A unique flavor created by calculating the combination of ingredients.
Ishii: By the way, this beer is really delicious. I can drink it swishily. This was the original "Flower, Sun, and Rain," wasn't it?
Horizontal groove: Yes, it is. The style is a pale ale, but doesn't it have a floral aroma?
Ishii: Yes, it does have a nice scent. Is it lavender?
Horizontal groove: Yes, I did. Biei is famous for its lavender fields, which is what I imagined. Don't you smell the lavender aroma followed by a citrus-like flavor? We use hops with a gorgeous aroma, don't we? That gives it a deep flavor.
Ishii: I can smell the gorgeous aroma just by holding the glass close to my face. Is there a reason why you chose pale ale?
Horizontal groove: I wanted "Flower, Sun & Rain" to be a beer that people would be familiar with as a staple. Many people think of craft beer as pale ale, but we didn't want to be eccentric; we wanted it to be easy to drink for everyone.
Ishii: What kind of food do you think would be suitable?
Horizontal groove: I think dishes with spices are good. I would recommend curry or any dish that uses cumin. I also think it would be possible to have a bitter chocolate drink with your evening meal. Recently, more and more people are drinking like that.
Ishii: I see. Speaking of craft beers, they all have unique labels, don't they? Could you tell us what you are particular about in this area?
Horizontal groove: With the exception of Engineered Garments, the design is based on the brand colors and logos of each brand. The other key point is the addition of gold as a subtle color to evoke the image of beer.
Ishii: Engineered Garments" has abstract graphics, doesn't it?
Horizontal groove: The unique touch of the artist, who has been involved in the brand's graphics and creations for many years, depicts New York landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, bridges, and the Empire State Building.
Ishii: The style is Wheat Ale.
Horizontal groove: Beer is usually made with barley, but this one is made with wheat. Suzuki often drinks it in New York, and it is a well-established style in the United States. Since it is wheat, it has a gentler flavor than barley. Would you like to try some?
Ishii: We will definitely take it.
Ishii: Yes, it is delicious. It has a kind of mature taste or a calm impression.
Horizontal groove: The secondary ingredient is bergamot, which adds a bit of citrus bitterness. The bergamot is from Kochi, and it is also made by a surfing friend of Suzuki's.
Ishii: Making horizontal connections also tells a story.
Horizontal groove: Mr. Kawamura also mentioned that such stories are interesting.
Ishii: The bittersweet taste of citrus is kind of addictive.
Horizontal groove: I think this beer goes well with smoked meats and cheeses. I also recommend sausages and bacon.
Ishii: Yes, it does seem to go well with it. It has a bit of a wine-like atmosphere, doesn't it?
Horizontal groove: That's right. That's why I recommend it to women. It actually has a good reputation.
Ishii: Can I try the beers from [South 2 West 8] and [Needles] too?
Horizontal groove: Of course. Needles is a lemon beer. Most of the beers on the market are just sweet and sour, but this one has lemon puree and lemon zest, so I think it has a bitter taste as well.
Ishii: Indeed. It feels moderately astringent. But it's refreshing in the mouth.
Horizontal groove: The combination of hops and a nice, coarse lemon flavor makes it more complex than a regular lemon beer.
Ishii: What is the base beer style?
Horizontal groove: Blonde Ale. It is an amber-colored beer with a mild sweetness from the malt. It's a relatively easy-drinking style.
Ishii: The refreshing lemon flavor comes first, followed by the slight bitterness of the beer. It is very tasty.
Horizontal groove: If you want to match it with a meal, I think fish dishes are the way to go. Carpaccio is good, and fried white fish goes very well with it. Since it is a lemon beer, fried food is a no-brainer.
Ishii: It's true. It's refreshing, isn't it? Next up was a beer from South 2 West 8.
Horizontal groove: This style is called Helleslager and is popular in Germany. The hops are also from Germany.
Ishii: It tastes similar to the major beers we usually drink, but it has a different flavor.
Horizontal groove: Our goal was to create a drink that could be easily consumed at barbecues and other outdoor activities. As Mr. Ishii said, it is close to the taste that everyone is familiar with, but rather than being highly carbonated and refreshing, it has a strong flavor. It is a craft beer with few peculiarities, so you will never get tired of it.
Ishii: How does that make a difference?
Horizontal groove: It has a hop tang, but in a good way. You make it complex by making the most of the miscellaneous flavors of the raw ingredients. It is a versatile player that can easily be paired with any meal. If I had to pick one, I would say it goes well with ethnic foods such as Chinese and Thai food.
Ishii: I like the four beers, each with its own personality. I think they are also consistent with the mood of the brand.
Horizontal groove: Mr. Kawamura calculates all the hop and malt combinations. Including the types and quantities of ingredients.
Ishii: That's why it's interesting to cross-breed them. Major breweries make their beers for a wide range of people, so they try to make them as uniquely different from each other as possible. Craft beer, on the other hand, is not like that.
Horizontal groove: It has a charm that is not uniform.
Ishii: That's why it has a unique flavor.
Horizontal groove: Yes, it is. Individuality is what makes craft beer so much fun.
Ishii: It's fun to compare drinks like this. When I went to Portland before, the craft beer culture was just booming, and I went to many different restaurants.
Horizontal groove: I have read that craft beer making has started in the U.S. to compete with the big beer companies.
Ishii: I knew it. At that time, I poured about 10 different kinds of beer into shot glasses and we talked about various things while comparing them. I remember how fresh it was to enjoy the experience of tasting so many different flavors.
Horizontal groove: Nowadays, it is possible to do so in Japan. The four beers we brewed are also available in Japan,mail orderI would like you to compare them at home because you can
Ishii: So you don't have to drink a whole can by yourself. You can share a small glass and enjoy it with friends and family.
