’s version is a strong golden ale tinged with strawberry hues of amber that is provocatively aromatic and piquantly tart in its berry accented flavor. The warm alcohol finish will help keep you toasty on a brisk autumn evening. Draught and bottle (633 ml) versions are now available at Baird Beer retailers througout Japan.

*Brewmaster’s Blunder Rye Lager (ABV 6.2%):

Rye malt adds a wonderful peppery bite to the flavor of a beer. Unfortunately, it is wickedly difficult to process in the brewhouse. Brewmaster’s Blunder was our first attempt at brewing with rye malt. I stuck the glutonous mash, abandoned the lauter in midstream and lost major kettle volume. The resulting original gravity, and hence alcohol content, was higher than planned. Nonetheless, we saw this problemmatic brew through to packaging and then lagered it for one year. The delicious result of this mistake we are now sharing with you. Don’t ask us to replicate it because I am sure we can’t! Brewmaster’s Blunder Rye Lager is available only on draught at Baird Beer retailing pubs and restaurants in Japan.

Nakameguro Taproom Real Ale Week

We are kicking off a week highlighting the glories of traditional English Real Ale today (Monday, September 21) at the Nakameguro Taproom. Four handpump dispensed Baird real ales will be poured all week, each accompanied by a special food dish designed to complement and enhance the real ale flavor experience. The four Real Ales to be served are:

-Nakameguro Bitter Batch 014 (Ordinary Bitter aggressively hopped with American varieties)

-Tradition Single Hop Ale (zesty golden ale single hopped with German Hallertau Tradition hops)

-Son of Rising Strong Pale Ale (similar to our Rising Sun Pale Ale but higher in gravity, alcohol and hop punch)

-SchwarzAle (we designed a recipe for a German Schwarz lager, fermented it with an ale yeast, and are dispensing it in classic English fashion)

The Nakameguro Taproom (as well as the Fishmarket and Harajuku Taprooms) will be open from noon until midnight Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this special Japan national holiday week. The Fishmarket Taproom will be closed on Thursday, September 24.

Booktoberfest at Nakameguro Taproom (Sunday, October 11, noon to midnight)

The Nakameguro Taproom is joining hands with the Beers for Books organization (www.beersforbooks.org) to raise money for the Room to Read charity which purchases books for poverty-stricken kids in third world countries. All day long on October 11, the Nakameguro Taproom will donate 100 yen per drink ordered to the Room to Read charity. The day will include a charity book sale, beer knowledge quiz with prizes for the winners, and other fun events. Please mark your calendar and plan to join Sayuri and me at this fun and festive good-cause event. More details will be forthcoming shortly.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company

Numazu, Japan

HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

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Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World

-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours

-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!

-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

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Please check the new postings at:

sake, shochu and sushi

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日本語のブログ

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