senbot> what brings you to japan? how long are you here for? i am over in wakayama (southeast of osaka).
Originally Posted by senbot
Dude... I'm surprised the beer is something you miss from Japan... admittedly, I've developed a soft spot for super dry, but overall I would take canadian beer over japanese in a second. Don't know if you get it in TO, but the most delicious beer I've had is KLB raspberry wheat (they're a kitchener microbrew, I believe) although, it does taste like raspberry, so I don't know if that makes me less of a man, or something.
i find the larger japanese brewers (i.e., the mass-produced ones)
much better than any of the canadian counterparts (e.g., molson, labatt, etc.); as a mass-produced beer, yebisu (malt and black) is very good, along with others, including any of the variety of kirin, sapporo or asahi beers. i would take any of them over a molson canadian (or similar brew) any day! indeed, there are some tasty japanese seasonal brews, too.
regarding smaller breweries, japan also has quite a variety of microbrews that are
totemo oishii and rival canadian ones! of course, i think there are a
larger variety of quality canadian microbrews, but this is because of the greater popularity of beer historically. unfortunately, the greater popularity of beer in canada also means that you get swill like kokanee wildcat...blegh! just look at the "top 10" beers at the beerstore:
COORS LIGHT
CANADIAN
BLUE
BUDWEISER
CARLING LAGER
LUCKY LAGER
KEITH'S ALE
BLUE LIGHT
LAKEPORT HONEY LAGER
EXPORT