Best Japanese local beer...?

What does everyone think? I have had many from Hagi beer and even Dogo beer. I love to try all sorts of beer in Japan (and from the whole world).

http://www.beertaster.org/index-e.html

Moku-moku beer, Mie pref
Oni Densetu, Hokkaido
Hida-takayama beer, Gifu pref
were awareded last year.

Interesting thanks for the link. I am unable to make it up there =( for those times. My wife just gave birth. I wish they had something like that near Yamaguchi/Hiroshima or even Ehime.

I like Orion Draft, out of the tap, myself on Okinawa.

Yes, Orion local brew of Okinawa. You should make it to the mainland here the beers are much better! I've been to Okinawa many times, personally to Orion is a little boring.

Personal taste, I would think. That would be why they brew different types of beer, eh?

I'm planning on a trip to the Tokyo area this fall, then on down to Okinawa. I plan on sampling some beers other than the imports you get here in the States while in and around Tokyo.

I believe that's why most companies brew different types. Just not a huge fan of Orion, but as you said personal taste.

Two of my favs are Tokyo Black from YoHo Brewing and Taiko Ale from Iki-iki Brewery. Minoh Brewing in Osaka also have some good beers.

Paul, for your visit to Tokyo, if you don't already know it, check out Beer Club Popeye:

http://www.40beersontap.com/

Also, Brew News is essential reading:

http://www.bento.com/brews.html

My favorite local beer is Ise Brewing Co.

I bought six big bottles as souvenirs from Ise-Jingo Shrine and ended up drink four of the big bottles on the ferry ride home. Good stuff!

Thanks for the links. Most of the places are near where I was planning on going anyway. I've got them mapped and on my list of places to visit.

Asahi has a beer called "Ninja' Extra Strength Beer"...DOKO? Where can I find this beer at?

Where did you hear about this beer? The name and description sounds nothing like anything Asahi would use.

A few years ago, some friends invited me to this Japanese micro-brewery festival at the Umeda Sky Building in Osaka. For around 3000 yen, we were able to go around and sample all of the products from the regional micro-breweries in Japan. I'm sure this must be an annual event. Perhaps some readers have more info on this? It was definitely worth the time and money.

On another note, there was an International Beer Festival held at the same location.

The event was the Great Japan Beer Festival. It is held annually in Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama. Dates for 2008 are listed here:

http://www.beertaster.org/index-e.html

I attended the Osaka event in 2005.

That link was already posted, but thanks again. Where I saw it was on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asahi_Breweries
now I understand that wikipedia is a website where you can edit information yourself, BUT it's on there. If anyone has information I'd love to know.

Orion is the 5th major brewing Company. That is not local beer, I think.

Here in Tokyo, there are some local brewing company.

Akasaka
http://www.hoppy-happy.com/products/akasakabeer_pilsen.html

Azabu Juban
http://www.azabujuban.or.jp/shop/food/2005.html

Tenoz
http://www.tyharborbrewing.co.jp/brewery/brewery_e.html

Waseda
http://www.waseda-beer.com/

I reccomend Tenoz. They have a nice restaurant near Haneda Air port.

The link I posted was in reference to chan_konabe's question about the Osaka beer fest, not about the Asahi beer.

Well, after having looked at the Wikipedia entry, it is pretty obvious the the person that put it there doesn't know what they are talking about - "only available in Japan due to strict export laws". There are no such laws restricting the export of beer and never have been. I've been in many hundreds of japanese liquor stores and supermakets over the past 14 years, from Otaru to Kagoshima and have never seen a beer called Ninja.

Gotcha about the link. No problem!

Anyway yeah I've been here for 3 years and been all over Japan, I have never seen or heard of it! I'm not really sure about the export laws, so I'm not going to say anything about it. If anyone knows anything though, feel free!