thursday 1 Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I like Japanese beer very much. But little did I know that beer was only brewed in Japan in the late 1800s. Quote: Beer was introduced to Japan in the mid-1800s. The American primarily responsible for renewing trade relations with Japan, Commodore Matthew Perry, brought several cases of beer to Japan as a gift for the Tokugawa Shogunate. The beverage was so well liked that the Japanese government soon decided to establish a brewing industry. After an extensive search for a suitable area, wild hops were found growing on the island of Hokkaido, the northernmost island in the Japanese archipelago. As a result, in 1876 the Commissioner-General for the development of Hokkaido founded Japan's first brewery in the town of Sapporo. (Coincidentally, the global beer capitols of Munich, Milwaukee, and Sapporo are all located along the 45 degrees north latitude.) The original government facility was designed by the brewmaster Seibei Nakagawa, who had returned to Japan after studying beer-making techniques in Germany. The first product brewed in the factory was called Sapporo cold beer or German beer, and even some of the early labels were printed in German as well as in Japanese. In 1886 the brewery was sold by the government to Okura-Gumi, a private trading company. One year later, Okura-Gumi itself was purchased by a group of Japanese businessmen, who then reorganized the brewing operations under the name Sapporo Brewery Ltd. A number of other breweries, which would soon figure prominently in Sapporo's development, also were started during this time, including Nippon Brewing Company Ltd., Osaka Brewery, Kirin Brewery Company, and the Nippon Beer Kosen Brewery. Ad here's the very building, now turned into Japan's one and only beer museum Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 >Coincidentally, the global beer capitols of Munich, Milwaukee, and Sapporo are all located along the 45 degrees north latitude. Very interesting that. Too bad Milwaukee produces more piss than beer. Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Beer museum. What a perfect idea. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 there's a large coach park so visitors won't need to drive home. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Where is that then? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 that star on the chimney should give you a clue. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 ah ok, so it is in Sapporo? I thought perhaps there might be a slim chance that Sapporo actually make beer in other places than Sapporo... Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 they do. Sapporo Premium Lager is produced in Ireland by contract by Diageo. And they brew in China too. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Did you take a look thurs? Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 They have a factory tour at the Sapporo facility. I think you can get the tour in English. When I went years back, I didn't want to wait for English, so went on the Nihongo tour. You get free beer at the end of the tour! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted July 24, 2009 Author Share Posted July 24, 2009 it's also got a yummy yakiniku restaurant. Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Makes your clothes smell like Ghengis Khan... Link to post Share on other sites
kintaro 0 Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 I didn't know that Diageo had anything to do with that. Interesting. And if you don't like the Ghengis khan, the seafood is good! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share Posted July 27, 2009 Ghengis Khan, seafood and beer. What a way to visit a museum. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 So does a decent Ghengis Khan actually exist? The few times I have had it in Japan, it was bloody awful. Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Originally Posted By: thursday Ghengis Khan, seafood and beer. What a way to visit a museum. And tabe-houdai/nomi-houdai at that! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted July 28, 2009 Author Share Posted July 28, 2009 not had a bad one yet myself. Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 I've only had it at the Sapporo Museum Beer Hall, so I don't have a point of comparison. I think it was good! I ate a boat-load of it anyhow. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Had only 1 experience. Terrible it was put me right off.That was in some beer hall in Tokyo can't remember the name quite a while ago. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted July 29, 2009 Author Share Posted July 29, 2009 hmmm... I've even had it in Niseko and it wasn't at all bad. Link to post Share on other sites
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