It seems like every time I pick up a bottle of brew in Japan, it’s labeled as having won some kind of award. It’s like all the beers have won awards! I’m getting confused. What’s going on? A.K. in Osaka
There are many beer festivals in Japan. Some, but not all of them, are run by different organizations. A lot of them give awards in different categories, and have been doing so for years. We don’t know all the awards and we’ve never tried to compile a list. It is not always clear who the judges are, nor what the standards are. We’ve heard rumors of questionable practices, but have not confirmed these rumors. Some people have suggested that if you go to a festival with awards, you should ask. Some festivals give awards based on audience voting. Is the winner the best? Maybe it’s just the most popular beer that day. Or maybe one brewery invited a lot of friends. We don’t know; we’re usually too busy drinking. Some international beer awards have more transparency, tradition and prestige. Beers that have won at the World Beer Cup are generally extraordinary. There are actually a few breweries in Japan that have taken home medals. Remember, though, an award-winning brew may not be the same another season or another year. And beers that haven’t won awards are also extraordinary sometimes. Personally, we think that if you like a beer, you should keep drinking it and recommending it to friends. Maybe that’s the best award a brewer could want.
Do you need an illustrator? G.V. in Tokyo
No. We need a masseuse, a beer server and a jukebox in the office. We need a personal trainer when we’re not working, which is drinking. We need a beer chauffeur. We also need thicker wallets to afford these things. Ours are filled with crumpled receipts and point cards. But if you think you can make some kick-ass label art, maybe you should talk to some brewers!
This article was published in Japan Beer Times # () and is among the limited content available online. Order your copy through our online shop or download the digital version from the iTunes store to access the full contents of this issue.