So, Suntory Malts Beer, what can I say?
Gareth was ill today, so I had to go to Handa(半田) school and work his shift. To make up for it he bought me a fancy pressurised beer dispensing doodah (see picture) which holds a massive three pints of beer and gives good head (fnarr fnarr). The brew is Kirin Ichiban which is rather a good one, it's a pity I have lots of work to do tomorrow, but I dare say I can manage to finish it. I'm washing it down with half a tiny pizza and some Darkplace.
It's a nice green can, that has to be a good start. I was drawn to this by the promise of hops galore, and I have to say that it failed to deliver. Perhaps I've been spoiled by the proper amount of hops in real decent beers (Japanese brewers take note). Yebisu green is OK, but not worth the 200+ Yen price tag.
On the right we have a prime example of Bintang: Bali's best beer. It was as tasty and refreshing as I remember, but perhaps the 730 Yen that I paid for it was influencing my tastebuds. Even in tourist gouging Bali that would buy 7 bottles. The price one pays for import beer in Japan it seems. (I havn't found any Newcastle Brown here yet - thankfully). It was accompanied by much more reasonably priced burritos which went down a treat. Before that we had massive Yakitori sticks in Osu Kannon, which is like a big bohemian market just out from the centre of the city. You can buy all sorts of clothes and food and stuff. If it were Britain it would be full of stupid Vegan shops and lesbians, but in Japan it's all about MEAT and guys who all look and act really gay. Now I've fixed my bike I'm going to head to an izakaya on Saturday for more tasteage,
I might have mentioned this before, but one of the great things about Japan is that they have beer vending machines! My 20 minute train ride on Friday was spiced up with a big (500ml) can of Asahi Honnama draft. The trains here are excellent. Unlike back in Blighty they're on time. Every time. They never get cancelled and they're clean. Britain take note.
There's been lots going on recently. I've finished training and have been let out into the wild, so to speak. Today's beer is a bit different; it's a dark beer. The taste is bitter and subtly sweet, quite like Mild, unsuprisingly. It's a welcome change after two weeks of nothing but Japanese lager. (With a break for St. Patrick's, o'course). In other news Gareth and I braved a trip to Ise and fell foul of the unnecessarily complicated Japanese rail system. We took the Kintetsu line with a change, which we managed without too much of a mishap. It turns out that there's not really all that much to see at Ise, apart from a shrine or two. So we had noodles, saw the shrines (including a monk in a funny hat) and caught the fast train home. 
The Shrine at Ise
My first beer from Suntory seems to be a standard issue lager. Its claim is to be a 'Lively and crispy draft'. There's rather a sudden taste which mellows, but is still sharp. I suppose crispy is quite an apt description. 
Today's beer is another by Asahi (they make loads) called Gubinama. The can is covered in Sakura blossom, but sadly the beer itself isn't pink. It's a distinctive taste, very different to the super dry. It recorded a 'no - take it away' on the Gareth-o-meter, which is a par score for a beer. It's perhaps a little sour and again not very fizzy (this one hasn't been in my fridge). I'm keeping warm now under my new Kotatsu which is keeping me warm, saving me money on heating, and making my apartment all japanese in one fell swoop. No work today (woo!) as even trainees are given one day off a week; though I do have some homework to finish for tomorrow. Getting back to the beer, which has a nicely decorated can, probably heralding the Sakura which I must go and see, the aroma is almost sweet
Yesterday was my first day of training to be an English teacher; after which we all went out for drinks at Shooters, an American bar in the city. I was drinking Heineken there, which doesn't really deserve mentioning here. I watched some of the Japan - USA under 21 football, which was interesting to watch, especially in a bar full of Japanese and Americans.
