A detailed report on Sapporo's craft beer scene (is not found in this post)

I've officially been living in Sapporo for one month, but I feel like I've hardly explored the city. This is in part because I feel no sense of rush now that I live here — everything can wait, dammit! This attitude is not sustainable, however, in the long term. Another reason is budget. Moving is expensive, I don't work many hours so far, and doing beer-related things generally costs money. I do expect to eventually check out more of the craft beer establishments in the city, including a bar in a nearby neighborhood that allegedly serves Yona Yona Real Ale. 

I did recently get in to Adanonki, a used book store / craft beer bar which isn't far from where I work. I went along with a colleague who has lived in Sapporo for many years but hadn't heard of the place. We were both somewhat giddy with hops after trying a Mikkeller Koppi Coffee IPA (also, perhaps, we were giddy with booze). 

Elsewhere, after being alerted via the Japan Beer Times Twitter account that certain Lawson's would be stocking Yona Yona Ale, I scouted my neighborhood locations, only to be disappointed. But it seems that the closer you get to the city center, the better chance you have of finding a participating Lawson. I am, in fact, consuming a Lawsonated ale right now. Here she is: 

Stay tuned as I hopefully ventur further in the craft beer scene here in Sapporo and beyond. 

Craft Beer Japan iPhone app from the Japan Beer Times

Those following the Japan Beer Times in print, online, or on Twitter have probably heard about their new iPhone app, called "Craft Beer Japan," which is a bilingual guide to where to find craft beer across Japan. I'm not sure when exactly it hit the Apple Store, but I saw someone post about it and immediately installed in on my phone. 

My quick take is that it's a great platform that will continue updating as new information becomes available. If I visit a big city that I know has a few craft beer places, I know I can use this app to guide me. Further, bars can add their own specials to the app through a chalkboard-like feature. After a quick scan of Sapporo's entries, I saw the Beer Inn Mugishutei will waive their normal cover charge if you show the app. 

Meanwhile, we can expect additional features to be added as time goes by. Craft Beer Japan is certainly worth the few dollars it sells for. Check out the Japan Beer Times app page here. 

Keep Back 200 Feet! And tales of drinking

The night began at the bus stop in front of Ise Kadoya's brewpub. I gave myself enough time t

o pop into the Biyagura shop, where I got to cans of Shinto beer for the wait and two copies of The Japan Beer Times.

This made for nice reading on the short train ride to Matsusaka, where we headed to a friend's pub for what has become a monthly drink-fest featuring an ever-changing roster of Japanese rice wine (nihonshu), Australian red wine, and the occasional wild card.

I flipped through my magazine and read a few things myself, but I couldn't help spreading The Good News to my friends, who took at least a passive glance before letting it come back to me. Most of them probably don't care that much about craft beer, in Japan or anywhere. Others, perhaps, can't be bothered to read on a train when there are friends to speak to (loudly).

We arrived at the pub in a convoy of taxis (OK so just two taxis) and began a marathon session. It began with two glasses of red wine, followed by a cascade of pours from the nihonshu selection. The course was rounded out with an Asahi-produced Belgian style ale, and my remaining drink ticket went toward another beer.

Oh, right. Also we ate food.

By the time we headed back to Ise, we were all pretty well laced. Which, naturally, led to karaoke. We had amassed, in two rooms, by nature of intersecting parties, one of the larger karaoke groups I've seen in recent memory.

And that's where things get fuzzy.


Here also, is this warning, which we heeded:

The Japan Beer Times summer edition hits beer shelves everywhere

With summer comes the third issue of The Japan Beer Times, the bilingual (and free) quarterly magazine about craft beer in Japan.

I popped in to Ise Kadoya's Biyagura after work today to pick up a few copies. Ise Kadoya itself is featured in this issue, along with a brief eyes-on-the-ground report from myself on the Wednesday nomihoudai specials.

I just got done reading through the whole issue. It's great to see such a magazine exist, and it's also nice that content is presented in English and Japanese. Besides the Ise Kadoya feature, you'll find, among other things, a write-up on Helios of Okinawa.

The summer issue is not yet online, but perhaps your local craft brewpub has the hard copies in stock. Go for a drink, leave with a magazine.