E-Malt.com News article: Japan: Beer festivals bring a taste of world to thirsty Japan

The end of summer doesn't mean the end of beer-drinking season. In fact, with the widening popularity in Japan of so-called premium beers, it's a great time to enjoy a brew, Daily Yomiuri reported September 14.

The organizer of Japan's version of Germany's famed Oktoberfest also thinks autumn is perfectly suited for beer.

"We have been organizing the nation's largest beer event every year since 1998, and this year we will feature beers in seven different colors," Japan Craft Beer Association official Ryoji Oda said.

"You will be able to enjoy gold, red, blue and four other colors of locally brewed Japanese beers at the Japan Beer Festival over three days in Yokohama, starting Sept. 15," Oda said.

The unusual colors come from ingredients such as wasabi extract, strawberries and miso.

For a 4,000 yen entrance fee, the Japan Beer Festival 2007 will afford you the chance to try 150 Japanese and imported microbrews. The drafts will be served in 50-cc glasses to encourage visitors to sample as many beers as possible.

"We want people to taste premium beers that are very different from those produced by major breweries," Oda said. "The character of craft beer differs depending on where they are produced. American microbrews, for example, have a strong taste of hops, while British real ale has a lower alcohol content than its Japanese counterpart."

According to Oda, beer connoisseurs consumed about 1.2 liters of beer on average during last year's festival. Though outside food is not permitted within the venue, refreshments such as sausages will be available.

Adding a further air of excitement to the beer festival season will be the Sept. 16 announcement of the results of an international beer competition, in which beers from around the world are judged for their aroma, taste and other features.

Yokohama will also play host to another brew festival, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 8.

Modeled on the Oktoberfest, a two-week festival held annually in Munich, Yokohama Oktoberfest 2007 will be held at the 90-year-old Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.

"We've been holding the event at this historic building because its architect fell in love with German beer when studying in Germany," a public relations official for the event said. "Moreover, the warehouse itself is German in style."

Visitors can enjoy a variety of German beers and wines, as well as microbrews produced in Kanagawa Prefecture. Besides the admission fee of 200 yen, visitors pay a mug deposit of up to 1,000 yen. The deposit will be returned when the mug is.

"We have invited the band Blaskapelle Arget from Germany, who will play traditional German songs at the festival. German dancers will also perform to the music," the official said.

Asahi Beer Co. will hold its own version of the German beer festival on Sept. 19-21 at Hibiya Park in Tokyo.

Asahi's draft beer will be shipped directly to the venue during the festival. Along with Lowenbrau, the beer will be on offer at 500 yen per mug.

Various restaurants have been invited to sell refreshments at the festival. "Seafood, sausages and other food will be sold by restaurants. There will also be a tent offering grilled sanma (saury)," an event official said.

Organizers tout the park as the best location to enjoy beer among the greenery of central Tokyo.


14 September, 2007