WEEK 237--casual chat with Neil--Tokyo craft beer over the years( Part2/2)

 

Second & final part of a recent chat with Neil- the man visting & writting about Tokyo craft beer places via Tokyo Beer Drinker blog( turned website) since 2012.

继续和Neil的聊天记：-

6) What are some of your observations on imported craft beer scene in Japan over the years?
To be honest, it’s not something I pay a lot of attention to. I am a big Belgian beer fan, but I don’t drink that much Belgian beer in Japan as somehow it jut doesn’t feel as much fun. Of course, sometimes it’s a nice luxury, particularly if my football team has just smashed a local rival and we have an Orval to celebrate. The import scene is dominated by US beer and there are some great places to drink imports in Japan but I don’t go to them so often. I think a lot of people get caught up in the mindset that because it’s imported it must mean it’s delicious. In the course of my time living here there have been plenty of British breweries that have been imported that I would never have drunk in the UK. I think given that there is a lot of competition for imports now, the care people take when importing has improved. Long gone are the days when one unnamed importer’s motto was ‘I want this beer to be the most expensive beer in Japan’ and didn’t bother about bringing it over in a refrigerated container. The only concern was selling it at a high price. Perhaps not a shock they don’t import anymore!

6）这些年来对日本进口啤酒市场状况有什么样的观察？

虽然个人是比利时啤酒的拥趸但坦白说并不关注日本进口啤酒，也很少在日本喝比利时啤酒。进口市场最多的是美国酿坊作品，有不少人觉得既然是进口啤酒那就一定很好喝，实际上这些年来不少进口的英国酿坊啤酒是我在英国期间不会找来喝的。

总的来说近年日本进口啤酒情况比起最初大有改善，至少不会再出现像以前有一家进口商是以卖“全日本最贵啤酒” 为唯一目标而连啤酒需要冷链进口最基本需求都不懂。

7) Is there any particular overseas breweries which you wish available in Japan?

I think the import market is pretty full already so not sure there would be any room for any new breweries. And as I mentioned above pricing is becoming an issue recently so even if I thought about what brewery’s beers I’d love to be able to drink more, it’s unlikely that I’d be able to afford them.

7）有期待什么外国酿坊作品能出现在日本市场的？

感觉现在市场上进口啤酒已呈饱和状态，价格也开始变成一个难题，就算有个人想喝的价格也可能让情况变得无以为继。

8) What might be the Japanese breweries which you would recommend to those new to the local scene?

I guess it depends on what you’re looking for. Shiga Kogen and Minoh are well established breweries with solid reputations who combine their standard beers with some interesting and more experimental beers. I think they are always pretty consistent. When it comes to less well known breweries, I drink a lot of TK Brewing and wish I could drink more 2nd Story beers. I’m sure I’m forgetting some important names here, but those are the ones that are jumping out to me right now.
There are a few breweries who people love who seem to pretty much just make hazy IPAs and sell them for ridiculous prices. I won’t mention their names as they don’t need any more publicity and I’m sure most people know who I’m talking about anyway. But needless to say, as far as I’m concerned, don’t believe the hype!

8）对不熟悉日本市场新朋友有推荐的在地酿坊吗？

主要看想要找什么类型风格作品，志贺高原（Shiga Kogen/长野）和箕面(Minoh/大阪）是作品水准很稳定的两家早期成立酿坊，常态款之外也有些实验性作品。此外，个人喝过不少TK Brewing（川崎）作品，也希望能喝到更多2nd Story（德岛）啤酒，这些都是即时想到的几家，感觉肯定还有遗漏的。

日本酿坊中有几家是似乎都只在做类果汁印度淡啤 (Hazy IPA) 的，很受市场追捧，不过个人感觉有过誉和价位过高之嫌。

9) Is craft beer something easy to approach or one do need some study/ research to get closer to?

I think it would be a sad thing if you needed to study before drinking a beer so I’d say just jump right in. After all, reading about beer is a bit like dancing to a sculpture in that you might not be appreciating it in the way it was intended. And also there’s no need to study because in most bars there’s always someone ready to tell you how much they know about beer whether you asked them or not.

9）craft beer是平易近人还是需要做些功课才能接近？

如果喝啤酒需要先做功课的话那会有点让人伤感，直接开喝就是了，只是阅读不能让味蕾真正体会啤酒风味表现，况且有时在酒吧/瓶子店无论是不是提问总会遇到热情想要自动“倾力教学”的啤迷。

10) What would you say to those very new or trying craft beer for the first time?

Try as many different beers and styles as you can and make up your own mind about what you like. There are no right or wrong answers. Some beers which I think are horrible are loved by other people. No-one’s opinion is correct as it’s all subjective and a matter of taste. In Japan many people like to follow the buzz and drink things and go to places that are getting publicity. If this is interesting to you, go ahead and follow too. But at the same time, if you prefer going to somewhere that fashionable people don’t go to and drink something that has been available for years, you should do that.

10）对刚接触craft beer新人有什么要说的？

尽量多尝试不同类型风格後就能找到合适自己口味的啤酒，实际上没有对错，比如个人觉得糟糕的别人可能很喜欢，都是个人口味决定所以没有绝对。在日本不少人喜欢跟随风潮和社交媒体热度而去特定的“潮牌”酒吧，不过也有人反其道而行去存在已久不是潮流关注点的酒吧。

11) To those who think craft beer is no different from Macro ?

Clearly they’re wrong. Craft Beer is a lot more expensive! Hehe. I think people from both sides of the argument would both say that their preferred type of beer is more delicious / more skillfully made but I don’t think you can definitively say that about either macro or craft beer. For me the use of the phrase ‘Craft Beer’ is an important issue. I don’t think macro brewers should be allowed to use it as there is more to Craft Beer than the product being ‘crafted’. I don’t want to drink macro beer because I think it is important to support small businesses in these days where a few huge companies are dominating many aspects of our lives. I would never say that every craft beer will taste better than every macro beer because clearly that’s not going to be true. But I will say that if a craft beer is available I would probably drink it over a macro because I don’t think the macros need my support or business.

11） 对那些觉得craft beer和大厂啤酒没区别的人有什么说？

这看法肯定是错的，因为craft beer要贵得多！两者之间可能会各说各话觉得自己喝的比较对味。

个人觉得craft beer名称/定义是很重要的，大厂啤酒公司不应该被允许使用因为并不符合craft定义要求。个人不会选择喝大厂啤酒是觉得更应该支持小型酿坊/小生意，虽然并不是所有craft beer就一定更好喝但只要有得选就一定会喝 craft beer因为大厂不需要我的生意。

12) craft beer is still a business hence it's inevitable bars or bottle shop might ceased to exist, is there any particular ones which you are fond of (or otherwise)which no longer there?

I’ve just had a look through eight pages of places on my website that are now closed and to be honest, I don’t think that there’s anything in the list that makes me particularly sad that it’s gone. Like you said, it’s a business so it’s no surprise that places come and go. But it is sad when you consider that many closed places represent someone’s dream having gone up in smoke. I think in the past it was more significant as we didn’t have as much choice. But now you could probably drink in a different craft beer bar in Tokyo every day of the year without having to repeat. Maybe I’m lucky in that none of my real favourites have closed yet, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time.

12）craft beer也是一门生意，酿坊或酒吧会有来去，有没有哪家已结业店家是让人遗憾或怀念的？

刚看过8页已闭店的酒吧/品饮室，并没有特别让人觉得遗憾的，就像你说的，生意有来有去，不过如果一家店代表的是某人的理想破灭那就有点伤感。在以前酒吧瓶子店品饮室不多的年代一家店的结业会显得举足轻重，不过如今东京及周边酒吧多到可能换着喝一年都不必重复。或许是幸运的至今个人关注/喜欢的店家都在运行中，但也不知道是不是可以一直存在或是说不准哪一天就突然结业了。

WEEK 236--casual chat with Neil--Tokyo craft beer over the years (PART1/2)

 

This though is on the newspaper column but it's more of a casual chat with geek friend than any sort of "serious or in-depth talk" about Neil's view on what he has seen & felt over the past 12 years or so living/drinking/blogging about craft beer places in and around Tokyo.

Neil是2013年认识的第一位住东京陌生人啤迷，出发前想对当地craft beer状况找概念然后搜寻到了当时以blog形式运行的Tokyo Beer Drinker网站，就这样从陌生人变成每次到东京都会见面喝酒聊天的朋友，以下是近期和Neil的聊天概要：-(篇幅所限-分为上下篇）

*As usual--English is by Neil-Mandarin is my transcripts-due to limited space of the column-the chat will be in 2 parts.

1) How did Tokyo Beer Drinker came about?  Any particular trigger point which started this?
When I moved to Japan in 2012 there wasn’t much of an English language online presence when it came to Japanese Craft Beer. I can think of one site but it was inactive and after trying to visit yet another bar they recommended that had closed down, I thought I should try to do something myself. Obviously even then, there were lots of people who wrote or posted about beer, but I think that is something that is a bit too subjective to have much impact. Unless you know the person and their taste, the recommendation of or warning to avoid a certain beer isn’t that helpful. There weren’t many places to drink craft beer in those days so the idea of making some kind of resource to tell people where those few bars that did serve craft beer were seemed achievable. But once the scene started to boom it became clear that there was no way I was going to be able to keep the site fully up to date so now the focus has shifted slightly towards more interesting places and away from trying to be comprehensive.

1）什么情况下想到写东京craft beer博客？

2012年移居东京後发现网上很少英语撰写的日本craft beer资讯，当时发现的一个英文网站已不活跃，根据网站资讯去的一家酒吧也已经结业， 当时网上也有不少啤酒相关个人观点推荐或避雷贴文但都过于主观并不适合，于是就想不如自己来写。

那时的东京专卖吧并不多，设立一个集合相关资讯让人知道哪里哪几家有craft beer喝的想法是可行的，不过随着市场情况逐渐出现变化，专卖吧品饮室瓶子店数量大幅度增加後，一人之力明显已不可能做到巨细无遗，近年关注点偏向探访较有特质有趣味的酒吧，不再试图做到全方位探索/记录。

2) During the time were there any particular moment which make you think "why am I still writing?"
All the time! I’ve met some nice people who have reached out to me over the years and some people have been very generous when it came to buying me beers as a thank you for my site. But when I check the amount of people who are reading the posts but who don’t interact in any way it becomes a bit disheartening. I totally understand that nowadays everything has become devalued. We now live in a world where people expect music to be something they get for free for example, so I get it when people don’t use my donation button or even contact me to say thanks for the resource. But I think in the many years I have the PayPal donation button I’ve had not more than five donations. Obviously I don’t do it for the money, and have refused to put advertising on the site as I want it to be impartial, but although visiting bars is a lot of fun, it is a money and time intensive hobby, so sometimes when I visit a new brewery that I think is probably not going to be great just to put it on the site, I do wonder if I could be doing something more important instead!

2）从开始至今有没有过“为什么还在写”的想法？

这些年来遇到不少通过博客/网站联系的人，也有请喝酒以示谢意的人，不过有时候看到访问网站但从不互动的人数时会感到有点泄气。

我了解这是个很多东西都被低估甚至被视为免费的时代，比如很多人理所当然的觉得音乐是不用付费的，所以能理解一些网站使用者从不联系或致谢，实际上网站设置的“乐捐” 按钮这些年来只被按过5次，的确网站不是为了赚钱而做，为了保持中立也拒绝广告植入，不过要知道的是探访酒吧酿坊品饮室都是花钱花时间的事，所以有时探访新酿坊但预感很可能不会精彩时，会想是不是应该把时间花在其他更重要事物上。

3) It's been more than 10 years of writing about visits to craft beer places in Japan, what are some of your observations over the years?
Of course now there are A LOT more places! This seems like it would be a good thing, and I’d agree that mostly this is the case.  Certainly Craft Beer has become a lot easier to drink. At the same time, I think there are many bars that don’t offer anything new or original or even offer something with a little bit of soul. With its increasing popularity, Craft Beer has become a viable business opportunity for some people, and when I visit a bar and the overwhelming impression I get is that I’m getting rinsed for my money it’s quite depressing. At the same time though, there are many wonderful little places who might not offer anything out of the ordinary when it comes to beer selection but offer loads of atmosphere and finding one of these places makes everything worthwhile. Over the last two years I’ve been slowly making my way to all of the cities, towns and villages that make up Tokyo, (there are a lot!), and it has taken me to some places I never would have been to otherwise and some very unique bars. In the past I think if somewhere was a ‘Craft Beer Bar’ that would be enough for people to head in its direction. Now I think there has to be a bit more passion or consideration in what they are offering. Quite a lot of the old places that seemed very exciting when I started writing the blog seem to have not moved with the times and are getting left behind.

3）写了超过十年东京和日本其他地方的craft beer探寻文後有什么观察？

最明显的是酒吧瓶子店数量比以前多了很多，craft beer变得更容易接触到，这是好事。不过也意味着这是一门可行的生意，一些酒吧完全不提升酒单选择，也有酒吧让人感觉在设法让人掏更多钱，这是让人气馁的现象。

还好的是东京和周边地区还是能找到很有氛围/感觉的酒吧，近两年来去了不少归纳为东京周边地区的城镇乡区，也发现一些很有自家特色的小酒吧，如果说早期只要是专卖吧就值得一去，如今则需看酒吧对酒单的专注和热忱。实际上也有一些当初开始写博客时让人感觉惊喜的酒吧多年来停滞不前感觉已跟不上时代变化。

4) Is craft beer becoming more popular / commonly accepted with more noticeable Japanese locals breweries coming to the scene?
Yes, as I mentioned above, there is an ongoing explosion of new bars and breweries. Even the pandemic and lockdown period didn’t really stop the wave of new places opening. It did kill off quite a few bars though, which is obviously a shame. But I think it’s a lot easier to survive if you’re offering something different. With this increase in new breweries and places, I think the awareness of Craft Beer is also growing. Many of the major breweries in Japan have ‘Craft’ beer lines now and I wish they weren’t allowed to use that language to describe their products but I think this is something that bothers me more than it bothers most people. Also at the moment the yen is very weak so I guess this means it’s not as easy to import things to Japan. Imports have always been an important part of the beer scene here but I wonder if the prices of imports might be affecting their popularity. One slight problem I have is Japanese breweries who seem to think they should sell their beers at import prices because they are the same kind of beer styles. I tend to avoid these breweries as they just seem to be taking the piss.

4）近几年更多日本在地酿坊的出现意味着craft beer更为人知被更多人接受了？

的确，近期新酒吧和新酿坊涌现就说明了情况，就算是新冠疫情期间虽然有关闭的但也有新店开设，这些新开设的酒吧/瓶子店一定程度上让更多人认识craft beer。实际上日本一些大厂也看到这个趋势而开设自身的所谓craft品牌产品，个人来说觉得大厂不应该被允许使用上述字眼以免混淆视听。此外，日圆汇率的疲弱也可能在某些程度上影响进口外国酿坊啤酒的售价并导致销量受影响，个人也对一些日本在地酿坊以进口啤酒价格为自家同类型风格啤酒定等同价位的做法不认同。

5) As a craft beer drinker, what is it like drinking in Japan in terms of  beer styles /varieties /quality /price point?

In the first boom of craft beer in Japan, before I came here, plenty of breweries opened with a kind of German template. So it’s long been the case that Pilsners, Weizens, Alts etc. were everywhere. Plenty of these breweries still exist and are still doing the same thing. The quality of these places varies considerably but I have to say I always enjoy visiting them. And with some of these styles becoming more fashionable recently some of these breweries are finding themselves in a great position. Around the time I arrived more modern styles were becoming popular. Of course the US scene is so big that I think every country’s scene has been influenced by it. But I think plenty of Japanese breweries took on these imported styles and put their own twist on them which is something I’ve always been a fan of. I’m not a fan of hazies, so I’m slightly disappointed that the Japanese scene has embraced them so much and for so long, but I guess this is unavoidable. Nowadays, I’d say that there are plenty of styles available, with a decent amount of breweries who are trying to do something interesting, but plenty of other breweries who aren’t particularly. I think some foreign residents of Japan look down on Japanese beers and I think this is hugely patronising. On recent visits to the UK and to Belgium I’ve had beers by breweries that people had talked up and I thought they just weren’t as good as similar ones being made in Japan. Of course there are some dodgy beers being made here, but I think some people’s oversimplification of Japanese stuff automatically being inferior to imported stuff is nonsense.
As for price, I think this is starting to become a problem. Not a problem for visitors due to the weak yen, but for people who live here, Craft Beer is becoming even more of a luxury than it was before. I don’t know if the bubble is going to burst soon, but it’s definitely becoming more difficult for me to afford and justify the prices some places are asking. Sure, maybe your brewery spent a lot of money on the image and the labels and the decor of the taproom so you charge a lot, but if the beer isn’t very good, you’re just going to be shooting yourself in the foot as people will wise up sooner or later.

5）对日本在不同类型风格啤酒/质素/价格的感受是什么？

移居东京前，日本在地酿坊主要以德式啤酒风格为模仿对象，德式淡啤/小麦啤酒是主流，时至今日不少德式风格酿坊/酒吧还继续存在而且随着近年类似风格的流行让这些酿坊/酒吧重回焦点。

美式啤酒类型风格对craft beer界的影响毋庸置疑，不少日本酿坊也吸收了美式影响并化为己用，这是个人欣赏的，不过对近年非常流行的类果汁印度淡啤(Hazy IPA)也广受日本酿坊酒吧和喝酒人欢迎倒是觉得有点出乎意料。

日本不同类型风格作品很多但被有些常住的外国人轻视，这是相对偏见，不久前去了英国和比利时喝到一些被追捧的酿坊作品但感觉日本的相同类型作品更对味，所以一些认为进口啤酒一定比日本在地啤酒优秀是过于片面的错误看法，

至于价格方面，对游客来说由于日圆汇率疲弱这不是问题，但对常住当地的却是个难题，跟多年前对比craft beer已逐渐变成一种奢侈消费。

 

WEEK 235--chit chat with 'UM"-- on Bangkok craft beer scene

 

Bangkok is slightly over 2 hours flight from KL hence it's rather natural in the early years when Mikkeller Bangkok was bringing some first time beer list(the likes of Three Floyds-Hill Farmstead-Superstition meadery and more) into this part of the world that Bangkok has inevitably played an important part in my earlier craft exploration.

曼谷是个人早期探索craft beer途中东京之外另一个重要的亚洲城市，当时名噪一时的美国酿坊Three Floyds还以及亚洲首次出现的Hill Farmstead迷你占领啤酒泵活动都在曼谷，这次找了Duke of Beerington的Um聊聊这些年的曼谷情况：-

Last went to Bangkok early last year and has yet to visit since--this week's piece is a casual chit-chat with 'UM" -owner of Duke of Beerington-- generally on craft scene over the years in Bangkok.

*answers in English by "UM" -while Chinese wriiten by ct.

1) When & how did you discover the world of craft beer?

- On a work trip to Stockholm back in probably late 2013 or early 2014.

1）是在何时/什么情况下接触到craft beer? 

大概是2013年底或2014年初因为工作去斯德哥尔摩时接触的。

2) What was your impression initially? 

-It was tasty and different. Since beer has always been my number one go-to alcoholic drink, I was very excited and wanted to know and experience more.

2）接触後最初的印象是？ 

美味，很不一样，因为2啤酒是个人的酒类饮料第一选择，这一发现让人想要探索更多。

3) How was Bangkok's craft beer scene when you first encounter? (When was it?)

-The market was still dominated by German and Belgian imported beers with limited American options back in those days, probably around 2013-2014. Mikkeller Bangkok was just opened, I think, and homebrewing movement just started maybe around the same time or slightly earlier.

3)  最初接触到的曼谷的craft beer市场情况如何？

德国和比利时啤酒是最初占据市场的进口类型，加上少数美国啤酒选择。2013-2014年左右曼谷米吧开始营业，本土自酿风潮也逐渐开始。

4) What's your view in terms of imported breweries scene in Bangkok over the years?

-It's evolving all the time; there have been some highs and lows over the years. A few importing companies went out of business during and after COVID-19 but Bangkok has seen and still have interesting imported breweries available.

4）这些年来曼谷进口啤酒市场有什么变化？ 

市场一直在变更中，过去时间曼谷市场见过高低潮，有进口公司受新冠疫情影响或期间或之后结束营业，不过总的来说曼谷市场过去和现在都有精彩的进口啤酒选择。

5) What are some of the challenges faced by the local craft beer industry?

-Laws and taxes.

5）市场一直以来面对着什么样的挑战？ 

法令条文以及酒税。

6) What might be some measures that can improve the scene be it from craft community itself or outside factors including Government policies?

-The Thai House of Representatives passed an alcohol control bill in March this year, which would ease restrictions on alcohol sales and advertising, liberalise a market and support small liquor producers and breweries. Exciting times are ahead, and big changes are upon us.

6）有什么是可以推进市场和喝craft beer文化的？

可以是来自社区本身或外来因素影响比如政府的政策。 泰国议会在今年三月时通过了一项有关酒类的法案，放宽了原先对酒类销售和广告推广限制，并开放了对小型酿坊的管制，这是让人欣喜的消息，预料市场会有更大幅度的变化。

7) Thailand's local breweries /brand been popping up in bars & bottle shop including yours, what's your view on the rise of the local brew?

-At our shop, we do not stock homebrewed beers, which, by law, should not be allowed to be sold. There are still not many commercial local breweries, such as Devanom, Samata, and 12 Plato Brewing, and Thai craft beer brands around. Many of those brands are contract-brewed by the same brewery in Thailand or else brewed in Vietnam or Cambodia, e.g., Vana Brewing, formerly known as The Brewing Project, Pheebok, and Spacecraft Brewery.

As mentioned, there will be some changes to alcohol laws later this year; hopefully, we will see more local commercial breweries open around the country. Thailand has some amazing brewers, and many have won international awards.

7）对近年泰国本土品牌啤酒涌现的情况有何看法？

实际上正式设立的泰国本土品牌酿坊为数不多，有一些本土品牌其实是都由同一家泰国酿坊协助酿造或交给越南柬埔寨酿坊酿造，至于泰国本土自酿（也称家酿）则不列为可以正式售卖的啤酒，因为自酿/家酿从法律（或craft beer社区文化）来说都是不应该拿出来卖的。三月国会通过的法案将在今年稍后时间带来变更，希望可以看到多一些本土正式酿坊的出现，泰国有好些很有实力的酿酒师，其中也有已赢得国际啤酒竞赛奖项的。

8)  Beer styles wise, what are some of your observations in terms of trend / changes over the years in Bangkok ?

-IPA is still at the top of the table, espacially hazy ones. On the other hand, the pastry style sour and stout, which people once went crazy for, is now in decline.

8）啤酒类型风格方面，曼谷这些年来出现过什么比较显著的变化？

印度淡啤(IPA)特别是类果汁类型依然是首选，而之前风靡一时的甜点黑牌以及果泥酸啤则逐渐不再那么抢手。

9) What are some of the more commonly seen obstacles which might prevent newbies from exploring further after initial encounter with craft beer?

-Price.

9）对有意开始探索更多的新朋友来说，什么是最大的障碍？

价格。

10) Is craft beer more popular & accepted in Bangkok in the last 10 years generally speaking?

-People have definitely heard more of craft beer; whether it is becoming more popular remains to be seen.

10）过去10年来说，craft beer有受到更多人欢迎吗？

平心而论是有更多人听过或知道了，至于是不是更受欢饮则有待观察。

11) What would be your advice to people very new or just starting to drink craft beer?

-Try to find out what styles of beers suit them most, and the only way to achieve that is to explore.

11）对刚接触craft beer的新朋友说的话？

先尝试找到合适自己口味的啤酒类型，最有效的方式就是探索。

12) Any words to people who think beer is just beer, there's no different between Macro and craft?

-While "craft" is often associated with high quality, it's not a guarantee. Either macro or craft, it is more important people find something they truly appreciate.

12）对认为跟大厂啤酒没什么区别，啤酒就只是啤酒的人说的话？

虽然craft beer普遍被认为是更优质的啤酒不过这不是绝对的，重要的是喝酒的人能找到自己会欣赏的。

WEEK 234--Brew from Kamakura--chit chat with Akio San

It's been quite a long while this blog did any chit-chat / interview with brewer or craft community people- this recent one with Akio is hopefully a start of some more to come in the near future.

扎根在镰仓的Yorocco是多年前就留下印象的日本酿坊，从最初逗子市素餐厅Beach Muffin专属品饮室到三年前开业的镰仓笹目座自家酒吧都到访过， 去过酿坊也见过主创酿酒师Akio Kichise(吉濑明生）, 以下是近期和他的一次对话。

Yorocco is not the earliest Japanese craft brewery I have come across but it is certainly one which have captured my attention some years ago having tasted 1 of their barrel aged saison--went to their early years exclusive tasting room housed at Zhusi's Beach Muffin vegan restaurant--as well their own taproom opened some 3 years ago at Sasameza--went to the brewery at Kamakura--met owner/head brewer Akio san more than once--but never did any interview/ chit-chat until recently--here's what we have chatted:- ( answer in English by Akio)

1)when was when & how did the thought of brewing your own beer came about initially?

I started home brewing when I was around 30 years old and became obsessed with it.

At the time, I wanted to work at a brewery, but there were still very few craft breweries in Japan at the time, so I wasn't able to get a job.

Then, I started to think about the idea of starting my own small brewery.

1）什么情况下开始想到要酿自己的啤酒？

我是在30岁那年开始自己酿酒，然后渐渐的变成一发不可收拾，当时想过要在酿坊工作但那时候的日本在地craft beer酿坊很少所以也就没能成功，于是就有了开办自家酿坊的想法。

2) what trigger you to start a brewery? how did the name Yorocco came about?

2011 great east Japan earthquake. The great earthquake let me realize how local community, stores and relationships are important for us.That accelerated my plans.

Yorocco is from Japanese word "Yorokobi". Yorokobi means cheer,delight and joy.

Beer is a joy in itself, but it also amplifies the many joys of life.

2）成立自家酿坊的诱因是什么？品牌名称Yorocco来源自？

2011年发生了关东大地震，这次事故让我觉得需要把设立酿坊这件事加速推进。

酿坊品牌名称来自日语 Yorokobi(喜び)， 带有欢愉喜悦的意思，啤酒本身就是自带喜悦氛围的，也能把生活中的喜悦加倍扩散。

3)were there any brewer or brewery which you look up to while first starting? 

Baird Beer and Shiga Kogen Beer.

3）有没有哪一位酿酒师或酿坊是让你当成榜样的？

志贺高原酿坊和Baird酿坊。（备注： 两家都是日本较早期取得成功的在地酿坊）

4) looking back from where you started, what was the goal or goals you set out to achieve initially? what has changed if any?

First, just to start my own business. And also to spread and establish the culture of craft beer/local beer in my area.

I think craft beer has become quite popular now.

4）回望来时路，当初设立的最初目标是什么？至今有什么变化？

目标就是想要有自己的酿坊，再来就是让craft beer文化于自己所在的镰倉和周边地区散播并扎根。一路走来至今，要说有什么变化的那就是craft beer相对来说已越发流行并受到关注了。

5) is brewing a fun thing or more of a responsibility now?

When I first started, I was running the business alone, but now I have staff and I have the responsibility of continuing the business.

5）酿酒这件事，现如今来说是乐事还是更多的是责任？

一开始我只是独立作业不过如今酿坊已有员工，而我必须对酿坊可以持续营运负起责任。

6) beer styles wise, what might be the 1 or 2 which is your personal favourite? 

Crisp lagers and saisons.

6）个人比较喜欢的类型风格啤酒是什么？

清爽的拉格（lager）和农场风格啤酒（saison）

7) which is more difficult to come good? A heavily adjuncted or barrel aged beer or a more straight forward easy drinking beer?

Hmmm, whichever, it is difficult to make a great one. Though I prefer to make good easy drinking beers.

7）酿造添加很多食材/放置其他酒类旧桶提味的较复杂作品，或是简单直接易喝类型啤酒，哪一类型会更难以精确掌握？

嗯。。实际上无论是前者还是后者，要酿得出色不是一件易事。个人来说，比较倾向于酿造优质的易喝型啤酒。

8) what are some of the more challenging issues face by the brewery?

Increasing costs and rising beer prices in Japanese craft beer scene.

8）酿坊面对的一些现实挑战是什么？

日益上涨的原材料成本以及市场上已经出现的啤酒涨价现象都是挑战。

9)what are your observation over the years on Japan's craft beer market, any challenges and positives & negatives factor affecting the industry.

The number of craft breweries and craft beer shops has increased so much in these years, but thecraft beer share in the overall beer market has not increased that much.
We believe that we need to continue to increase the number of craft beer fans, at the grassroots level.

9）这些年来日本craft beer市场有什么正面或负面变化影响？

现如今，日本在地酿坊的数量已大为提升，专卖吧和瓶子店的数量也有很大增长，不过从整体来说，craft beer在日本啤酒消费市场上所占份额并没有显著增长，我们必须从基层做起让喜爱craft beer的群众数量更大程度的增加。

10)we live in a world where anyone can leave social media comments which can be good or bad--do you look at those and does it affects you in any way?

Sometimes it helps me to see myself in oblectively, but most of the time it's a waste of time.

10）如今是谁都可以上网留言称赞或批评的年代，这种情况会带来影响吗？

有时候网上留言会让我以另一个角度更客观的看待自己（作品），不过大多时候都是浪费时间而已。

11)while focusing on locals is there any thoughts of perhaps exporting your beer to other cities in Asia? 

If we have enough stock and can connect with the right people, I think it might happen.

11）在注重在地酿造在地喝的同时，有计划把酒送往其他亚洲城市吗？

在供应量足够，以及能遇到对的人情况下，把酒送出国是可能发生的。

12)any advice to people very new to craft beer or trying for the first time.

There are many different beer styles, and that's what makes craft beer culture so interesting.
I encourage you to try different styles. If you can find a reliable store, it will be even more fun.

12）对craft beer不熟悉新朋友说的话？

这是拥有很多不同类型风格作品的啤酒世界，也是craft beer最有趣之处，可以尽量多尝试不同类型风格啤酒，要是能找到一家可靠的专卖吧/瓶子店，那会更有趣。

13) any words to people who think craft beer is Just BEER and no different from Macro? 

I think there is a void in my heart that only craft beer can fill. Or there is also many things only craft beer can do. It is not just only about the tastes, more about the culture and community.

13）对以为craft beer跟一般大厂啤酒没分别的消费者说的话？

个人来说只有craft beer能填补心中的空位，实际上craft beer不只是关于味道也关乎文化和社群。

14)anything I did not ask but good to add on here? 

I think your question is more than good enough! Thanks!

14） 没问到觉得想补充的？

问题够好了。谢谢。