15 replies to this topic

[chuck_d]

https://www.huffingt..._b_660810.htmlI just started reading it, but thought you all might like to read it.

[3rd party JKor]

Cool article.

[cj in j]

Thanks for posting the link — it’s great to get publicity for our small brewery, no matter where in the world it comes from!

[ncbeerbrewer]

Cool Article. Good to see craft beer growing in other areas outside the USA and pretty neat to know someone from here (CJ) is a part of that. Congrats and continued successes!!Mike

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Cool Article. Good to see craft beer growing in other areas outside the USA and pretty neat to know someone from here (CJ) is a part of that. Congrats and continued successes!!Mike

+1 to all of that

[BarelyBrews]

With your quality products and time,sounds like there is great market opportunity in japan.

[cj in j]

Yes, but the Japanese beer drinker is relatively unsophisticated and needs to be educated. That's not happening for the most part -- most breweries are just putting out crap that they imagine the public will enjoy -- in other words, beers that are light in flavor and color just like the Kirin, Sapporo or Asahi that people are used to. But they don't do as good a job with these lighter beers, so beer drinkers reject them. A handful of good breweries, like us <grin>, are putting effort into making a variety of flavorful beers and then getting the word out. It's a long-term project, but our success so far shows that it can be done. The next ten years will be major!For more on this, check out the interview in Japan Beer Times.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Yes, but the Japanese beer drinker is relatively unsophisticated and needs to be educated. That's not happening for the most part -- most breweries are just putting out crap that they imagine the public will enjoy -- in other words, beers that are light in flavor and color just like the Kirin, Sapporo or Asahi that people are used to. But they don't do as good a job with these lighter beers, so beer drinkers reject them. A handful of good breweries, like us <grin>, are putting effort into making a variety of flavorful beers and then getting the word out. It's a long-term project, but our success so far shows that it can be done. The next ten years will be major!For more on this, check out the interview in Japan Beer Times.

If I ever make it to Japan you can be sure I'll be stopping in.

[Stout_fan]

Kewl,Baird is a fellow JHU Alumni.Now who's this CJ cat? :PHope things are going well in Japan there CJ.

[cj in j]

Very well. Our 3rd pub had its 1st Anniversary today (and tomorrow, if anyone's in town), and things are absolutely rockin'! Unfortunately, I fell asleep on the Bullet Train and overrode my stop by 45 minutes -- which meant an extra 45 minutes plus waiting time to get back home. But it was all worth it. Cheers!

[cj in j]

If I ever make it to Japan you can be sure I'll be stopping in.

If you don't, I'll be pissed! Anyone who makes it to Japan without stopping by is doing themselves a disservice. Truly!

[MtnBrewer]

Yes, but the Japanese beer drinker is relatively unsophisticated and needs to be educated. That's not happening for the most part -- most breweries are just putting out crap that they imagine the public will enjoy -- in other words, beers that are light in flavor and color just like the Kirin, Sapporo or Asahi that people are used to. But they don't do as good a job with these lighter beers, so beer drinkers reject them. A handful of good breweries, like us <grin>, are putting effort into making a variety of flavorful beers and then getting the word out. It's a long-term project, but our success so far shows that it can be done. The next ten years will be major!For more on this, check out the interview in Japan Beer Times.

CJ if it can be done in America, it can be done in Japan.

[cj in j]

Very true, but in the US you had tons of homebrewers in the early days starting small breweries and getting the word out. Here homebrewing is still illegal and the laws for starting a new brewery are severe. So, while it can and is being done, the efforts are coming from relatively few breweries, which is why it's taking a lot longer to get momentum. In our particular brewery's case, it looks like we've turned the corner and can now ride the wave to the next level -- that's when we can really kick ass!

[MtnBrewer]

Yeah but once you start getting traction (which it sounds like you're doing) you'll be surprised how quickly it takes off. Japan's a smaller country and once something starts to take off in one place it has a much better chance of going viral.

[cj in j]

We sure hope so!

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I found this link in the comments:My linkThis just seems like shameless self-promotion. I read about this guy in fortune I think. Who gives a shit if you ride all the way to the arctic to brew a beer? And the beer he is "inspired" by wasn't brewed in the arctic - it was brewed to be brought to the arctic. The whole thing just doesn't make sense. I'm not impressed. Starting a craft brewery making American style beers in Japan however - that takes some balls.