Few, if any, craft beer drinkers in Japan need an introduction to Baird Beer. It’s widely recognized as one of the best and many craft beer bar operators say as much when asked for an opinion. Their impressive list of awards—including three gold medals at the recent World Beer Cup—is an indication of the esteem…
This past April, the brewers association based in Boulder, Colorado (USA) hosted its fourth World Beer Cup. The competition once again highlighted the diversity and quality of this most social of drinks, with 642 breweries from around the world entering 3330 beers in 90 categories. There were also 179 judges from 26 different countries deciding…
This Valentine’s Day marked the 8th annual Tokyo Real Ale Festival, held once again at the Sumida Riverside Hall– an iconic spot most famous for commercial brewing giant Asahi’s rooftop golden statue of, well, we’re not sure what it is supposed to be actually! Artistic liberties aside, the irony of enjoying traditionally prepared and served…
Prague is a centuries-old cradle of culture and civilization. It is an historical crossroads of Europe, a growing hub of economic activity following the end of communism, a marvel of medieval architecture, a dynamic capital with abundant human resources. Prague, my friends, is a beer lover’s paradise. Traveling all the way from Japan to Prague…
Definitions may vary depending on whom you ask, but most generally, real ale refers to a type of beer whose secondary fermenting activity takes place in its serving container. This could include bottle-conditioned ales, but many people (certainly purists) stipulate that real ale be cask-conditioned. The beer is “real” or “alive” because the yeast is…
