WEEK 57-----Seeking "rain" in craft-desert (& a Miracle)

if you have been living, or visited some cities in Europe or US, and somehow have to spend most of your time in Asia---especially South East Asia.....and you happen to be a beer geek....what are your chances of getting regular supply, good varieties of awesome craft beer from Europe/US?

DAY1(all beers brought in by Shawn)

While you can get some really nice selection of craft beers in cities like Tokyo( which for me is THE Asia city to be for craft beer) and also Osaka-Taiwan-Hong Kong-Singapore-Bangkok----as well as KL where i live---the level of awesomeness is just not there in comparison to some of the bars--bottle shops in some cities in EU/US...

DAY 1(all beers brought in by Shawn)

啤迷很大程度上和美食，摄影或音响，电影或黑胶唱片发烧友一样，总有追逐不完的目标。

在撞意啤酒的世界，很多啤迷渴望尝味的啤酒都是欧洲美国酿坊所酿造，其中大多数是欧洲美国本土都不容易找到的，有些只上啤酒泵，不卖瓶装！（比如说美国RUSSIAN RIVER每年二月限量发售的PLINY THE YOUNGER）。而一些出名瓶子则是限量发行，限定每人只能买很少量瓶子，至于更出名难找的会有特别发售日，啤迷要上网抢门票，排长龙入场，有时候更要抽签，靠点运气才能买到一两瓶。（比如美国CIGAR CITY和THREE FLOYDS的大黑啤庆典HUNAHPU’S DAY和DARK LORD DAY， 比如只在哥本哈根瓶子店OLBUTIKKEN限量发售的CANTILLON BLABAER LAMBIC蓝莓果酸啤酒）

DAY1( BOTTLES by local tasting group)

如果你是住在亚洲的啤迷，除非有朋友从外国带进来，或通过特定网站购买或外国啤迷朋友帮忙寄来，基本可说完全没机会在所住城市找到这些出名难找瓶子。

抛开朋友帮忙不说，有些啤酒交易网站是以黑市价格卖的，既是炒卖，要价当然比原价高很多。比如说，最近在美国某网站成交的一瓶美国酿坊TOPPLING GOLIATH的KENTUCKY BRUNCH STOUT就超过了美金1000大洋。（你没看错，是美元）

这样的价格对一般饮客来说是不可思议的，其实，对啤迷来说也是疯狂价格，不过，当有人愿意付这样的黑市价格抢购一瓶少量生产出名黑啤时，这已不是值不值得给的事情，而是作为啤迷，你对拥有这瓶啤酒的欲望有多强烈的体现。

DAY1 (bottles by local tasting group)+ END OF SESSION GROUP PIC

So--what are the choices left for beer geek if you live in Asia?that's the small piece written for last week's newspaper column--not doing a full transcript--just some quotes:-

"some beers are just pure madness to get---we all know the annual "February-human-line" for Pliny the Younger---as well how you need some luck to be able to attend and buy some Dark Lord--Hunapuh's---Blaeber Lambic.....and so on..."

DAY 2---(all beers brought in by Shawn)

吉隆坡，相对之下算是亚洲城市撞意啤酒文化发展比较“沙漠”的地方，也有本地啤迷自己从国外找啤酒进来。早在两三年前就有认识的两位本地啤迷经常上丹麦MIKKELLER网店订购啤酒运进来，运费加上本地一点都不友善的高酒精饮料入口税务，兑换率等等算到来，一瓶自己“进口”啤酒分分钟要价马币两三百甚至四五百！从经济效益观点来看一点都不划算。不过，啤迷的看法是不太一样的，有人说“如果用10瓶水准不怎样的啤酒换一瓶上佳水准难找瓶子，那绝对值得，因为喝CRAFT BEER贵在质，绝对不是量。更何况很多时候都是跟一些同理念啤迷朋友分享分担。。”

DAY 2(all beers brought in by Shawn)

"if you have no friends in Europe or US who can help sent some beers---there's another way--you could try your luck on some web shop--or Grey market trade---which you obviously need to pay a higher price/s for---and that's not counting shipping costs--plus whatever taxes imposed by your country of residence...( if you so happened to live in Malaysia--be prepared to pay silly taxes!!)"

DAY2(all beers brought in by Shawn)

"It is normal for a Malaysian beer geek to pay anything between USD60-150 ( in some way thanks but no thanks to the weakening Malaysia Ringgit) for a bottle of "self-imported" beer from EU or US( depending on what you order---it could be a 330ml bottle--not always 750ml!!!)---in economic terms--it does not make much sense for a bottle of beer--but to beer geek, giving up 10-12 bottles of very average tasting beers in exchange of 1 bottle of awesome hard to get beer is something we all ready to do--anytime..."

DAY 2(all beers brought in by Shawn)

除了自己找酒或高价购买之外，亚洲啤迷就没有其他方法尝味到一些难找欧美啤酒吗？也不是的，浩瀚啤海中，还是有啤迷朋友这回事，甚至还会有些意料不到事情发生，比如三个星期前，吉隆坡就发生了一件让不同城市啤迷觉得不可思议的一件事。

一位素昧生平的美国啤迷，因为工作关系飞来吉隆坡，来马之前，他在社交网上问一位本地朋友，说自己会带来不少啤酒，有没有人要分享？看到这个留言后。“顽啤主张”很快跟这位美国啤迷联系上并安排了一个两天的品酒会，连同好几位本地啤迷朋友各自带一些自家收藏，就那样，吉隆坡有史以来最强大的品酒会意料之外的发生了。

DAY2-- Bottles by local tasting group

"Recently there's a transaction for a bottle of Toppling Goliath Kentucky Brunch stout went for over USD 1K---it's no doubt bloody crazy price to pay for a bottle of beer---but then--if anyone is willing to pay that price--it's no longer about money well spend or whether it's worth it----it's a show of pure desire to get hold of that bottle..."

DAY2(bottles by local tasting group)

这位美国啤迷朋友带来了整箱（24支）不同品牌类别的啤酒，其中很多都是亚洲难以看到的出名瓶子，对于一个相对算撞意啤酒沙漠的城市来说，出现这样的啤酒阵容是令人难以置信的事情。不过，这就是撞意啤酒精神，完全体现在无私分享，同饮同乐之中。

如果你不是很了解的话，那整箱可以黑市卖价上千美元的好酒，一分钱都不要，从陌生人变朋友的美国啤迷是真的拿来让懂得欣赏佳酿的本地朋友共享。

CRAFT BEER沙漠，偶尔还是有天降甘露的时候。

DAY2(bottles by local tasting group)

End of DAY 2--short video of bottles done--thanks to Toga

https://www.facebook.com/togamamora/videos/10207859373906025/?pnref=story

"So--if you live in a place like KL--which is a bit of craft desert--what can you do if you don't "import" your own beers, or don't buy online from web shop or grey market trade?---well---there's a thing call SHARING in the world of craft beer--few weeks back---a total stranger from US came in for work--and brought with him a case full of awesome beers--he left a message on Insta--somehow one of our tasting group guys saw the message--after quick contact, a 2 day, never before seen tasting session were arranged--strangers became friends--that's the beauty of craft sharing...."(a big thanks to Shawn and TheBeerExchange---as well Messrs Barley, Malt & Hops for hosting us)
"thanks session" by the local guys:-

a small "thank you" session by us the local guys for Shawn the day before he headed back to the states---these were some of the bottles shared/contributed by the guys:-

It's probably not that nice for beer geek to live in a city that's is a sort of craft desert--if you "geek" enough--want awesome beers bad enough--somehow--i mean somehow, awesome beers might just starts to flow in--and Miracles might just happen...

WEEK 56---the city of fairy-tales & MFWM.....

It was around 4 years ago, when the first ever 100% dedicated craft beer bar emerged in KL that serves amongst others, the likes of Brewdog, Nogne, TO OL and a certain Mikkeller.

For most KL drinkers who have not been exposed to such craft beer brand, it was quite an eye opener to say the least,  some beers were had since then, with TO OL and Mikkeller always on the favourite list--there was even a meet the brewer session here in KL with Mikkel in town October 2013.

Fast forward to late April 2015--this is basically the brief notes of a short visit to Copenhagen--with CBC being the main reasons-complimented by the bar hopping---to various bars associated with one of my favs---Mikkeller

四年前当本地出现第一家CRAFT BEER专卖吧时，最常见的是4大品牌，BREWDOG,NOGNE,TOOL 和“米记”--个人最喜欢的是两师徒品牌。所以，这次去哥本哈根参加啤酒庆典（CBC）的其他时间大多都是去“米记”相关酒吧坐坐吃吃喝喝。
如果说这是“致意”篇，也不为过。
以下是专栏原文：-

对很多啤迷来说，哥本哈根是近年撞意啤酒文化发展的重点城市。

比如说，已经连续被RATEBEER票选为世界最佳酿坊的美国HILLFARMSTEAD主创酿酒师SHUAN HILL就曾经在哥本哈根一家酿坊历练过好几年。

还有，一个源自哥本哈根，叫MIKKELLER的品牌带动了撞意啤酒界的“吉卜赛”酿酒风潮。（自家配方，借用别人酿坊酿造自家啤酒）

哥本哈根当然有不少撞意啤酒专卖吧/瓶子店，包括盛名在外的瓶子店OLBUTIKKEN，不过，这期只聊MIKKELLER旗下4家不同酒吧。

some might say this as a "fanboy" note--but that's ok, craft beer is all about personal preferences--this piece on the recently published newspaper column is about :-

Mikkeller bar 
This is what the Japanese language call--a HONTEN(本店）-- the original shop.

This is where it all started--and it's still being kept small, nice and cozy. Though there's plenty of beers from Mikkeler's own label, the most interesting part would still be the amazing guests beers that keep popping up from time to time---that week when i was in town being beer week in conjunction with CBC2015--one could imagine the sort of tap takeover activities/lined up...

and yes--if you have not already known--will just repeat some names here---Three Flyods, Tired Hands, Cellar Maker, Gigantic, Bone Yard...were all having their various kick-ass beers on taps...( and in spite of all these--there's still time to have a mini bottle share at the bar with kind permission from Rob)

But i would think--that many geeks were probably kicking and wishing like i did---when a certain Mr. Shaun Hill from Vermont came to Copenhagen and had a tap takeover earlier this year with all those hard to get farmhouse brew.....!!!

这家是日语中常见的“本店”。

在撞意啤酒世界里，可说所有人都从很小型开始，“米吧”也不例外。多年后的现在，这家酒吧仍保持小而巧，虽然MIKKELLER本身酿品众多，酒吧更注重源源不绝，来自世界不同城市，不同酿坊的各类型佳酿，长期更新的厉害酒单是让啤迷赞叹要诀。至于不定期举行，开放给不同酿坊“占领啤酒泵”活动更是让一些无法出席啤迷哀号连连。

比如，配合一年一度啤酒庆典，“米吧”连同一些友好酿坊，一星期连续几天办不同品牌啤酒泵占领活动，THREE FLYODS， TIRED HANDS， CELLAR MAKER，GIGANTIC，BONE YARD等美国啤酒都出现了，喜欢果酸啤酒的也有其中一天是“全酸”啤酒活动。至于今年初邀请到来自美国，以低度农场啤酒著称的HILLFARMSTEAD举行啤酒泵活动时，很多不在北欧的啤迷简直想一头撞墙！

Mikkeller & Friends

Many would know Mikkel and the two guys from TO OL--Tobias and Tore go way back when they were "school-brewing"---this is the "collab-bar" that basically run it's own idea pertaining to beer list or activities.

There's a full 40 tap takeover by Brewdog on the evening of my visit with drinking partners--this is certainly a bigger bar with a bottle shop within the premises.

That evening, we managed to find 2 bottles of hard to come by beer( at least in Asia)---Clara by Hill Farmstead, and Daybreak--a collab-brew by Hill Farmstead & Mikkeller--which to a certain extent demonstrate the width length depth of both bars in pushing the craft beer culture....

这是同城唯一“分店”，说分店也不对，基本两家酒吧独立运作，日常选酒大不相同，也会同一天各搞不同酿坊占领啤酒泵活动。

知道MIKKELLER和TO OL渊源的会知道，MIKKEL和TO OL两位主创酿酒师是学校老师和学生关系，这间酒吧就是两家合作。

探访当天，整个酒吧都被“酿狗”（BREWDOG）占领所有40个啤酒泵，不想整晚只喝同一家酿坊不同类别啤酒的，酒吧内设瓶子店，有众多瓶子供选择。

“顽啤主张”和同去的美国啤迷朋友找到了想象之外瓶子，其一是只有4%低度，来自美国酿坊 HILLFARMSTEAD出名难找的农场啤酒CLARA，以及和MIKKELLER合酿的柑橘果香黑啤DAYBREAK。能找到这种高评价，少量生产瓶子，除了对的时间去了对的酒吧，更浅显的是展现了MIKKELLER吧在推动撞意啤酒文化中的能量。

Warpigs

If you like brewpub---and Mikkeller and Three Floyds and also BBQ--then yes--this is the bloody place to be....

The concept is simple---come in for some nicely grilled- smoked- roasted--whatever--juicy meat---and there's some beers to go with--for examples during the 1st of 2 visits---Dark Lord Vanilla Bean was bloody on tap---amongst others, while Alesmith speedway stout were being brewed right in front of all the customers...

MIKKELLER和美国酿坊THREE FLOYDS合作的最新酿吧（BREW PUB），特点除了两大高手合酿新啤酒之外，更不时会有其他友好高手酿酒师来友情客串酿啤酒，食物以烤肉类为主，更请到美国烧烤熏肉高手坐镇。

探访的其中一天，两位驻馆酿酒师正和来自美国ALESMITH的酿酒师在酿造SPEEDWAY STOUT，而酒吧黑板上更上着稀有的THREE FLOYDS黑魔王DARK LORD VANILLA BEAN版本！

Mikropolis

鸡尾酒专卖吧，连续几年在哥本哈根啤酒庆典为啤迷调配好喝鸡尾酒，是很多啤迷认可的好玩鸡尾酒调配高手品牌，重点是，这家用的烈酒不是一般大厂货，而是自家研制调配的，想喝啤酒的话，也常有“米记”和友好酿酒师啤酒选择。

If cocktail is your thing--and we are not talking about just any average ones here---then you should go check this one out next time you're in Copenhagen.

A regular feature of Copenhagen beer celebration, many beer geeks have had a taste of what concoction the guys behind the shakers and glasses can do....

If beer is your thing, you could still find some on tap here--but you come here for what's best known for...and that's cocktails....no arguments here....:)