In the US craft beer world, autumn is the time for not only Oktoberfest beers, but also pumpkin beers. And now this trend has come to Japan—so much so that this October, even Suntory jumped into the act with its Craft Select: The Pumpkin. Love them or hate them—and most beer lovers have a definite…

I have been avoiding this one for while. I mean, what is an IPA, really? We all know the story: in the early 19th century, India was a British colony, so there were lots of British soldiers, bureaucrats, and businessmen there. They all wanted to drink beer, but beer wasn’t made in India, so it…

It will soon be Valentine’s Day, so it’s about time for our female readers to search out some special chocolaty treats for the significant others in their lives—is it only in Japan where this is a day for women-to-man giving only? A bit chauvinist, no? And don’t get me started about giri-choko! But whether it’s…

The category of fruit beers is a complicated one, and until now I have purposely avoided writing about it. But fruit beers have become so common that there is clearly a need to try and sort this style out. Although most beer consumed nowadays contains no fruit, historically it was common to find fruits used…

by Mark Meli Wow, this is exciting. It isn’t often that one gets to write a column about a completely new beer style, but now is my chance. If you have been drinking much Japanese or American craft beer lately, then you probably have noticed the style I am talking about, the “Session IPA.” We…