Cicerone Study Activity Session #6 (Webinar)

Date: April 6th , 2020, 9:00PM-11:00PM
Venue: Online – Webinar

English below the event summary in Japanese.

英語のみです。本イベントは第6回ですが、ドイツビール・シセロンの教科書を使った勉強会の第2回となります。新型コロナウイルスの影響による自粛のため、ウェビナーの形でZoomソフトを使用して開催します。参加にはスマホかWebカメラ付きノートパソコン及びインターネット環境が必要です。FBイベント参加者にはFBメッセンジャーでビールサンプル表を送信します。開催日までに届く様にサンプルの注文は2~3営業日前までにお願いします。購入は表に記載したリンクからのみお願いします。同じ購入先を使用することで参加者が同じ状態のサンプルを試飲できる為。イベント開催直前にZoomの招待状リンクをFBメッセンジャーにて送信します。

アクティビティリスト
Activity 4a: Fermentation Flavors
Activity 10b: Dunkel vs. Schwarzbier Comparison Tasting
Activity 12a: Bock Comparison Tasting
Bonus Activity: How to Taste Beer

ビールサンプルの予定リストです。
Road to Cicerone ®, German Beer Styles Course

シセロンの教科書に興味がある方は下記のリンクより購入可能です。
※当方はシセロン認定資格プログラムの関係者ではありません。

https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/products/road-to-cicerone-german-course

イベントご参加にあたっての注意点

  1. Zoomソフトを事前にダウンロードし、ご使用の端末(スマホ/パソコン)で動作確認をお願いします。
  2. 事前に配信されるプリントの印刷及び筆記用具をご用意ください。
  3. 必ず開始時刻までにお越し下さい。遅刻された場合でもイベントは定刻通り開始します。
  4. コーヒーなど濃い味の飲み物はセミナーの始まる一時間前までにお済ませ下さい。
  5. 香水や匂いが強い美容製品(ハンドクリームなど)の使用はご遠慮下さい。

出席連絡リンク: https://www.facebook.com/events/211773786808909/

The 6th session is a second in succession of sessions for The Road to Cicerone ® German Beer Styles study aid. Due to Covid-19 and the resulting social distancing, the session be run remotely, hosted on Zoom. Participants must have a phone or a laptop with a web-camera and internet access to participate. Beer sample list will be provided after the attendees RSVP as going on the Facebook event page. You have to order the beer 2-3 business days before the event to make sure that it will arrive on time. I am not affiliated bottle shop stores on the sample list. Please order the beer only from the provided links – we must have samples from the same shop/batch/expiration dates. Zoom invitation link will be provided by Facebook Messenger directly before the start time.
The activity list is as follows:
Activity 4a: Fermentation Flavors
Activity 10b: Dunkel vs. Schwarzbier Comparison Tasting
Activity 12a: Bock Comparison Tasting
Bonus Activity: How to Taste Beer

Notes for participants:

  1. Please download Zoom software prior to the activity. Test it and make sure it works on your phone/computer.
  2. Print out the required activity sheets that will be provided beforehand and have pen or a pencil to take notes.
  3. Please be on time, if you’re not there we will start without you.
  4. Don’t drink coffee or other strong flavored beverages one hour before before the event.
  5. Please don’t wear perfume or other strongly scented beauty products (hand cream etc).

This course book can be purchased at the link below. I am not affiliated with Cicerone Certification program in any way. https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/products/road-to-cicerone-german-course

The registration is going to work on first to RSVP as attending first served basis.

For event time, location and registration please use the below Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/3512834432124028/

See you there!

Cicerone Study Activity Session #5 (Webinar)

Date: March 30th , 2020, 9:00PM-11:00PM
Venue: Online – Webinar

English below the event summary in Japanese.

英語のみです。本イベントは第五回ですが、ドイツビール・シセロンの教科書を使った勉強会の初回となります。新型コロナウイルスの影響による自粛のため、ウェビナーの形でZoomソフトを使用して開催します。参加にはスマホかWebカメラ付きノートパソコン及びインターネット環境が必要です。FBイベント参加者にはFBメッセンジャーでビールサンプル表を送信します。開催日までに届く様にサンプルの注文は2~3営業日前までにお願いします。購入は表に記載したリンクからのみお願いします。同じ購入先を使用することで参加者が同じ状態のサンプルを試飲できる為。イベント開催直前にZoomの招待状リンクをFBメッセンジャーにて送信します。

アクティビティリスト
Activity 2a: Malt Tasting Worksheet
Activity 2b: Malt Flavors in Beer
Activity 3a: German and Czech Hop Flavors
Bonus Activity: How to Taste Beer

ビールサンプルの予定リストです。
Road to Cicerone ®, German Beer Styles Course

シセロンの教科書に興味がある方は下記のリンクより購入可能です。
※当方はシセロン認定資格プログラムの関係者ではありません。

https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/products/road-to-cicerone-german-course

イベントご参加にあたっての注意点

  1. Zoomソフトを事前にダウンロードし、ご使用の端末(スマホ/パソコン)で動作確認をお願いします。
  2. 事前に配信されるプリントの印刷及び筆記用具をご用意ください。
  3. 必ず開始時刻までにお越し下さい。遅刻された場合でもイベントは定刻通り開始します。
  4. コーヒーなど濃い味の飲み物はセミナーの始まる一時間前までにお済ませ下さい。
  5. 香水や匂いが強い美容製品(ハンドクリームなど)の使用はご遠慮下さい。

出席連絡リンク: https://www.facebook.com/events/211773786808909/

The 5th session is a first in succession of sessions for The Road to Cicerone ® German Beer Styles study aid. Due to Covid-19 and the resulting social distancing, the session be run remotely, hosted on Zoom. Participants must have a phone or a laptop with a web-camera and internet access to participate. Beer sample list will be provided after the attendees RSVP as going on the Facebook event page. You have to order the beer 2-3 business days before the event to make sure that it will arrive on time. I am not affiliated bottle shop stores on the sample list. Please order the beer only from the provided links – we must have samples from the same shop/batch/expiration dates. Zoom invitation link will be provided by Facebook Messenger directly before the start time.
The activity list is as follows:
Activity 2a: Malt Tasting Worksheet
Activity 2b: Malt Flavors in Beer
Activity 3a: German and Czech Hop Flavors
Bonus Activity: How to Taste Beer

Notes for participants:

  1. Please download Zoom software prior to the activity. Test it and make sure it works on your phone/computer.
  2. Print out the required activity sheets that will be provided beforehand and have pen or a pencil to take notes.
  3. Please be on time, if you’re not there we will start without you.
  4. Don’t drink coffee or other strong flavored beverages one hour before before the event.
  5. Please don’t wear perfume or other strongly scented beauty products (hand cream etc).

This course book can be purchased at the link below. I am not affiliated with Cicerone Certification program in any way. https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/products/road-to-cicerone-german-course

The registration is going to work on first to RSVP as attending first served basis.

For event time, location and registration please use the below Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/3512834432124028/

See you there!

Cicerone Study Activity Session #4 with a Light Dinner

Date: March 16th , 2020, 7:00PM-9:00PM
Venue: Craft Cafe Imazato

English below the event summary in Japanese.

ブリティッシュとアイリッシュ・シセロン教科書の勉強活動その4。

英語のみです。ビールサンプルの量が少ないため参加者は開催者を含めて5人に限られますが、イベント参加希望者が5人以上いればビールサンプルの量を増やして人数を増やせます。そのため参加ご希望の方は早めに連絡をお願いします。今回もビールサンプル料(約8000円ほど)は参加者で割り勘します。変更があった場合はまたお知らせします。勉強会は約60分~70分を予定しており、そのあと夕食となります。月曜日メニューはクラフトカフェ今里の絶品バーガー3種類もあります。参加料金は4000円(食事代+サンプル料(約8000円を割り勘)を頂きます。例)参加者4人の場合はサンプル料2000円と食事代2000円で一人4000円、参加者5人の場合一人3600円等となります。食事をしなくても2000円の返金は不可ですがクレジットとして使用可能、また追加注文をする場合は追加料金が必要です。ご了承ください。宜しくお願い致します。

アクティビティリスト
Activity 13a: Wee Heavy Style Contrast Tasting
Activity 13b: Scottish Ale Grist
Activity 14a: Strong Ale Comparison Tasting
Activity 14b: Barleywine Comparison Tasting
Bonus Activity: How to Taste Beer

ビールサンプルの予定リストです。
Road to Cicerone ®, British & Irish Beer Styles Course

シセロンの教科書に興味がある方は下記のリンクより購入可能です。
※当方はシセロン認定資格プログラムの関係者ではありません。

https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/products/road-to-cicerone-british-irish-course

イベントご参加にあたっての注意点

  1. 必ず開始時刻までにお越し下さい。遅刻された場合でもイベントは定刻通り開始します。
  2. キャンセルの場合は直ちにご連絡ください。主催者(Daniel Kotlikov)に直接連絡するか、このイベントページにメッセージを下さい。
  3. テイスティングノートを取るため筆記用具をご持参ください。
  4. コーヒーなど濃い味の飲み物はセミナーの始まる一時間前までにお済ませ下さい。
  5. 香水や匂いが強い美容製品(ハンドクリームなど)の使用はご遠慮下さい。
  6. イベントの参加は満席になってもキャンセル待ちリストに追加可能ですのでご連絡ください。

出席連絡リンク: https://www.facebook.com/events/635970283643706/

Currently, the activity is limited to 5 people including myself due to limited amount of samples. However, if more people will be interested in attendance, more samples can be procured. Therefore, please RSVP as soon as possible. The participation cost is as follows: beer sample cost of 8000yen (tentative) and 2000yen for food/beer credit. Monday menu has 3 types of Imazato’s critically acclaimed hamburger. The sample will be split between the attendees. Example: for 4 attendees sample cost is 2000 yen and 2000 yen for food/drink will sum up to 4000 yen, for 5 attendees the cost will be 3,600 and so forth.
The activity list is as follows:
Activity 13a: Wee Heavy Style Contrast Tasting
Activity 13b: Scottish Ale Grist
Activity 14a: Strong Ale Comparison Tasting
Activity 14b: Barleywine Comparison Tasting
Bonus Activity: How to Taste Beer

Notes for participants:

  1. Please be on time, if you’re not there we will start without you.
  2. If you cancel, please message me or/and write a post on the event page. Do so at your earliest convenience.
  3. Please bring a pen or a pencil to write tasting notes.
  4. Don’t drink coffee or other strong flavored beverages one hour before before the event.
  5. Please don’t wear perfume or other strongly scented beauty products (hand cream etc).
  6. If the event is full contact me directly for the cancellation stand-by list.

This course book can be purchased at the link below. I am not affiliated with Cicerone Certification program in any way. https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/products/road-to-cicerone-british-irish-course

The registration is going to work on first to RSVP as attending first served basis.

For event time, location and registration please use the below Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/3512834432124028/

See you there!

Cicerone Study Activity Session #3 with a Light Dinner

Date: March 2nd , 2020, 7:00PM-9:00PM
Venue: Craft Cafe Imazato

English below the event summary in Japanese.

ブリティッシュとアイリッシュ・シセロン教科書の勉強活動その3。

英語のみです。ビールサンプルの量が少ないため参加者は開催者を含めて4人に限られますが、イベント参加希望者が4人以上いればビールサンプルの量を増やして人数を増やせます。そのため参加ご希望の方は早めに連絡をお願いします。今回もビールサンプル料(約5000円ほど)は参加者で割り勘します。変更があった場合はまたお知らせします。勉強会は約60分~70分を予定しており、そのあとはクラフトカフェ今里の絶品バーガーと樽のビール1杯を提供します。参加料金は2000円(食事代)+サンプル料(約5000円を割り勘)を頂きます。例)参加者3人の場合はサンプル料1700円と食事代2000円で一人3700円、参加者4人の場合一人3300円等となります。食事をしなくても2000円の返金は不可、また追加注文をする場合は追加料金が必要です。ご了承ください。宜しくお願い致します。

アクティビティリスト
Activity 10a: Brown Beer Comparison Tasting
Activity 11a: IPA Comparison Tasting (ブライトテイスティング)
Activity 12a: Pale Ale Comparison Tasting
Bonus Activity: How to Taste Beer

ビールサンプルの予定リストです。
Road to Cicerone ®, British & Irish Beer Styles Course

シセロンの教科書に興味がある方は下記のリンクより購入可能です。
※当方はシセロン認定資格プログラムの関係者ではありません。

https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/products/road-to-cicerone-british-irish-course

イベントご参加にあたっての注意点

  1. 必ず開始時刻までにお越し下さい。遅刻された場合でもイベントは定刻通り開始します。
  2. キャンセルの場合は直ちにご連絡ください。主催者(Daniel Kotlikov)に直接連絡するか、このイベントページにメッセージを下さい。
  3. テイスティングノートを取るため筆記用具をご持参ください。
  4. コーヒーなど濃い味の飲み物はセミナーの始まる一時間前までにお済ませ下さい。
  5. 香水や匂いが強い美容製品(ハンドクリームなど)の使用はご遠慮下さい。
  6. イベントの参加は満席になってもキャンセル待ちリストに追加可能ですのでご連絡ください。

出席連絡リンク: https://www.facebook.com/events/3512834432124028/

Currently, the activity is limited to 4 people including myself due to limited amount of samples. However, if more people will be interested in attendance, more samples can be procured. Therefore, please RSVP as soon as possible. The participation cost is as follows: beer sample cost of 5000yen (tentative) and 2000yen for a one Imazato’s critically acclaimed hamburger and 1 pint of kegged beer. The sample will be split between the attendees. Example: for 3 attendees sample cost is 1700 yen and 2000 yen for food/drink will sum up to 3700 yen, for 4 attendees the cost will be 3,300 and so forth.
The activity list is as follows:
Activity 10a: Brown Beer Comparison Tasting
Activity 11a: IPA Comparison Tasting (blind tasting)
Activity 12b: Pale Ale Comparison Tasting
Bonus Activity: How to Taste Beer

Notes for participants:

  1. Please be on time, if you’re not there we will start without you.
  2. If you cancel, please message me or/and write a post on the event page. Do so at your earliest convenience.
  3. Please bring a pen or a pencil to write tasting notes.
  4. Don’t drink coffee or other strong flavored beverages one hour before before the event.
  5. Please don’t wear perfume or other strongly scented beauty products (hand cream etc).
  6. If the event is full contact me directly for the cancellation stand-by list.

This course book can be purchased at the link below. I am not affiliated with Cicerone Certification program in any way. https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/products/road-to-cicerone-british-irish-course

The registration is going to work on first to RSVP as attending first served basis.

For event time, location and registration please use the below Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/3512834432124028/

See you there!

Cicerone Study Activity Session #2

Date: February 20th , 2020, 8:00PM-10:00PM
Venue: Lingua World Cafe

English below the event summary in Japanese.

ブリティッシュとアイリッシュ・シセロン教科書の勉強活動その2。

英語のみです。ビールサンプルの量が少ないため参加者は開催者を含めて4人に限られますが、イベント参加希望者が4人以上いればビールサンプルの量を増やして人数を増やせます。そのため参加ご希望の方は早めに連絡をお願いします。今回もビールサンプル料(約8000円ほど)は参加者で割り勘します。変更があった場合はまたお知らせします。リングア様には特別にこのイベント用に場所を提供頂いております。イベント終了後はお礼としてビールや食べ物を注文して頂きます様宜しくお願い致します。

勉強アクティビティリスト
Activity 7a: The Effect of Carbonation on Beer Flavor
Activity 8a: Porter Cocktail Tasting
Activity 8b: Porter Comparison Tasting
Activity 9a: Stout Comparison Tasting
Activity 9b: Irish Stout vs. American Porter
Activity 9c: Imperial Stout vs. Baltic Porter

予定ビールサンプルリストです。
Road to Cicerone ®, British & Irish Beer Styles Course

シセロンの教科書に興味がある方は下記のリンクより購入可能です。
※当方はシセロン認定資格プログラムの関係者ではありません。

https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/products/road-to-cicerone-british-irish-course

イベントご参加にあたっての注意点

  1. 必ず開始時刻までにお越し下さい。遅刻された場合でもイベントは定刻通り開始します。
  2. キャンセルの場合は直ちにご連絡ください。主催者(Daniel Kotlikov)に直接連絡するか、このイベントページにメッセージを下さい。
  3. テイスティングノートを取るため文房具を持参ください。
  4. コーヒーなど濃い味の飲み物はセミナーの始まる一時間前までにお済ませ下さい。
  5. 香水や匂いが強い美容製品(ハンドクリームなど)の使用はご遠慮下さい。
  6. イベントの参加は満席になってもキャンセル待ちリストに追加可能ですのでご連絡ください。

出席連絡リンク: https://www.facebook.com/events/2974876455896358/

Currently, the activity is limited to 4 people including myself due to limited amount of samples. However, if more people will be interested in attendance, more samples can be procured. Therefore, please RSVP as soon as possible. Beer sample cost of 8000yen (tentative) will be split between the attendees. If there are changes I will let you know. Since Lingua have kindly allowed us to use their space, after the event, please order food and drinks to support them.
The activity list is as follows:
Activity 7a: The Effect of Carbonation on Beer Flavor
Activity 8a: Porter Cocktail Tasting
Activity 8b: Porter Comparison Tasting
Activity 9a: Stout Comparison Tasting
Activity 9b: Irish Stout vs. American Porter
Activity 9c: Imperial Stout vs. Baltic Porter

Notes for participants:

  1. Please be on time, if you’re not there we will start without you.
  2. If you cancel, please message me or/and write a post on the event page. Do so at your earliest convenience.
  3. Please bring a pen or a pencil to write tasting notes.
  4. Don’t drink coffee or other strong flavored beverages one hour before before the event.
  5. Please don’t wear perfume or other strongly scented beauty products (hand cream etc).
  6. If the event is full contact me directly for the cancellation stand-by list.

This course book can be purchased at the link below. I am not affiliated with Cicerone Certification program in any way. https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/products/road-to-cicerone-british-irish-course

The registration is going to work on first to RSVP as attending first served basis.

For event time, location and registration please use the below Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2974876455896358/

See you there!

Cicerone Study Activity Session #1

Date: February 6th , 2020, 8:30PM-10:30PM
Venue: Lingua World Cafe

English below the event summary in Japanese.

ブリティッシュとアイリッシュ・シセロン教科書の勉強活動その1。

英語のみです。ビールサンプルの量が限られている為、参加者4人です。

勉強アクティビティリスト
Activity 1c: Malt Flavors in Beer
Activity 2a: Malt vs. Adjunct
Activity 3a: English vs. American Hop Flavors and Aromas
Activity 4a: Fermentation Flavors
Activity 4b: Diacetyl Comparison
Activity 7a: The Effect of Carbonation on Beer Flavor

リングア様には特別にこのイベント用に場所を提供頂いております。イベントが終わったらビールや食べ物を注文する様宜しくお願い致します。

Road to Cicerone ®, British & Irish Beer Styles Course

シセロンの教科書に興味がある方、下記のリンクから購入可能です。https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/products/road-to-cicerone-british-irish-course

イベントご参加にあたっての注意点

  1. 必ず開始時刻までにお越し下さい。遅刻された場合でもイベントは定刻通り開始します。
  2. キャンセルの場合は直ちにご連絡ください。主催者(Daniel Kotlikov)に直接連絡するか、このイベントページにメッセージを下さい。
  3. テイスティングノートを取るため文房具を持参ください。
  4. コーヒーなど濃い味の飲み物はセミナーの始まる一時間前までにお済ませ下さい。
  5. 香水や匂いが強い美容製品(ハンドクリームなど)の使用はご遠慮下さい。
  6. イベントの参加は満席になってもキャンセル待ちリストに追加可能ですのでご連絡ください。

出席連絡リンク: https://www.facebook.com/events/175767110154157/

Due to limited amount of beer samples the event is limited to 4 people including myself.
The activity list is as follows:
Activity 1c: Malt Flavors in Beer
Activity 2a: Malt vs. Adjunct
Activity 3a: English vs. American Hop Flavors and Aromas
Activity 4a: Fermentation Flavors
Activity 4b: Diacetyl Comparison
Activity 7a: The Effect of Carbonation on Beer Flavor

Since Lingua have kindly allowed us to use their space, after the event, please order food and drinks to support them.

Notes for participants:

  1. Please be on time, if you’re not there we will start without you.
  2. If you cancel, please message me or/and write a post on the event page. Do so at your earliest convenience.
  3. Please bring a pen or a pencil to write tasting notes.
  4. Don’t drink coffee or other strong flavored beverages one hour before before the event.
  5. Please don’t wear perfume or other strongly scented beauty products (hand cream etc).
  6. If the event is full contact me directly for the cancellation stand-by list.

This course book can be purchased at the link below. I am not affiliated with Cicerone Certification program in any way. https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/products/road-to-cicerone-british-irish-course

The registration is going to work on first to RSVP as attending first served basis.

For event time, location and registration please use the below Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/175767110154157/

See you there!

The Kiev and the Stouts

The day before my Birthday, the friend casually texted me saying he might have a surprise “if it comes out right”, and asked if I will be home around dinner time the following day. His inquiry seemed rather ambiguous, so I dismissed it as a common courtesy. I was quite surprised when he, his wife and daughter appeared at my doorstep with a cake box. After a short visit and many thanks on my part they left and I had the Kiev – a Soviet classic hazelnut flavored cake with an offensive amount of butter, sugar and a rich nutty chewy filling all to myself. Finding such a cake under a glass of a Japanese pâtisserie is impossible. As a consequence, my friend’s wife, an experienced home baker, made one from scratch!

This Kiev cake followed a traditional Soviet recipe. The egg yokes for one of the frostings are conditioned over night. Crushed whole hazelnuts and hazelnut baking flour is used. It’s small but fierce and physically very heavy – because its mostly sugar, butter and nuts.

Being a beer connoisseur, I immediately started thinking about beers that could work well with the cake flavors and took upon myself the mission to do as many beer and cake pairings as I can. Here are my tasting notes:

Mikkeller Baghaven – I Found My Thrill 7.4% ABV

I Found My Thrill is a Danish wild ale aged for 30 months in French Oak Foeders on locally grown Blueberries. This deep burgundy colored, refreshing and highly effervescent light-bodied ale with plain yogurt sourness, delicate blueberry and oak flavors has a whiff of a rustic Danish barn to it. Buttery sweetness of the Kiev is contrasted by a tangy blueberry yogurt and lightly puckering oak tannins. The carbonation lifts the buttery fats from the palate making you ready for more cake.

Paulaner Brauerei – Paulaner Salvator 7.9% ABV

Salvator pours mahogany with a lightly tan head. Rich biscuit, caramel and toffee aromas with some floral notes on the nose. Similar malt forward nutty and biscuit flavors are barely balanced by high and clean floral bitterness. The body is medium and smooth. The finish is brief with biscuit like malts and clean bitterness. The Kiev is showcasing the Salvator’s bitterness and slightly overpowers the beers flavors. The hazelnuts somewhat complement beer’s nutty and biscuit flavors, while the bitterness is contrasted by cake’s sugar and carbonation is scrubs the palate.

Different kinds of nut flavors in the beer worked well with Kiev’s hazelnut and intense dark roasted coffee flavors of big and high ABV beers wonderfully demonstrated the cutting power of the bitter coffee with sweet desserts.

Miyazaki Hideji Beer – Kuri Kuro (Dark Chestnut Ale) 9% ABV

Kuri Kuro pours an opaque very dark brown with a fluffy tan head and has a cocoa nibs, nuttiness and sweet caramel bouquet with butterscotch notes. The dark chocolate, coffee, chestnut, caramel and toffee malt flavors are dominating. There is a light stale note, but its not unappealing. The body is medium to full and oily. When I had the ale fresh, there was an alcohol-like roughness in the finish, but after cellaring it for a year, the roughness has mellowed out – aging it was a good decision. Similar yet different chestnut and hazelnut flavors work well together. The lightly sweet beer accentuates the buttery hazelnut like sweetness, while the cake makes the coffee like and cola nut like beer nuttiness stand out. Light to medium carbonation is cleansing the palate of the slick butter leaving a long and lightly warming hazelnut buzz. A great pair!

Heretic Brewing – Shallow Grave Porter 7% ABV

The Shalow Grave pours a dark brown with mahogany tint and a fluffy tan head. It has aromas of nuttiness, cola and French roast espresso. Burnt toast, caramel, butterscotch and nutty flavors play on the palate. Smooth, chewy and silky medium to full body makes it quite drinkable. The Porter has a brief finish of dry roasted coffee, caramel and nuts. The French roast espresso contrasts with Kiev’s buttery hazelnut sweetness. The low carbonation and the sturdy body of the beer makes the pairing very satisfying – you can’t stop the teaspoon of cake followed by a sip of beer repetition.

Mikkeller – Beer Geek Cocoa Shake 12.1% ABV

The Cocoa Shake pours an opaque very dark brown with a dark tan head. It has a rich Swiss milk chocolate bar and vanilla ice-cream like aroma with notes of soy-sauce. The flavors are similar with the addition of vanilla, caramel and toffee. The body is silky and full and the carbonation is low to none. The finish is very long warm and drying, full of dark chocolate and roasted coffee. Intensity-wise, both the Kiev and the Shake are similar. The cake’s hazelnut buttery sweetness is contrasted by a dark chocolate, cocoa powder and roasted coffee. Beer’s vanilla complements the buttery Kiev sweetness and the high ABV cuts the cake butter. Both the cake and the beer are desserts which could be had on their own. Having both together is an intense experience and is quite a treat.

Belching Beaver – Peanut Butter Milk Stout 5.3% ABV

Dark brown with a fleeting tan head, this milk stout has aromas of cocoa, chocolate, cola and Resee’s cups. Ritch cocoa, dark chocolate, Resee’s and nutty roasted malts dominate the palate. Silky smooth and slick medium to full body has normal carbonation and a cappuccino-like dry roasted coffee finish. Hazelnut and peanut flavors work well together and if you have the cake first, there is a smooth transition from former to latter. Bitter roasted coffee and dark chocolate contrast the buttery cake sweetness and the palate is refreshed by carbonation. A great pair.

Stone Brewing – Espresso Totalitarian 10.6% ABV

The Espresso Totalitarian has a very fluffy dark tan head and pours an opaque black. It has aromas of nuttiness, caramel syrup, cappuccino foam, clean noble hop floral spiciness with a charred campfire-like note. The nutty, chocolate, cola like malts transition to a medium roast espresso flavor. Body is full and carbonation is normal. The bitterness is assertive. Warming and drying, French roast espresso bitterness with soy sauce like notes persists in the finish. Kiev’s buttery sweetness is cut by Totalitarian’s extreme bitterness which is coming from roasted coffee and hops combined. This is a great example why bitter coffee works well with sweet desserts – the cutting, or the extreme contrast of flavors, is very exhilarating and pleasurable.

Crooked Stave – Coffee Baltic Porter 8% ABV

A drinkable, full bodied, smooth and lightly oily Baltic Porter pours a very dark brown with a tan head. It has aromas of nuttiness, cola, dark chocolate and espresso. Both dark and milk chocolate flavors are followed by a dry and warming chocolate and espresso finish with a campfire like note. Intensity-wise the cake and the porter are quite similar. Buttery and sweet hazelnut is complemented by the dark bitter dark chocolate and roasted coffee of the beer and a unique mocha-like flavor is created. Excellent.

Smog City – Coffee Porter 6% ABV

Aromas of dark chocolate, French roast coffee, caramel with charred charcoal-like notes, bitter espresso, cacao powder and dark chocolate-like flavors, smooth and silky smooth body make this very dark brown with tints of ruby porter yet another good pairing. Carbonation is low to medium and bitterness is medium to high to which the roasted malts contribute. Finish is brisk with cappuccino and dark chocolate and has a very dry and roasty note. The cake accentuates the roasted acidic bitter espresso and brings forth Porter’s caramel and toffee like notes. The contrast between the buttery sweet hazelnut and the bitter coffee is quite enjoyable. Interestingly, when the cake is gone, the beer by itself becomes quite bitter, so, you need to time your eating and drinking to finish at the same time.

Fremont Brewing – Dark Star 8% ABV

Dark Star has a very creamy cappuccino and milk chocolate bouquet with a light roasty notes. A rich coffee-like malts and oatmeal flavors of this very dark brown Imperial Stout are balanced by a high to assertive clean bitterness. Its body is medium to full and silky with oats. Coffee flavors in the finish are brief, however a warming and dry roasted note remains. Cappuccino and oatmeal make hazelnut to take the spotlight and linger on the palate. The bitter and drying coffee is contrasted by the cake’s sweetness. Its flavors pass gently into hazelnut, which makes the beer’s caramel-like notes shine trough. Similarly to Smog City’s Coffee Porter, when the cake is gone, the roasty note in the finish becomes assertive.

Conclusion

The most memorable pairings were Kuri Kuro, Peanut Butter Milk Stout, Beer Geek Cocoa Shake and Espresso Totalitarian. Different kinds of nut flavors in the beer worked well with Kiev’s hazelnut and intense dark roasted coffee flavors of big and high ABV beers wonderfully demonstrated the cutting power of the bitter coffee with sweet desserts. The least favorable pairings were I Found My Thrill and Salvator. Although there was a contrast between the dry and tart blueberry yogurt of the Danish ale and the sweet buttery hazelnut, intensity-wise it was a mismatch. A lightly flavored shortcake with fresh berries could have been more fitting. Doppelbock’s mildly sweet biscuit and caramel flavors were overpowered by Kiev’s richness. The lager contrasted the cake with hop bitterness and scrubbed the buttery palate with carbonation, but nothing more. If anything could be learned from this experiment is that beer and cake can create wonderful pairings and at least, the staple pairing of vanilla ice-cream and stout, separately or as a ice-cream float in the beer, should be tried by everyone.

Beer Off-Flavor Seminar 2

Date: September 7th, 2019
Venue: Craft Cafe Imazato, Osaka, Japan

English below the event summary in Japanese.

セミナーとして英語で動画(スライド付き音声)をノートパソコンで流し、試薬入りのオフフレーバービールを7種類試飲します。ほぼ英語で動画音声を流したり、試飲したり、感想を聞いたりしますが、英語の説明より試飲サンプルがどんな味だったかの記憶の方が大事なので、コツや試飲の仕方に関しては日本語で説明します。試飲は約60分~90分を予定しており、そのあとはランチをいただきます。参加料金は4500円で、その内の2000円をカフェ今里のランチ代 (カツサンドとビール)として頂きます。ランチなしでも2000円の返金は不可、又2000円以上の注文をする場合は追加料金が必要です。

※ランチメニューはカツサンドからハンバーガーまたはピザに変更の可能性あり。その際はイベントの一週間前にお知らせします。

※今里クラフト カフェ様には特別にこのイベント用に場所を提供頂いております。

Spiked off-flavor beer samples from the previous event. 前回イベントの 試薬入りのオフフレーバービールサンプル

イベントご参加にあたっての注意点

  1. 必ず開始時刻までにお越し下さい。遅刻された場合でもイベントは定刻通り開始します。
  2. キャンセルの場合は直ちにご連絡ください。主催者(Daniel Kotlikov)に直接連絡するか、このイベントページにメッセージを下さい。
  3. テイスティングノートを取るため文房具を持参ください。
  4. コーヒーなど濃い味の飲み物はセミナーの始まる一時間前までにお済ませ下さい。
  5. 香水や匂いが強い美容製品(ハンドクリームなど)の使用はご遠慮下さい。
  6. イベントの参加は満席になってもキャンセル待ちリストに追加可能ですのでご連絡ください。

出席連絡リンク: https://www.facebook.com/events/459250791583843/

The seminar will include guided tasting of 7 beer samples spiked with off-flavor food grade chemicals. Off-Flavor list:

  1. Acetic
  2. Chlorophenol
  3. H2S
  4. Isovaleric
  5. Lactic
  6. Mercaptan
  7. Metallic

The tasting will take 60 to 90 minutes. I will play the webinar on my laptop. It’s narrated by Bill Simpson, Cara Technology Limited. I will teach you the tasting caveats, guide you and answer questions. I have off flavor spikes to serve 12 people – about 1 fl. oz a sample. You will be given a color printed handout explaining each off-flavor. Then we will have lunch. The participation cost is 4500yen, of which 2000yen is Imazato’s Tonkatsu sandwich/drinks credit. If you spend over 2000yen, you will have to pay extra. Please note, if you don’t order pizza/drinks – this credit can’t be returned. There might be a change in the menu from Tonkatsu sandwiches to Hamburgers or Pizza. If there will be a change I will notify you. Cafe Imazato kindly agreed to use the venue as an event place and they’re opening up on Saturday morning just for us.

Notes for participants:

  1. Please be on time, if you’re not there we will start without you.
  2. If you cancel, please message me or/and write a post on the event page. Do so at your earliest convenience.
  3. Please bring a pen or a pencil to write tasting notes.
  4. Don’t drink coffee or other strong flavored beverages one hour before before the event.
  5. Please don’t wear perfume or other strongly scented beauty products (hand cream etc).
  6. If the event is full contact me directly for the cancellation stand-by list.

The registration is going to work on first to RSVP as attending first served basis.

For event time, location and registration please use the below Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/459250791583843/

See you there!

Beer Off-Flavor Seminar

Date: May 18th, 2019.
Venue: Craft Cafe Imazato, Osaka, Japan

English below the event summary in Japanese.

セミナーとして英語で動画(スライド付き音声)をノートパソコンで流し、試薬入りのオフフレーバービールを6種類試飲します。ほぼ英語で動画音声を流したり、試飲したり、感想を聞いたりしますが、英語の説明より試飲サンプルがどんな味だったかの記憶の方が大事なので、コツや試飲の仕方に関しては日本語で説明します。試飲は約60分~90分を予定しており、そのあとはランチを食べます。参加料金は4500円で、その内の2000円をカフェ今里のランチ代(ピザとビール)として頂きます。ランチなしでも2000円の返金は不可、又2000円以上の注文をする場合は追加料金が必要です。ご了承ください。宜しくお願い致します。

イベントご参加にあたっての注意点

  1. 必ず開始時刻までにお越し下さい。遅刻された場合でもイベントは定刻通り開始します。
  2. キャンセルの場合は直ちにご連絡ください。主催者(Daniel Kotlikov)に直接連絡するか、このイベントページにメッセージを下さい。
  3. テイスティングノートを取るため文房具を持参ください。
  4. コーヒーなど濃い味の飲み物はセミナーの始まる一時間前までにお済ませ下さい。
  5. 香水や匂いが強い美容製品(ハンドクリームなど)の使用はご遠慮下さい。
  6. イベントの参加は満席になってもキャンセル待ちリストに追加可能ですのでご連絡ください。

出席連絡リンク
https://www.facebook.com/events/359521918023035/

The off-flavor kit that will be used in the event / イベントに使用されるオフフレバーの試薬

The seminar will include guided tasting of 6 beer samples spiked with off-flavor food grade chemicals. Off-Flavor list:

  1. DMS
  2. Diacetyl
  3. Acetaldehyde
  4. Trans-2-Nonenal
  5. Lightstruck (3MBT)
  6. Infection (Acetic Acid+Diacetyl)

The tasting will take 60 to 90 minutes. I will play the webinar on my laptop. It’s narrated by Ray Daniels, the founder of the Cicerone Certification Program. I will teach you the tasting caveats, guide you and answer questions. I have off flavor spikes to serve 12 people – about 1 fl. oz a sample. You will be given a color printed handout explaining each off-flavor. Then we will have lunch. The participation cost is 4500yen, of which 2000yen is Imazato’s pizza/drinks credit. If you spend over 2000yen, you will have to pay extra. Please note, if you don’t order pizza/drinks – this credit can’t be returned. Craft Cafe Imazato kindly agreed to use the venue as an event space and they’re opening up on Saturday morning just for us.

Notes for participants:

  1. Please be on time, if you’re not there we will start without you.
  2. If you cancel, please message me or/and write a post on the event page. Do so at your earliest convenience.
  3. Please bring a pen or a pencil to write tasting notes.
  4. Don’t drink coffee or other strong flavored beverages one hour before before the event.
  5. Please don’t wear perfume or other strongly scented beauty products (hand cream etc).
  6. If the event is full contact me directly for the cancellation stand-by list.

The registration is going to work on first to RSVP as attending first served basis. For event time, location and registration please use the below Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/359521918023035/

See you there!

Old Beer Comparison Tasting

Last summer I had a unique opportunity to get my hands on old craft beer. A restaurant close to a factory I frequent on business trips to mainland China not only stored their beers at room temperature, they also had very old beer that was likley ordered when they have opened up couple of years ago and they haven’t replenished their supply since. This sort of thing isn’t uncommon in China. Presented with this opportunity, I couldn’t resist the urge to bring a few old beers to Japan and do a side by side tasting with a fresh beer of the same kind. Ballast Point and Sierra Nevada are easy to find in Japan, so getting relatively fresh beers in a good condition wasn’t a problem. Finally, my father-in-law kept a case of Sapporo Ebisu cans in a room temperature for nearly a year. So, I have added the Sapporo beer to the comparison tasting. Here are my tasting notes and thoughts.

1. Sierra Nevada – Nooner Pilsner

  • Tasting date: April 8th, 2018
  • Newer beer packaged date: February 1st, 2018
  • Older beer packaged date: October 27th, 2015
  • 3 month old vs. 2 year 5 month old beer

The newer beer pours a very light gold and is slightly lighter than the 2015 “vintage”. Lemony, grassy damp and fresh aroma is present. The body is light to medium. Lemony and grassy hop flavor is highlighted by carbonated zing with a pilsner malt beady and cracker-like background. Slightly above average attenuation gets a nice and dry lingering lemony orange-like bitter finish. The older beer pours a copper gold with light cloudiness. Sweet malty cookie-like aroma, initial lightly sour volatile compounds and some Saazer hops on the nose. The sweetness in the flavor is similar to limoncello liqueur. There is big a presence of a Trans-2-Nonenal chemical compound which results in a cardboard-like flavor. Body is medium and lightly warming. Carbonation is lower than normal. Bitterness is low. A grassy, heavy with T2N cardboard astringency that reminds of you a bitter grapefruit rind is lingering in the finish. There is a hint of cherry and warming in the finish that isn’t present in the newer beer.

3 months old beer

Lighter by at least 1 SRM

2 years 5 months old beer

Lightly hazy appearance

Packaged on
February 1st, 2018

Packaged on October 27th, 2015

2. Ballast Point – Sculpin IPA

  • Tasting date: May 8th, 2018
  • Newer beer packaged date: November 6th, 2017
  • Older beer packaged date: November 23rd, 2015
  • 6 month old vs. 2 year 5 month old beer

The newer beer is clear and slightly darker in appearance when compared to the old beer which is hazy. The newer beer had a nice head retention while the older beer’s head dissipated right away. Aromas of the old beer are of a sweet cookie and toasted bread. There is a Sherry-like oxidation note and a very big amount of a dry cardboard (T2N) off-flavor. There’s also a soapy note. The new beer has a big aroma of citrus, tropical fruit and pine needles. It has a bold citrus flavor, a moderate to high bitterness and a medium body with a typical 2.5 volumes of carbonation. The finish is long and citrus-like. The two and a half year old beer’s hop flavors have significantly degraded. With no citrus like flavor, the cloying sweetness without much flavor character is dominating. The astringent bitterness lingers with high alcohol warming aftertaste and a little sherry-like oxidation note.

6 months old beer

Clear color with nice head retention. Citrus and tropical fruit aromas and flavors. Moderate to high bitterness. Carbonation is normal.

2 years 5 months old beer


Aroma and flavor of wet cardboard. Degradation of hop flavors, malt sweetness is more pronounced, a cherry note, no head retention, astringency and warming in the finish.

Appearance

A light haziness in the older beer while the newer beer appears crystal clear. The haze makes the older beer appear paler.

Head Retention

The newer beer has good head retention while the older beer’s head instantly dissipates.

Older beer

Until recently, Ballast Point had used the Julian day of the year as a part of their packaging day code.

Newer beer

Older beer code 15 327 means 327th day of 2015 which is November 23rd, 2015.

3. Sapporo – Premium Ebisu

  • Tasting date: May 5th, 2018
  • Newer beer packaged date: Early March, 2018
  • Older beer packaged date: Early May, 2017
  • 2 month old vs. 1 year old beer

The older beer has no head and a light haze probably due to suspended proteins which came out of solution. There is less carbonation and the color is slightly darker than the fresh brew. The big Dortmunder Export style floral perfume-like Saazer hop aroma and white bread like malt background nose is greatly diminished and are mostly replaced by a sweet sherry and paper-like oxidation aromas. The fresh brew has a medium bitterness of around 30 IBUs and a clean and persisting finish with a lingering bready malt background. The older brew’s malt sweetness is prominent. The cardboard-like T2N flavor is quite apparent. There is some alcoholic warmth in the finish and a lightly puckering tannin astringency.

Older beer can on the left

Sapporo beer’s best by date is 8 months after the packaging date.

Apparent Haze


The older beer has an apparent haze which is possibly due to proteins coming out of solution.

Older Beer Can

All Sapporo beer undergoes a low temperature pasteurization to stop all yeast activity.

Newer Beer Can


According to a reliable source, pasteurization temperatures are + 50° to 60°C.

While the older beers weren’t completely unpalatable, the hop aroma and flavor degradation, hazy appearance, low head retention, malty sweetness and papery T2N oxidation off-flavor were quite apparent. This reminds me of the following rule: “In a study conducted by one of the large breweries on flavor loss in bottled and canned products resulted in the 3-30-300 Rule. The same flavor loss results from beer being stored in your car’s trunk for three days at 90°F (32°C) as beer being stored at room temp (72°F or 22°C) for 30 days and beer being stored at 38°F (3°C) for 300 days.”¹
Most beers are meant to be consumed as quickly as possible after packaging and stored at 3°C. Sadly, this doesn’t happen all if not most of the time. It was interesting to do these comparative tastings and confirm what’s written in beer textbooks about oxidation. If you stumble upon old beer you’re more than welcome to do the same.

Notes:

  1. www.craftbeer.com, “Craft Beer Retailer Temperature Cheat Sheet”, presented by Brewers Association. Viewed on February 6th, 2019.  https://www.craftbeer.com/attachments/0005/0196/beertemperature.pdf