Ahh, 24th April, rather a long gap in my beer drinking I know. All is not lost, I have been drinking more than ever!
Today's strangely titled beer is Asahi Aqua Blue, which sounds like a mineral water, but bear with me. It's claim is to be "Clear and Tasty" but it's the same colour as all the other Japanese lagers that I've encountered. It's a reduced malt beer (happoshu) which means that it's lower in carbs (and more importantly for the brewing company, lower tax too) than proper (>67% malt) beers. Taste wise it's ok, no bitter after taste, but nothing to die for either.
Since I last wrote things have been very busy. I now have lots of my own classes to worry about, things to prepare and memorize. Dealing with kids is a challenge (why can't I just feed them beer?) but they at least make me laugh. I discovered a bar where I can get 2 hours of nomihoudai (all you can drink) for 2100 yen (less than a tenner) that includes food. and I now know almost a massive 50 kanji! (only 2450 to go).
Now some pictures to grace you with, see the beauty (or not) of Nagoya in Sakura season.
One of the fancy new buildings they're putting up near the station. Looks nothing at all like that beehive thing that Red Ken built in London, oh no.
Me, slightly worse for wear after all you can drink and 2 hours of karaoke.
Gareth taking in the Sakura and being generally cultured. It's all gone now, mind.
Asahi Honnama Aqua Blue. 350ml. 5%.
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.
