SnobBeerE

Japan Beer Rail Adventure

Day 5: 12/27/2015 - Started the day off leaving Hiroshima early for a short trip to Miyajima - Itsukushima, brief train ride followed by  a boat ride. Itsukushima is a famous Japanese Shrine that covers most of the island it is on, and when the tide is low, you can actually walk out to the large red gate, Tori. Wild deer are all over the town, and are seen as messengers of the Gods in Japanese religion, and are therefore protected; they definitely had no fear of humans.

Followed up the tour of the shrine with a nice local breakfast, fresh oysters, a delicacy in those parts

Shortly after that, we traveled by Shinkansen to Okayama for a transfer to the high-speed express, Shio-Kaze, to Matsuyama, in Shikoku. This is the fourth of the 4 major islands in Japan, and we hit them all. Now this train ride wasn’t as smooth as the Shinkansen, but we were able to enjoy views we didn’t get anywhere else. This also gave me some down time to sample a few of the beers I had gathered along our journey.

Suntory - Craft Select Golden Ale - Golden Ale (2.75/5.0)

Suntory - Craft Select IPA - IPA (2.75/5.0)

Suntory - The Premium Malt's Koku no Blend - Black Lager (2.25/5.0)

Sapporo - Fukami Ajiwau Yebisu - Lager/Dortmunder (3.0/5.0)

K's Brewing Company - The Brewmaster Healing Time Coffee Porter - Porter (3.25/5.0)

Sapporo - Vienna European Tradition - Lager - Vienna/Amber (2.75/5.0)

K's Brewing Company - The Brewmaster Cabos & Honey Sweet Beer - fruit Beer (3.5/5.0)

Japan Beer Rail Adventure

Day 4: 12/26/2015 - Boxing Day - This was a more relaxing train ride day, it really had to be. We took off from Kyoto station on our way down to Kumamoto on the southern island of Kyushu. Now we were able to sample some Japanese beers that we hadn’t had the opportunity in the past, but most of these were from the major 4 (Kirin, Sapporo, Asahi & Suntory). It is the case that the southern part of Japan doesn’t have as many craft brewers as the north.

While in Kumamoto, we had the opportunity too also visit Kumamoto castle, which sustained substantial damage during an earthquake this past April (2016), so we were fortunate there. 

Our stay in Kumamoto was short, as we were staying in Hiroshima for the evening. As the Shinkansen makes it easy to cover these distances, it was really no problem making the trip. On the way up, we had a connection at Hakata Station in Fukuoka, where we took our time and enjoyed some local cuisine at a restaurant just outside the station. 

Once we arrived at Hiroshima, we were all exhausted and rushed off the train, this was not a good thing. We quickly realized that our cooler bag full of about 20 different craft beers was left on the train!!!!! Life was not good at the moment. We filed a report at the station, and they informed us that if the bag is turned in once the train reaches the terminus, they would contact us. So, with nothing that we could do, we headed off to our hotel in disappointment, found a convenience store, or 2, and picked up beers we hadn’t tasted. This was an additional reason why we were unable to sample more craft beers at the time.

We took a little walk from our hotel to the Hiroshima Nuclear Bomb Dome & Memorial Park. It was very sobering, but well worth the visit there, especially at night time when it was all lit-up.

Karuizawa Brewery - Asama Meisui Dark - Lager/Dunkel Munich (3.0/5.0)

Miyajima Beer - Pale Ale (American) (3.0/5.0)

Sapporo Breweries - Brown Belg - Brown Ale (3.0/5.0)

Kirin Brewery - Grand Kirin Fukurou no Mori - Belgian Strong Pale (3.25/5.0)

Suntory Beer - The Premium Malt's Master's Dream - Pilsner  (3.0/5.0)

Suntory Beer - Kinmugi Rich Malt [金麦] - Happoshu (2.0/5.0)

Kirin Brewery - Seven Gold Maroyaka Ale - Hefeweizen (2.75/5.0)

Japan Beer Trip

Day3 12/25/2015 - Started the day off by going down to the morning market to get some fresh Kanazawa seafood. Had a nice hefeweizen that went well with the sushi. We were able to pick up some fresh wasabi at the market to help us enjoy the sushi even more!

Kanazawa is also known as little Kyoto, with it’s many traditional houses and cultural sites. We took the time to visit one of Japan’s three top gardens at Kenroku-en. The wife is styling the Crosby Hop Farm hat nicely. While my son shows what’ll happen if I I keep trying too many beers. 

Later that afternoon, we jumped on the Thunderbird Express to Kyoto to get home in time for some Christmas Dinner (Sushi of course) and open up the presents.

Nihonkai Club - Hefeweizen (3.25/5.0)

Nihonkai Club - Oku Noto Densetsu - American Amber (3.25/5.0)

Nihonkai Club - Kanazawa Lager (3.0/5.0)

Nihonkai Club - Pilsner (3.25/5.0) 

Sapporo Breweries - Sapporo Black (Stout Draft) (3.25/5.0)

Karuizawa  Brewery - Karuizawa Asama Kougen Premium Dark Lager (3.0/5.0)

Karuizawa  Brewery - Karuizawa Asama Meisui Weiss (3.25/5.0)

Day 2 - 12/24: Started off the morning in Hakodate down at the port for the morning market, and some great seafood, and since I has in Hokkaido, had to have a Sapporo. 

Next, we had to run to catch our train down to Kanazawa, just a brief 6+ hour ride.  https://goo.gl/maps/Lji7zZf6u4t  First was the Super Hakuto Express to Aomori, via the longest train tunnel in the world. Seikan Tunnel. Next was the Tohoku Shinkansen from Aomori to Omiya; just outside Tokyo. Then finally onto the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa.

Hotel was in a great location, right in front of the station at the Crowne Plaza.

Was able to have the following samples along the trip

Oirase - Dark Lager (3.25/5.0)

Craft Label (Sapporo Breweries) - Witbier (3.0/5.0) & Pale Ale  (3.0/5.0)

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku (Wakuwaku) - Dark Ale (3.25/5.0) & Pale Ale (3.25/5.0)

Onuma - IPA  (3.25/5.0)

Gran Agri Weizen (Wakuwaku) - Hefeweizen (3.0/5.0)

Coedo Ruri - Pilsner (3.25/5.0)

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Koshihikari Ale (Wakuwaku) - Pale Ale (2.75/5.0)

Well, I decided to do an ambitious beer tour this holiday season. As I was going to Japan to celebrate the holidays and visit family, it was decided that with the dollar-yen exchange so greatly in our favor, we’d buy Japan Rail (JRail) passes. This pass gave us free travel in the Japan Rail network throughout Japan, with a few exceptions. We arrived in Osaka, at Kansai International Airport, on 12/22, and our journey would start the following day.

Day1, 12/23: The start of our journey was going to be quite aggressive, as we traveled from Kyoto to Hakodate, Hokkaido so that we could arrive in mid-afternoon. Arrived and was able to make it to Mt Hakodate for a beautiful night view; evening brought along a special holiday ale.

Followed that up with the tree lighting at Hakodate port and dinner at Hakodate Beer. The one beer that will stand out for anyone, was the Squid Ink Beer, Ikasumi, had to try it, but really not that good (2.75 / 5.0). These are the other beers with ratings from Hakodate Beer.

Shacho no Yoku Nomu - Dark Ale  (3.25 / 5.0)

Ichigo no Hatsukoi - Fruit Beer  (3.0 / 5.0)

Kita no Ippo - Dark Ale  (2.75 / 5.0)

Meiji-Kan - Altbier  (2.5 / 5.0)

Kitano Yakei - Kolsch  (2.75 / 5.0)

Goryou no Hoshi - Kristallweizen  (2.75 / 5.0)

Some of the best ways to make sure you can find good beers when traveling.

This is a good website

http://beermapping.com/

Nice app which runs off of Beer Mapping