Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2010/06/11)

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Rainy Season Black Ale; World Cup Soccer; Fish Tap 10-Year Extravaganza

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The 2010 rainy season is right upon us. Given the amount of rainy weather we experienced this spring, though — particularly in the early stages, I am not anticipating an overly downcast season. I am a brewer and not a weather forecaster, of course, and the rainy season means just one thing to me as a professional — the annual brewing and release of a very hoppy dark ale: Rainy Season Black Ale.

New Seasonal Baird Beer Releases:
*Rainy Season Black Ale 2010 (ABV 6.1%):

A torrential down-pouring of hops define this otherwise roasty, toasty, espresso-like powerful black ale. 55 BUs of clean American (Warrior, Magnum, Horizon, Glacier, Santiam) lupulin as well as dry-hopped character from the spicy-peppery combination of Glacier and Santiam coat the tongue with a resinous stickiness that is pungently pleasurable. This is the Baird Beer antidote to the rainy season funk.

Rainy Season Black Ale 2010 will be available in both draught and bottle (633 ml) form throughout Japan at pubs, restaurants and liquor shops that constitute our wonderful and growing network of Baird Beer retailers. Check out the expanding list of Baird Beer retailers on the retailer’s page of our website: http://bairdbeer.com/en/bairdbeer/retailers. Of course, Each of our own Taproom pubs will be pouring Rainy Season Black Ale also, and individual consumers can order online direct from the brewery via our website E-Shop: http://bairdbeer.com/en/shop/.

*Setting Sun ESB (ABV 5.2%):

In case of much sun and fair skies this rainy season, we have prepared a beery complement to that also in the form of and English-style Extra Special Bitter (ESB). We concoct this quintessentially English style ale, however, with our own irreverent twists: addition of German base malt (Munich), hopping with a combination of American (Cascade) and New Zealand (Hallertau Aroma) varieties, and fermentation with an American ale yeast. If you want to ponder a beautiful early summer sunset with contemplative bliss, this ale will get you there.

Setting Sun ESB will be pouring exclusively in Real Ale form from the hand pumps of our three Taproom pubs. Please stop in for a pint while quantities last.

World Cup Soccer Kicks Off at the Taproom Pubs:
The soccer World Cup is about to kick off and we will be showing games live and with sound at each of our Taproom pubs. Just as beer is best imbibed in a socially convivial setting, so too is soccer best viewed. Our Numazu Fishmarket Taproom will be staying open late to show 11:00 pm kick-off matches in their entirety. Please feel free to contact any one of our Taproom pubs regarding the World Cup viewing schedule or to make special group reservations and/or requests.

-Numazu Fishmarket Taproom: fishmarket-tap@bairdbeer.com

-Nakameguro Taproom: nakameguro-tap@bairdbeer.com

-Harajuku Taproom: harajuku-tap@bairdbeer.com

Numazu Fishmarket Taproom 10-Year Anniversary Extravaganza:
Sayuri and I opened the doors of our Numazu Fishmarket Taproom on Saturday, July 20, 2000. This July, then, is our 10-year birthday and we intend to celebrate in vigorous style. Please mark your calendar for the three-day holiday weekend of July 17-19 (Saturday – Monday). This 3-day anniversary celebration will feature the following (with the Fishmarket Taproom opening each of these days at noon sharp):

Debut Release of a special commemorative Baird Beer: Tap 10.
Delicious 1,500 yen all-you-can-eat Taproom buffet (Sat & Sun: noon – 9:00 pm; Mon: noon – 7:00 pm)
500 yen Baird Beer bura bura cups for all beer styles sold at each venue
Brewery BBQ & Open House (1:00 – 6:00 pm Sat & Sun at the brewery — 500 meters from the Taproom)
Taproom sidewalk BBQ (3:00 – 8:00 pm Sat & Sun; 1:00 – 5:00 pm Mon)
Guided Brewery tours on Monday (1:00 pm and 4:00 pm)
Live Taproom music (Sat 9:00 – 11:00 pm; Mon 7:00 – 9:00 pm)
Open Mic Night performances (Sun 8:00 – 10:00 pm)
Numazu is at its best in the summer months. The surrounding beaches are lovely; fishing, hiking and other activities are aplenty; and fresh fish market sushi beckons. Most compelling of all, though, will be the extraordinary gathering of an eclectic mix of wonderful beer enthusiasts who have made the 10-year journey of the Fishmarket Taproom and Baird Beer possible. The Baird Beer won’t be bad either!

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, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-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