The Craft Beer Festa Kyoto 2014 was held on May 10.
Thirty-two breweries (three more than last year) from all parts of Japan set up
stalls in the six-block-long Sanjo Association Shopping Arcade.
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Mark Meli (author of Craft Beer in Japan: The Essential Guide)
It
got crowded fairly soon. Eventually, navigating the narrow shopping arcade
became a slow and increasingly arduous process, especially when bicycle riders
attempted to move through the crowd.
Many
of the shops along the arcade go into the act this year, offering a wide range
of foods, from edamame to hot dogs to Kyoto tsukemomo.
Unfortunately,
the toilet situation was unchanged from last year, and long lines soon appeared
at the one public toilet (located in a public park). A steady stream of
imbibers invaded the nearby Seiyu supermarket to use their restrooms. The Seiyu
staff seemed to handle this well, more or less ignoring the beer-toting toilet
pilgrims. Well, at least some attendees bought snacks there, along with many
bottles of British ales which were on sale.
Most
breweries ran out of one or another of their beers. In fact, Baird Beer sold
out completely before I had a chance to work my way down to their booth.
Here
are a few of the day’s standout beers:
Miyajima
Weizenbock
Big
banana aroma bomb, lots of tropical fruit in the nose, and some cane sugar.
Cloudy medium straw color. Sugary sweet fruitiness right away, loads of
fruitiness (mango, pineapple, guava), good tang in mid and final. Medium body,
a little rough -- but pleasant and slightly astringent. Very fruity and tasty.
Y
Market Hop Seduction Session IPA
Large
pine/citrus mix in aroma, and hefty amount of caramel behind it. Cloudy medium
straw color, lots of carbonation rising. Thick tobacco-like bittering right
away, light caramel, peppery in mid and final. Aroma-hopped stuff, and the
bittering moves all the way throughout the palate. Aromas and flavors are those
of a double IPA, and this at only 4.5%. A nice introduction to one of the
newest breweries in Japan.
Daisen
G Imperial Lager
Deep
heavy caramel in front of a clear bitter nose. Dark reddish amber color with a
latte-like creamy head. Medium roastiness, approaching coffee, very thick
bittering, and rich dark fruits. Serious bittering in this one, constantly
present. Finished smooth and balanced. Great stuff.
Brimmer
Pale Ale
Rich
malty nose, lots of sweet caramel. Dark reddish/amber color. Big caramel,
yeast, balanced in mid, with light raisin notes and some ripe apple. Medium
body, nice on the palate. The bittering works very well in this one. Tasty and
very malt-forward.
Brimmer
Sauvin Wheat
Tangy,
wheaty nose, with some sourish grapes. Cloudy honey color. Mild wheat initial,
a bit catty in mid (hello, Nelson Sauvin!), light bittering in mid and final,
and a smooth and tangy finish. Very delicate Sauvin notes throughout.
Akashi
Pils
Light,
pleasant grassy nose. Slightly hazy medium straw color, with a very creamy
white head and good lacing. Solid grassy initial, some graininess, gets sweet
in the mid and final. Very subtle hopping. Great flavor changes throughout the
palate. Very well made.
