NEW YORK, NY Dec. 11, 2018 This year, Japanese Craft Beer invites you to pair your favorite carb-heavy holiday dishes with a lighter, craftier and more balanced type of beer that won't overpower your food. Indeed, Japanese craft brews' well-balanced, low-malt styles won't fill you up and will have your meal boasting unique, local ingredients such as yuzu and matcha that will add a flavorful twist to this year's feast and earn you smiles around the table.
With so many varying recipes and flavors on numerous holiday menus, there is a Japanese craft beer for all your favorite foods. Below are some of our most recommended pairings:
- A pilsner to get things started: As you're getting settled, start on the appetizers alongside Karuizawa Brewery's Premium Clear, the light body and taste of this German-like pilsner are the perfect way to settle into the long meal ahead without filling up.
- A Session IPA to pair with your classics: When your plate is piled high, you'll want something light, refreshing and effervescent to carry you through to the next serving. Coedo's Marihana IPA is perfect for this. Imbued with a light hop flavor that current craft drinkers crave and clocking in at a light 4.5% abv, it's the perfect pairing for a full meal.
- Wheat beers to awaken your senses: As you head back for seconds— and you should—it's time to awaken the palate. WAKU WAKU Tezukuri Farm Kawakita's Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Weizen imparts the clove and fruity esters you expect from a wheat beer, but with a Japanese twist. It's brewed using the newly developed Yuki-Chikara local wheat from Komatsu, creating a unique flavor. To further tantalize your taste buds, sample a Kizakura Brewery's Kyoto White Yuzu, a Belgium white that packs a flavorful punch thanks to notes of wheat and citrus from Japan'syuzus. Full of bubbles, this zesty beer has a medium-light body to keep you going on your food journey.
- A dark chestnut ale for a perfectly sweet pairing: And what's a holiday dinner without dessert? As the pumpkin pie is served, still steaming and warm, it's hard to imagine a better pairing than Kuri Kuro, a dark chestnut ale from Miyazaki Hideji Beer Brewery in Miyazaki. This roasted, full-bodied stout brewed with locally grown chestnuts pairs perfectly with a slice (or two) of everyone's favorite holiday dessert.
- An Oyster Stout for the cheese lover: If you've still got room or sweet dessert isn't for you, it's time for cheese and Oyster Stout from Sekinoichi Sake & Beer Brewery. This stout is great company for richer flavors like stilton and blue cheese – the perfect way to end a meal.
Quality and innovation have made Japan a fresh voice within the global craft beer conversation. The industry now offers a wide product portfolio including seasonal pale ales, stouts and IPAs, among others, keeping up with the demands of both casual craft drinkers and budding cicerones alike. Even the most contemporary styles, such as hazy New England style IPAs and wild ales, can now be found in taprooms and bottles throughout Japan.
This holiday season the industry association of 23 craft beer producers invites Americans to "Drink in a New Language" and introduce a new take on old traditions.
To follow Japanese Craft Beer news and activities, follow @JapaneseCraftBeerENG on Facebook and @Japanese_CraftBeer on Instagram.
About "Drink in a New Language"
"Drink in a New Language" is a campaign driven by the JFOODO that aims to increase visibility and promote Japanese craft beer in the US, with a focus on the West Coast. It includes the following 23 participating craft breweries: Abashiri Beer, AJB Co., Akari Brewing, Baeren Brewery Co., Ltd., Baird Brewing, COEDO Brewery Kyodoshoji Corp., Ltd., Far Yeast Brewing Company, Kankiku Meijo, Karuizawa Brewery ltd., Kiuchi Brewery, Kizakura co., ltd., Mitsubishi Shokuhin Co., Ltd., Miyazaki Hideji Beer Co., Ltd., Niken Chaya Mochi Kadoya Honten, Rise & Win Brewing Co., Sekinoichi Sake & Beer Brewery, Taikyokusha Co., Ltd., Tenchokaku Group, Voyager Brewing Co., WAKU WAKU Tezukuri Farm Kawakita limited, Yamaguchi Hagi Beer Co., Ltd., Yamaguchi Ji-Beer and YOHO Brewing.
About the JFOODO
The JFOODO (The Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Center) was established by the Japanese government in 2017 as part of the Japan External Trade Organization. The JFOODO devotes its resources to the branding of Japanese agricultural, forestry, fishery and food products.
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