Sometime during spring vacation, Miyuki and I went to Hamamatsu to our homebrewing friend, Tsuda-san's house. It was susposed to be a meeting of the Shizuoka Homebrewing Club or something, but it ended up being Tsuda-san, his wife, Miyuki, and I. No problem there. His wife is an excellent cook and I ate possibly the best spaghetti I have had in Japan. Tsuda-san had recently visited America, so we drank 'merican beers as well as his homebrew.Tsuda-san broke out a bottle of ...wait for it... Dogfish Head's 120 Minute IPA! I've never even seen a bottle of this in Kentucky, and here is one in Japan. WTF. I've had the 60 and the 90, but this was my first time drinking the 120. For those of you unaware, the 120 minute IPA is 20% alcohol and cost a staggering $10 bucks a 12 oz bottle in America! Read about it here. 120 Minute IPA is so good that I don't really want to say much about it. You have to drink one for yourself. damn. Who has had this beer?
OK, I'm done talking about about 120 Minute and touching myself. 
There is more I want to talk about. Of the many Tsuda-san homebrews we drank, there was one that stood above the rest. It was an IPA and it was labeled number 7. I'm guessing that it is Tsuda-san's 7th batch this year. This IPA is great! He gave us a bottle to take home and Miyuki and I popped it open today. Amazing.
There is more I want to talk about. Of the many Tsuda-san homebrews we drank, there was one that stood above the rest. It was an IPA and it was labeled number 7. I'm guessing that it is Tsuda-san's 7th batch this year. This IPA is great! He gave us a bottle to take home and Miyuki and I popped it open today. Amazing.Our tasting notes included "a citrus and malty balance that holds its own in your mouth...for a time" and "the stress free morning of a sunny day bottled." This beer is good. Tsuda-san, if you are reading this, I am naming the beer for you. From this day forward, I will refer to this beer as Tsuda-san's Lucky 7 IPA.
Some of you may know Tsuda-san and some of you may not. He was the winner of the first Wancup in 2005 with his American IPA. After drinking Lucky 7 IPA, I am warning all you gaijin homebrewers that have been dominating the Wancup in recent years. Tsuda-san is bringing it Lucky 7 IPA style in 2009! I would put money on Lucky 7. Be prepared.
3 comments:
I LOVE the 90-minute IPA. As in, I would have several pints of the stuff a week back in the States. Oddly, though, I never cared for the 120-minute IPA. It seemd a bit "too much," if you know what I mean.
Haven't seen any Dogfish Head AT ALL here in Japan though, and would love to get my hands on some. That and the New Belgium brews I used to always have stocked in the ol' fridge. (Their Trippel friggin rocks...)
Sugaya always has at least one or two of the 60min, 90min, 120 min IPAs. Tanakaya may also have one or two.
Had them all and I preferred the 60 or 90 to the 120 though saying that, it was a long while back. I can't really afford to do the whole exp again now.
Well, it's true I haven't drank the 60 and 90 for 3 plus years so I have only a vague memory to judge with.
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