Bier Markt: Nagoya's Premier Craft Beer Store!!

Are you a craft beer drinker that is longing to try some new beers from around the world?  Looking to broaden your beer drinking experience?  Then, you should definitely head over to Motoyama in Nagoya's Chikusa Ward to check out Beir Markt.  Bier Markt is one of Nagoya's craft beer stores.  Bier Markt is brought to you by the beer fanatics over at 23 Craft Beerz and Cafe Lembeek, which is conveniently located about 5 minutes from this store.  Actually, most of the beers that you can find at those establishments can be bought at Bier Markt.

Bier Markt predominately stocks beers craft beer from around the world.  You will find a wide selection of American and European craft beers with some Japanese beers thrown in for good measure.  If you are Belgian of a USA west coast beer fan, this place will be perfect.  Most of their beers are found in 355 ml bottles.  They also carry some larger format beers.

When you hear the words like "IPA", "Imperial Stout", or "Saison", do you think someone is speaking gibberish to you?  If that is the case, then you need a primer on the difference of beer styles.  The staff of Bier Markt are very knowledgeable in pointing out the differences between the beers and their styles.  If you are a craft beer novice, it can be a daunting task in trying to find a style of beer that you may like.  The staff at Bier Markt will ask you some questions in order to find out what beers do you drink and, also, what flavors do you like in your beers.  For all the craft beer lovers out there, the staff is, also, accommodating in helping you find new beer or style for you to try.

It should be pointed out that drinking craft beer can be an expensive proposition for some.  Craft beers can range from 350 yen to 1500 yen for beers in 355 ml bottles.  The larger format beers range from 1000 yen and upwards.  The larger format beers are best shared amongst friends, while, the smaller bottles are great when you want to relax at home after a long day of work.  Besides selling craft beers, Bier Markt also stocks a variety of beer glasses for your newly selected beers to go in.  Plus, they have selected some international food items that would match perfectly with the beer.

Bier Markt is conveniently on the Nagoya Higashiyama Line.  To get to Bier Markt, get off at Motoyama and exit from Exit No. 1 and walk west for about 5 minutes.  the store is located on the right hand side of the street.  Also, you can check their website at http://biermarkt.jp/.  Their address is 愛知県名古屋市千種区末盛通4-14.  Be forewarned that Bier Markt is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Y. Market Brewing: Crafting Local Beer in the Heart of Nagoya's Market District!!

  


   Are you a beer drinker?  Have you been looking for a place that gives back to the community?  Looking for a true local Nagoya beer?  Then, you are in luck.  From the people that brought you Japan Beer and Wine Grillman (グリルマン) and 名古屋クラフトビール専門ビアーKEG NAGOYA (ケグ・ナゴヤ), Okadaya Liquors brings you Y. Market Brewing.

     Y. Market Brewing is Nagoya's first craft brewpub.  What makes Y. Market brewing different from the rest of craft beer bars in Nagoya is that the beer that they serve here is made on premises.  When you approach the restaurant/ brewery, you can view the brewery that is located on the first floor.  In the passageway leading to the restaurant, there is a mural depicting the beer brewing process.

     The restaurant is located in the Yanagibashi Market district (hence the catchy Y. Market).  Also, the restaurant is located close by to the flagship Okadaya liquor store.  When walking in the area, it is hard to miss Y. Market Brewing due to the huge yellow beer sign that signing on the side of the building.  As I mentioned earlier, the brewery is located on the first floor, while, the Kitchen (bar/restaurant) is on the second floor.  The brewery not only produces beer for Y. Market Brewing but also the other Okadaya establishments.

    The Kitchen has a cool modern design.  The kitchen and bar is heavily accented earth tones.  The counter and the tables are made with the same material.  The atmosphere makes you feel that you are seating in a brewery.

  
The beer is the main attraction at Y. Market Brewing.  Currently, there are five beers on offering.  However, new beers are constantly being crafted in the first floor brewery.  When I went there, they had two lagers and three IPAs to drink.   Many tropical flavors come forward in the nosing and tasting of the beer due to the wide range of hops that the brew masters are using when they are constructing their beers.  There are no bottled beers, and the restaurant has no plans to offer any in the future.  The beer menu has lengthy descriptions of the beers from tasting notes to the specific strains of hop that present in the beer.

                            The Maruhachi IPA:  a fruity hoppy forward beer!!
 
      If you are not a beer drinker, do not worry because on the menu they wide selection of cocktails and other beverages to quench your thirst.  Also, on the menu is the listing of dishes that you can try.  The food served at Y. Market Brewing is made to accompany the beer.  There are a lot of finger foods like spicy chicken wings to small tapas styled dishes.  Plus, they have a few bigger plates for those who heartier appetites.

                                           Garlic Mashed Potatoes

                  Spicy Chicken Wings and French Fries cooked in Chicken Fat

                                              Roasted Pork Steak

       Can't speak or read Japanese?  Not to worry because Y. Market Brewing is foreigner friendly.  The menus have English descriptions on them.  However, the beer menu is only in Japanese.  The servers, also, can understand and speak limited English.  Speak slowly and you will have a fun time.

        Y. Market Brewing is conveinetly located two minutes from the Nagoya International Center and ten minutes from Nagoya Station.  Be forewarned though, this restaurant was recently showcased on local TV, so the restaurant tends to be full on Friday nights and the weekends.

        You can follow Y. Market Brewing on Twitter and Facebook.  Here is a link to their blog Y. MARKET BREWING. Here is the address:
Ｙ・ＭＡＲＫＥＴ　ＢＲＥＷＩＮＧ　ＫＩＴＣＨＥＮ
ワイマーケット・ブルーイング・キッチン名古屋市中村区名駅４－１７－６          Nagoya City Nakamura-ku Meieki 4-17-6
０５２－５３３－５１５１
地下鉄　国際センター４番出口　徒歩２分

From the Nagoya International Center station (Sakuradori Line (RED LINE)), exit from EXIT NO. 4.  It's about 2 minutes from the station.


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Dining Dojo has been on a sabbatical!! But now we are back!!

Hey everyone,

Long time, no see!  Dining Dojo has been on a sabbatical.  I have been updating Dining Dojo on Facebook and Twitter though.  To those people who have been following me there, Thank You for your support.

Dining Dojo will be blogging again more regularly.  I have been doing lots of research on drinks, food, and the martial arts. 

With the martial arts three months ago, I have started going to a new gym.  The gym is called TS Gym (www.ts-gym.com) in Sakae, Nagoya.  TS Gym was started by Thomas Stanley, a fighter who competed in K-1, and Danilo Zanolini, a Brazilian kickboxing superstar who is always competing and teaching his craft.  At the gym, they teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, MMA, boxing, and even aerobics.  This is probably one of the only gyms to have a boxing ring and a MMA cage on its premises.  The instructors are friendly, and they really help you in honing your fighting skills.  If you are living in the Nagoya area and are looking for a new gym, give TS Gym a try, and you will not be disappointed.

With the food and drinks, Dining Dojo has been active in promoting the Nagoya Supper Club.  Nagoya Supper Club is a Facebook group whose primarily focus on going out and trying out different eating and drink establishments in the Nagoya area.  Also, the Nagoya Supper Club has teamed up with another Facebook group, the Nagoya Adventure Club, in promoting different events around the Nagoya area.  The Nagoya Adventure Club is a group who goes out and tries to find new adventures and have fun doing it.  If you are on Facebook, check out these groups.

If you have been checking out Dining Dojo on Facebook and Twitter (thank you for checking us out), you are probably aware that I have been actively making different cocktails.  In the coming weeks, Dining Dojo will be launching a new series called the Dining Dojo Speakeasy (the name is tentative).  The Speakeasy will be showcasing different cocktails and showing you how to construct them.  I will be focusing mostly on classic cocktails with some new creations as well.

Stay tuned for more info.  Dining Dojo is evolving!

22 Excellent Reasons to Drink Whiskey from Buzzfeed.com

For a while now.  I have been a whiskey fan.  When I was younger, I did not care for whiskey.  Since I have gotten older, I getting the chance to appreciate the different complexities that whiskey brings to the table.  Recently, I was buzzfeed.com, and I saw an excellent article listing the various reasons to drink whiskey.  Here is what I found.

22 Excellent Reasons To Drink More Whiskey

As if you needed any. posted on June 19, 2013 at 1:40pm EDT

Erin La Rosa BuzzFeed Staff

 

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1. Whiskey is low-carb and fat-free, so your thighs will thank you.

One shot has zero fat and .04 carbs, guys…so you can wear your skinny jeans and drink a highball too.

Source: girlmeetsfood.com

2. The word whiskey means “water of life.”

Whiskey comes from the Gaelic word “Uisge Beatha,” which means “water of life.” That phonetically became “usky,” and eventually was pronounced as “whiskey.” Drink that water, friends!

Source: web.stagram.com

3. In frontier country, whiskey was as valuable as gold.

In 18th century Pennsylvania, the favored currency was whiskey — which was used for cooking, medicine, and drinking, among other things. That whiskey loyalty would eventually lead to the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion, where farmers fought against the taxes that threatened their liquor livelihood. That’s a fight worth fighting, if you ask me.

Source: oldstmaryspa.com

4. Whiskey can help prevent cancer.

In 2005, Dr. Jim Swan, speaking at the EuroMedLab conference in Glasgow, said, “Research has shown that there are even greater health benefits to people who drink single-malt whiskies. Why? Single-malt whiskies have more ellagic acid than red wine.”
That ellagic acid, also found in most fruits, is an antioxidant that may absorb rogue cancer cells in the body. More research needs to be made to make this conclusive, but let’s drink up and hope Dr. Swan is correct.

Source: imgur.com

5. Drinking whiskey can lower your risk of having a stroke.

To be clear, drinking large amounts of alcohol is related to a higher incidence of stroke. However, if you can master the art of moderate consumption — meaning one drink a day — that may provide protection against an ischemic stroke. In fact, having one drink per day is better than no drinks per day when it comes to protecting against ischemic stroke.

Source: imgur.com

6. It also may reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

A 1998 study found that a big shot of whiskey can help protect against heart disease, and boost the body’s defenses against disease by raising the body’s level of antioxidants.

Source: imgur.com

7. Drinking one to six glasses of whiskey a week can lower an adult’s risk of dementia.

A 2003 case study with the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that the odds of incident dementia were lower among those adults who consumed moderate alcohol, rather than none at all!

Source: imgur.com

8. Hillary Clinton chugs whiskey on the regular.

And we all wanna be like Hil.

Source: vh1.com

9. Winston Churchill drank whiskey and water for breakfast…and lead a nation through World War II.

The whiskey soda washed down his eggs and cigar, naturally.

Image by Keystone / Getty Images

10. And Jack Donaghy uses it to help him rule over Kabletown.

Source: speeipsaloquitur.blogspot.com

11. Oh, and did I mention that Mark Twain was a big fan?

Source: pinterest.com

12. A closed bottle of whiskey will be good for 100 years.

And after you open a bottle of whiskey, a half-full bottle will remain good for five years.

Source: web.stagram.com

13. Drinking whiskey is the American thing to do; Tennessee and Kentucky are two of the world’s primary whiskey-distilling regions.

Bourbons like Maker’s Mark and Wild Turkey are made in Kentucky, while Tennessee is home to Jack Daniel’s.

Source: web.stagram.com

14. There are over 5,000 types of single-malt whiskey, and they’re not going to try themselves.

We all have a lot of drinking to do.

Source: web.stagram.com

15. Whiskey might be the smartest investment you’ll ever make. Probably.

Unlike wine, whose taste deteriorates in the bottle, the fact that whiskey lasts almost forever means its value can appreciate in a big way. So, instead of that 401k plan, just buy a couple of rare bottles and watch their value soar! (It’s a whole lot more fun that way too.)

Source: web.stagram.com

16. George Washington, the father of America, also founded one of the country’s largest whiskey distilleries..

So whiskey-drinking is basically in the Constitution.
After his term as the first president of the United States ended in 1797, Washington’s Scottish farm manager encouraged him to build a whiskey distillery. It was the largest of its kind in America, producing 11,000 gallons of whiskey in 1799.

Source: ratpackpodcasts.com

17. Whiskey was originally crafted only by monks, making it a holy spirit.

(LOL, SPIRIT, get it?) That practice changed in 1541, when King Henry VIII dissolved all of their liquor-ridden monasteries. Poor sober monks.

Source: whiskeycatholic.com

18. Cold is no match for whiskey; even below-freezing temperatures won’t freeze it.

Nothing proved that more than when a crate of 100-year-old whiskey was unearthed in Antarctica. And even though it suffered through the -30 Celsius temperatures, the bottles and liquor were all in great condition.

Source: project-404

19. Whiskey is measured in “fingers” — your body is the only pouring tool you need!

To measure out whiskey, all you have to do is hold your finger horizontally against the glass and pour out a finger’s width. Or two, if you’re feeling frisky.

Source: mhaithaca

20. Did I mention that whiskey looks GREAT on bars?

Source: web.stagram.com

21. Especially if it’s served with a bacon garnish.

Source: chicagoist.com

22. But let’s be honest: The very best reason to drink whiskey is because it’s delicious.

Simply put. If you’re still looking for your perfect go-to bottle, scope out our eight favorite (cheap) whiskeys over here.

Via: airingnews.com

Here is the link to the story: http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinlarosa/excellent-reasons-to-drink-more-whiskey

Next time you are at a bar or a liquor store, pick up a whiskey and see for yourself that wonderful times that whiskey can bring to your drinking experiences.  

Dining Dojo Drinks: Kentucky Tea!

Recently, Suntory released another product in the Tory's line of whiskey.  Tory's is considered an economical line of products in terms of price when compared to the other Suntory products.  Tory's recently became popular with drinkers of whiskey highballs.  For the last few years, highball styled drinks have becoming popular amongst the Japanese public.  Tory's has released highball drinks in cans for easy convenience.  Also, Tory's released a line of flavored whiskeys ranging from honey to sweet tea versions.  These versions should not be considered  a part of the whiskey line.  Tory's whiskey comes in at 40% ABV, while, the honey and sweet tea products are 20% ABV.  Also, they are classified as liqueurs.

When I bought the Tory's Sweet Tea for the first time, I decided to have taste the drink by itself on the rocks with a little water.  When tasting alcohols for the first time, it is wise to taste them on the rocks (not too much ice) and some water.  The water will allow the drink to expand and release more its flavor.  The flavor profile of this drink is interesting.  The essence of the tea comes out.  Also, you will notice the distinctive Tory's whiskey smell.  Tory's has a strong alcohol burn when nosing it.  The Tory's Sweet Tea is sweet.  I believe this helps mask the strong Tory's whiskey flavor and brings out the tea a little more.

On the side of the bottle, Tory's lists different ways in which you can enjoy the product such as having it on the rocks, with hot water, or in a highball.  After trying the product on its own, I decided to make a cocktail using it.  I wanted to combine the Tory's Sweet Tea with a bourbon whiskey in order to bring out the sweetness of the product with a bourbon that could compliment the drink without overpowering it.  I decided to use Maker's Mark bourbon whiskey as the base in the cocktail.  Maker's Mark has balanced sweet note in the drink.

Also, I decided to use lemon juice in the drink to bring out the flavors more in the drink by bringing a sour note to the drink.  Plus, lemon is a great compliment to tea. Additionally when I was deciding on the garnish to this cocktail, I decided to use a lemon twist to bring more lemon flavor to the drink.  When initially drinking the cocktail, the first flavor that will hit your nose will be the lemon oils that were expressed by the lemon twist.

This cocktail combines the great flavors of tea, lemon, and bourbon in one drink.  If you are looking for a new bourbon cocktail that is a little sweet and tart with a hint of tea, this drink is for you.

Kampai!!

Kentucky Tea

2 oz. of Maker's Mark Bourbon Whiskey
1 oz. of Suntory Tory's Sweet Tea
1/2 oz. of lemon juice
Lemon twist for garnish

1.  Combine the Sweet Tea, Maker's Mark, and lemon juice to a shaker tin.
2.  Add ice to the shaker and shake the drink.
3.  Strain into a cocktail glass.
4.  Garnish with a lemon twist.

Dining Dojo Drinks: Get curious with Castro with a Curious Castro!!

 

    Recently, it has been hot and humid.  I been wanting to drink something refreshing but a little different.  I have been a fan of the the Cuba libre (basically a rum and coke with a squeeze of lime) for a a while now.  However, I wanted to try something new.  I have been experimenting with different flavors and tastes.  

 

    With that being said, I want to the store and picked up a bottle of Fentiman's Curiosity Cola.  If you have never had this before, give a this a try.  After drinking this, you will not be drink Coke for a while. The Curiosity Cola combines the flavors of cola, ginger, and some other botanical properties that give this cola a unique spicy twang. 

   I was recently thinking on how to improve on the Cuba libre.  Then, a thought hit me:  why not add Curiosity Cola instead of Coke to the drink and see what happens.  The ginger and botanical notes of the cola really compliment the lime and the rum in the drink.  The distinctive flavors of the cola become pronounced in the drink. 

If you are looking a spicy Cuba libre, give the Curious Castro a try.  Here is the recipe for the Curious Castro.

1 oz of Havana Club rum
3 oz of Fentiman's Curiosity Cola
1/4 oz of lime juice.
A lime wheel for garnish

Put ice in a glass.  Pour the rum and the cola into the iced glass.  Squeeze the lime juice over the drink.  Stir to cool and dilute the drink.  Garnish with a lime wheel.  Enjoy!!

While drinking the the Curious Castro, consider listening to this song.

Dining Dojo Drinks: Kinshachi Green Tea Draft Beer!!

On this episode of Dining Dojo Drinks, we are going to the answer the question of what happens when you mix green tea and beer. 

Recently on a trip to one of my favorite stores, Yamaya, I saw a very interesting beer, the Kinshachi Matcha Draft.  This really surprised because I have never seen or even heard of a beer that is made with green tea.  Needless to say, I was intrigued by this product.  So, I decided to pick it up and do a tasting of it.

Here is what I found.

First of all, this beer is brewed by the Kinshachi brewery, a local brewery in the Aichi Prefecture.  The actual brewery is located in Inuyama City.  Also, Kinshachi is owned the Morita Group.  Morita is a well known brewery of nihonshu (sake to those not living in Japan).  Kinshachi makes a number of number of beers ranging from lagers flavored with miso to outstanding pale ales.  (BTW...you might be wondering what is a kinshachi?  Kinshachi are ornamental sea creatures that are placed on top of castles to ward off fires.  The kinshachi is a symbol of Nagoya due to Nagoya Castle having golden kinshachi on its roof instead of the regular stone ones.)   

Second, lets talk about the look of this beer. This beer according to the Kinshachi website (http://www.kinshachi.jp/beer_catalog.asp) is a free style light ale.  The beer is a light brown in color.  Light comes through the beer.  When poured into a glass, the head of the beer dissipates rather quickly.  There are few if any alcohol legs in this beer.  The ABV of this beer is at 5%. 

Third, the smell of this beer is amazing.  The beer has a unique smell due to the green tea used in this beer.  The brewers took pride in making this beer because they used the green tea that is grown in Nishio, Aichi, Japan.  Nishio is a famous city in Aichi for green tea.  The amazing light aroma of the green tea comes through the light ale.  If this was a regular ale, the delicate aroma of the green tea would have been lost in the beer.  The other smells of this beer are usually associated with light ales such as a light bready note due to the malt and wheat used in making of the beer.  It is a great smelling beer.

Fourth, the taste is uniquely familiar and different at the same time.  At the front of the mouth, the light malty taste of the beer will hit your taste buds.  Then in the middle of the mouth, you will find hints of the green tea laden throughout the beer.  At the end of the mouth, you will find a hint of bitterness due to the hops.  This is not by no means an overpowering beer.  The light beer really accompanies the green tea rather nicely.

If you are looking a for a unique drinking experience, give this beer a try.  This beer would be great on a cool summers night. 

Cheers!!  Enjoy the video!!