The highly anticipated MBCT ( Mikkeller Beer Celebration Tokyo) is done and dusted about three weeks ago in Tokyo---as the first ever small version of MBCC (Mikkeller Beer Celebration Copenhagen)in Asia---it is only natural that many geeks/ beer lovers/drinkers were eagerly awaiting for the event when it was first announced in May 2018.
*中英文并不完全对照文长也不一。
被众多啤迷认为是当今世上最佳啤酒庆典（之一）的哥本哈根啤酒庆典（MBCC）破天荒第一次搬来亚洲举行的分身小巧版，东京啤酒庆典（MBCT）9月底在艳阳高照中过去了。
回望那两天啤酒庆典，综合好些住在东京，还有海外特意飞去参与其盛的啤迷朋友意见，这个亚洲第一次并没有一面倒的被赞或被贬，而是有相对不同意见出现，有觉得是愉快惬意的，也有觉得不符合MBCC盛名期望值而失望的，当然大家期望值不同所以会有不同反应。如果纯粹以亚洲啤酒节期角度去看，东京庆典无论是前来参与的欧美酿坊稀有度和数量都前所未见，不过，要是从丹麦原版MBCC角度来看，那这次东京小巧版明显的有很大改进空间
The headline says "mixed feelings"---it is quite exactly the scenario both prior to, during & after event---and nope---this one is NOT a negative piece---but more of reflecting what was heard /discussed/seen and felt---not just from me but geeks/friends who lives in Japan as well those who flew in to Tokyo for the event. Some who went only has good words to say--that he/she enjoyed it immensely---while some though felt underwhelmed still agree that at the very least breweries line up wise MBCT is best yet Asia has ever seen.
Unlike Copenhagen where MBCC has always been held in an event hall--Tokyo version was held at a base ball ground in a Shinjuku public park using food trucks as beer/mead serving stations---for those who love drinking outdoor---it was a nice change. Being first time ever in Asia---the crowd during the two days were far lesser than Copenhagen---that makes for a very cozy relaxing venue where there's no need for very long queue to get some high in demand brews---there's long tables/chairs to rest your legs either at a covered area or under the burning sun---and like Copenhagen there's food /coffee for those who felt the need to take a break from drinking.
东京是小巧版分身，参与酿坊数量只有40家左右（丹麦原版超过100家而且绝少亚洲酿坊），这次酿坊阵容/酒单毫无疑问是亚洲至今见过最强（没有之一），比如第一次在亚洲亮相，哥本哈根庆典每次大排长龙的盛名难寻Bokkereyder和The Veil都来了，其他欧美酿坊如Jester King, Cloud Water，Cycle, Omnipollo, Superstition等等也来了，对亚洲啤迷来说，这之前要看到这么强大阵容是基本不可能的事，更何况主办方是在Craft文化仍处于起步阶段的亚洲“客场”第一次尝试，小巧版是可以理解的。
不过，当主办方逐步宣布参与酿坊名单和入场票价後，普遍听到反响是“好贵”，事实的确比哥本哈根原版贵了不少（因为在东京“客场”办很多东西不比在哥本哈根主场方便所以成本提高？）。在酿坊数量比哥本哈根原版少一半以上，但单场价格贵了约五成情况下，东京庆典40家酿坊中有10家是来自越南，中国，香港，台湾和日本的亚洲酿坊，这明显的跟不少啤迷希望看到喝到更多亚洲从未出现过欧美酿坊期望值背道而驰，说白了，谁要给高价在这么高期望值的啤酒庆典中喝自己平时所在城市或毗邻城市能喝到的亚洲酿坊啤酒？
For two days in a row, the weather was very kind (though it was raining almost everyday during the week) perhaps too kind---it was really hot--too hot to handle almost for some of us who traveled from South East Asia where it's only either hot or rain all year long. While i'm not sure if it is directly hot sun linked or perhaps due to other reasons (logistic/handling processes or carelessness?)---some of the hops focus beers were tasting either off or not right during the fest as found out by some----Sept is still relatively hot in Tokyo--perhaps an indoor venue like in Copenhagen or moving the event to cooler month would have avoided this unfortunate incident?
不同于哥本哈根原版在室内举行，东京啤酒庆典选在新宿公园棒球草场进行，既是露天意味着必须看天行事，虽然那个星期基本天天下雨，庆典那两天还好没下，但过热的阳光（加上人为疏忽/运送啤酒过程因素？）造成一些啤酒特别是注重啤酒花鲜香类啤酒喝起来走味(不少啤迷感受），对强调优质啤酒的啤酒庆典来说这是个（原本可以避免？）遗憾。
There is no argument about the magnitude of MBCT being held in Asia---as far as participating breweries list is concern---this is by far the best yet Asia has ever seen. However--this is also exactly why there's mixed feelings in the minds of some who went or rather even before they started packing for Tokyo.
If we were to asked those in the known what's so special about MBCC in Copenhagen that people from all over the globe would make it a point to fly in for that week----they would point to 2 major factors:-
NO.1 the list of participating breweries especially those from US as well some European ones.
NO.2 some top-notch tap takeover, new releases, meet the brewers activities during that week.
主办方耗费心思人力财力把啤酒庆典从哥本哈根搬来东京是件值得鼓掌的事，对没去过丹麦原版庆典，或说至今只去过一般亚洲啤酒节饮客来说，东京庆典可以是开眼界开拓味蕾鉴赏力的啤酒庆典，对一般饮客或开始喝craft不久新朋友来说，这个亚洲小巧版足可让人感受什么是不同层次的啤酒节。
虽说有遗憾，也有不符合一些啤迷期望值之处，重点是，如果有任何啤迷是冲着丹麦原版啤酒庆典盛名而来但感觉不过如此或失望的话，那肯定是个误会，要是把丹麦原版MBCC比喻为高阶版的话，东京版本基本只是初学版，意思是，无论对这次东京啤酒庆典感觉是好还是不太好，想要真正领会什么是顶级啤酒庆的话还是得去至少一次哥本哈根原版啤酒庆典後才能判断，作为亚洲第一次，虽说东京经验不如预期，还是希望主办方可以在来年把亚洲版更完善的进行，让不想飞丹麦的朋友有机会在亚洲体验什么是比较接近欧美顶级啤酒庆典指标的亚洲“啤酒节”。
When MBCT was first announced---it is clear that this first in Asia chapter will be a small version of the original one---this is perfectly fine considering the fact that craft culture/movement in Asia is relatively young---beer festivals is still being perceived as a form of partying by many drinkers (that's usually meaning drink til you drop) OR a sort of cheap "beer buffet" event(drink til your stomach bloated)---the concept of appreciating beer--drink in very small volume during a beer fest is still quite new to many.
Things started to get clearer after the announcement of prices for single sessions/pink & gold---and list of participating breweries---40 breweries(as compared to no less than 100 in Copenhagen)---this is when the first responses of "expensive", "felt kinda disappointed"was heard from some. Yes--it was expected that MBCT would have smaller number of participating breweries--and 40 is good enough for a Asia's first MBCC small version---but with single session ticket about 50% more expensive than Copenhagen( yes--it's Japan and organizer likely facing many new challenges ranging from logistic to taxes and so on which add up costing)---but when 10 out of 40 participating breweries were from Beijing, Hong Kong, Taiwan,Vietnam and host nation Japan---this went totally opposite of expectations by some who were expecting many more never before seen in Asia or hard to get names from either US or Europe---how many would want to pay a higher price to drink beers from Asia's breweries in a fest like MBCT when they can drink those in a bar near home or nearby cities during normal hours or other Asia breweries focus fest?
Apart from those two issues mentioned above--and perhaps another one brought up by some overseas friends about having to spend half an hour to almost an hour trying to get to venue after coming out from nearby train stations( those who are familiar with Tokyo would know that coming out from which station as well say EXIT A or EXIT D could mean a very significant different walking time---hence it would have been a nice touch for organizer to point out nearest train station/s and exit point)---MBCT was great in the sense that it was the first time ever that many beer friends/geeks from Taiwan/Hong Kong, as well some from Thailand Singapore Korea were attracted to one beer fest here in Tokyo.
Breweries line up wise, MBCT is no doubt the best (yet) craft beer (hard cider & mead included) festivals Asia has ever seen, yes, there are some issues which can be improved upon come next edition---but credit must be given to organizer and those working behind the scene for taking that decision to bring MBCC small version to Asia where craft market is relatively immature, where drinkers are still price sensitive due to lack of understanding about craft beer,
To some who came to Tokyo and felt disappointed because he/she were having very high expectations basing on what was heard about Copenhagen MBCC---the fact is that from the beginning Tokyo was always going to be a small version of what Copenhagen original version can be---hence it's not wise to make judgement basing on Copenhagen scale and experience saying the Asia version of MBC level fest is ONLY like this or like that---In fact, the only way to find out what the real MBCC level can be is to go Copenhagen during THAT WEEK of the year for at least once or twice---then make your own assessment---but NOT before that.
Having made the first move in Tokyo, it would be in the interest of geeks living in Asia to see if the coming episodes of MBCC Asia version can evolve into THE undisputed craft event of the year in Asia, from what was achieved in Copenhagen and looking at Tokyo chapter, there is certainly hope that it can be enhanced and done well going forward.
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