ALCOHOLS - Beers & ciders

Japanese beers have gained in renown and set themselves apart by several specific characteristics that distinguish them on the global beer and even food scene. Here's a quick guide to their specific features to help you find your future favorite:

Water purity: as with other Japanese spirits, water quality is crucial in the production of Japanese beers. Japanese breweries often source pure water from natural springs, which contributes to the purity and clarity of their beers.

Quality ingredients: Japanese brewers generally use high-quality ingredients, including specific varieties of malt and hops. Some even grow their own varieties to achieve unique aromas.

Precise brewing techniques: Japanese brewers adopt precise, meticulous techniques to create quality beers. They maintain strict control over temperature and fermentation time to achieve specific taste profiles.

Innovation and creativity: while beer in Japan has traditional roots, many Japanese breweries are also known for their creativity and ability to experiment with innovative ingredients and beer styles.

Variety of styles: they also produce a variety of beer styles, including light and refreshing lagers, wheat beers, craft beers and strong beers. This gives consumers a wide range of choices.

Seasonal beers: Japanese brewers frequently produce seasonal beers that are adapted to local weather conditions and festivals. These seasonal bottles and cans are eagerly awaited and appreciated.

Awards: some have won prestigious international awards, reinforcing their reputation for quality and excellence. Japan has a well-established beer culture, with beer festivals, craft beer bars and a community of enthusiastic beer drinkers.

Craft beer brewing in Japan generally follows a similar process to that of craft beer in other regions. However, because of their history, Japanese brewers often take a meticulous, quality-focused approach, resulting in exceptional craft beers. Here are the basic steps involved in making a craft beer in Japan:

1. Quality ingredients: Japanese brewers attach great importance to the quality of their ingredients. They use pure water, high-quality barley malt, hops and specially selected yeast to create unique flavors.
   
   
2. Milling: The barley malt is ground to create a fine powder called "grist" or "crushed malt." This is the first step in preparing "maische," a mixture of malt and water heated to create a sweet wort.
   
   
3. Brewing: The wort is heated and brewed to extract the sugars from the malt. Different temperatures and infusion times are used to obtain different nuances of flavor.
   
   
4. Filtration: The wort is then filtered to remove solid residues, leaving only the sweet liquid known as "wort."
   
   
5. Boiling: The wort is brought to the boil and hops are added. Hops add characteristic aromas, bitterness and fragrances to the beer.
   
   
6. Cooling: The wort is cooled rapidly to stop the cooking process.
   
   
7. Fermentation: The cooled wort is transferred to a fermentation tank, where the yeast is added. The yeast consumes the sugars in the wort, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide, as well as aromas and flavors.
   
   
8. Maturation: After primary fermentation, the beer is generally left to mature for a specific period to develop its flavor characteristics.
   
   
9. Bottling: The beer is filtered one last time to remove suspended particles, then bottled or canned in quantity. Some Japanese brewers also use wooden casks to mature or store their beers.
   
   
10. Labelling and distribution: The beers are then labelled and ready for distribution.
    
    

It's important to note that Japanese brands and brewers can make variations to these basic steps to create unique craft beers, including the use of local Japanese ingredients, such as rice, yuzu or green tea, to add special tastes. In addition, the art of craft beer making in Japan is strongly influenced by respect for tradition and the quest for perfection, a reflection of Japanese history, which translates into high quality appreciated from Tokyo to the other side of the world.

Japan produces a variety of beers (ビール, biru) to suit different taste preferences. It is the country's most widely consumed alcohol, and occupies a central place in Japanese history and culture.

Lager: Lager is the most common style of beer in Japan. It is light, refreshing and often served cold. Asahi Super Dry beer is an iconic example of Japanese lager.

Pilsner: Japanese pilsners are similar to lagers, but tend to be hoppier and more bitter. They have a golden color and a clean finish. Sapporo Premium Draft is a popular example of a Japanese pilsner.

Blonde Ale: Blonde ales are golden to slightly amber in color, with a balance between malty sweetness and hop bitterness. They are often slightly stronger than lagers.

IPA (India Pale Ale): Japanese IPAs, though less common than other styles, are gaining in popularity. They are characterized by a pronounced bitterness, floral or fruity hop aromas, and a generally higher alcohol content.

Stout: Japanese stouts are dark, rich and creamy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate and toasted malt. They are ideal for those who prefer fuller-bodied beers.

Weizen: Weizen are white wheat beers with a cloudy appearance and slightly spicy flavor. They are similar to German wheat beers.

Green tea beers (Matcha): Japan is also known for its green tea beers, which incorporate matcha aromas into the beer. They offer a unique and refreshing experience.

Yuzu Beer: Yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit, and yuzu beers incorporate its tart, fruity flavors into the beer, creating a refreshing drink.

Alcohol-Free Beer: Alcohol-free consumption is increasingly common in Japan, offering an option for those who wish to enjoy the taste of beer without the effects of alcohol.

Japanese breweries are also known for their ingenuity and creativity, which means you can discover new flavors and styles of beer while exploring the Japanese brewing scene from Tokyo to Kanazawa. Whether your tastes prefer a light, refreshing lager or a robust stout, there's a good chance you'll find your future favorite beverage.

Japan is home to many renowned beer breweries (and sometimes even sake breweries), and the Japanese brewing scene has grown significantly in recent decades. From Tokyo to Kanazawa, discover some of the best-known brands:

1. Asahi Breweries: Asahi is one of Japan's largest beer breweries and produces the famous "Asahi Super Dry." They also have a range of quality beers, some of which are exported abroad.
   
   
2. Kirin Brewery Company: Kirin is another Japanese brewing giant, producing a variety of beers, including "Kirin Ichiban," a popular ale. They are also involved in the production of alcoholic beverages such as shochu and whisky.
   
   
3. Sapporo Brewery: Sapporo is one of Japan's oldest breweries and is well known for its beers, including "Sapporo Premium Beer." They also produce high-quality craft beers.
   
   
4. Hitachino Nest: Hitachino Nest is known for its characterful beers and creative experimentation. Their "Hitachino Nest White Ale" is particularly popular.
   
   
5. Baird Beer: Baird Beer is located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. They are renowned for their quality, original and innovative range.
   
   
6. Kiuchi Brewery (Hitachino Nest): This brewery is famous for its range of beers, and is best known for producing Hitachi beer.
   
   
7. Yoho Brewing Company: Yoho Brewing is based in Nagano prefecture, producing a range of quality beers.
   
   
8. Far Yeast Brewing Company: Known for its variety of beers, including IPAs and experimental beers.
   
   
9. Coedo Brewery: Coedo is famous for its beers named after the Japanese seasons. Their range includes a variety of beer styles.
   
   
10. Swan Lake Beer: Swan Lake Beer is located in Niigata Prefecture, producing a variety of craft beers.
    
    
11. Echigo Beer: Echigo Beer is located in Niigata prefecture, and offers quality beverages including Echigo Koshihikari Lager, which uses Japanese rice for brewing.
    
    
12. Minoh Beer: Minoh Beer, located in Osaka prefecture, is known for its award-winning craft beers.
    
    
13. Suntory: Well-known for its whisky, Suntory is also a beer producer!

These breweries play an essential role in promoting craft beer in Japan and abroad. They offer a variety of product styles and beer flavors, allowing beer lovers to discover the diversity of the Japanese brewing scene.