So, Japan’s best

Reads 2915 • Replies 36 • Started Sunday, January 31, 2016 9:27:52 PM CT

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Message shoulderbroken beers 4258 º places 393 º 21:27 Sun 1/31/2016 I’m sure you’ve all seen the results, (Best Beer - AJB Imperiality, Best Brewery - Shiga Kogen, Best New Brewery - Kyoto), but what do you think? I think I broadly agree, but maybe I would have chose a different beer. Just not sure which one.
Message KansaiBeerLvrs beers 8479 º places 567 º 22:06 Sun 1/31/2016 Never got to try the AJB Imperiality but for me that Swan Lake BA Imperial Stout was awesome. Commonly available best beer of 2015 possibly Ichigo Ichie.
Message maekchu P beers 5664 º places 181 º 02:12 Mon 2/1/2016 What came to mind was Shiga Kogen 10th Anniversary IPA (as the best Japanese beer I had last year). I just checked and found it ranked highest on the best by region section.
Message TimE P beers 8459 º places 409 º 02:24 Mon 2/1/2016 Originally posted by maekchu What came to mind was Shiga Kogen 10th Anniversary IPA (as the best Japanese beer I had last year). I just checked and found it ranked highest on the best by region section. Actually its tied with Hitachino Espresso Stout, which has a lot more reviews. I’d probably agree with 10th Ann, but the bottle version was pretty lame compared to it on tap. Tim

Message biirusaikou beers 2704 º places 329 º 03:10 Mon 2/1/2016 For what it’s worth. from Untappd data, Japanese beers brewed and available in Japan in 2015 with 150+ ratings: 01 - Shiga-Kogen Sono 10 (3.88) 02 - Shiga-Kogen House IPA (3.85) 03 - Minoh W-IPA (3.81) 04 - Minoh Imperial Stout (3.8) 05 - Outsider Imperial Stout (3.76) 06 - Thrash Zone Hop Deicide (3.76) 07 - Shiga-Kogen IPA (3.76) 08 - North Island IPA (3.75) 09 - Thrash Zone Speed Kills (3.75) 10 - Nest Espresso Stout (3.73) At least, the top brewery seems quite clear.
Message KansaiBeerLvrs beers 8479 º places 567 º 06:32 Mon 2/1/2016 I would have said Sono Ju but I thought it was a 2014 release.
Message beercation beers 2 º places 4 º 08:48 Mon 2/1/2016 I had the AJB Imperiality not that long ago, the beer was completely flat. Did anyone else have the same issue? Was it supposed to be like that?
Message TimE P beers 8459 º places 409 º 17:18 Mon 2/1/2016 Originally posted by beercation I had the AJB Imperiality not that long ago, the beer was completely flat. Did anyone else have the same issue? Was it supposed to be like that? Compared to Tomme Aurther definition of an English Barley Wine, it was a hurricane of carbonation. All of AJB beers are very low carbonation. If it was flat then that is an issue. Some people did mention "no carbonation" in the review. Not many people mentioned this, so I wonder if it was only certain bottles, though given the limited amount of production, I really wonder how some bottles would be completely flat and others with a bit of carbonation. Definitely not supposed to be flat, but supposed to be low carbonation. Tim

Message jonno beers 2750 º places 211 º 21:27 Mon 2/1/2016 01 - Shiga-Kogen Sono 10 (3.88) 02 - Shiga-Kogen House IPA (3.85) 03 - Minoh W-IPA (3.81) 04 - Minoh Imperial Stout (3.8) 05 - Outsider Imperial Stout (3.76) 06 - Thrash Zone Hop Deicide (3.76) 07 - Shiga-Kogen IPA (3.76) 08 - North Island IPA (3.75) 09 - Thrash Zone Speed Kills (3.75) 10 - Nest Espresso Stout (3.73) Lowest ABV...7?
Message shoulderbroken beers 4258 º places 393 º 21:28 Mon 2/1/2016 Just noticed the best retailers award. Top places in Japan are Popeye, Craftheads and Thrash Zone. Best shop Tanakaya. Can’t say I go to all of those bars very often. Clearly the tourist vote affects things quite a lot. What I really want to know is WHY IS GREMLIN NOT THERE!!!?
Message biirusaikou beers 2704 º places 329 º 23:35 Mon 2/1/2016 @jonno Yeah lighter beers rarely make the Top10 in any country but Belgium maybe. For info, Marihana, Purple Sky, Kin-Oni, Coriander Black & Minoh Stout are all tied just below Top20. @shoulderbroken Gremlin should definitely get a very special prize: "RB Best Rockabilly Bar in the Universe"! @all So what is your best new place of 2015? I think WIZ is a clear standout. in Tokyo at least.