WEEK 132-----A Week in Tokyo (with beers-mead & friends)

Because of first ever in Asia #MBCT2018---went to Tokyo for a week end of Sept.

For the past few years---annual visit to Tokyo or occasional visit to Kansai area has almost always only in either March/April or Oct/Nov when the weather is cooler---nicer to walk around for someone who lives in a country where it's hot or rain 365---but this year because of MBCT the trip was brought forward to September----a month where rain is quite expected and not as cooling as what a month or two later would bring

场景是涉谷一家酒吧，一位来自美国德州的酿酒师刚走进酒吧门口就看到一班亚洲啤迷围着一桌子已喝完或喝到七七八八的啤酒瓶在拍“瓶子团体照”，而这些瓶子（除了一瓶）都是这位美国酿酒师的自家酿坊作品，于是酿酒师也拿起手机开始拍这班亚洲啤迷在拍瓶子的模样，然后亚洲啤迷中有人认出这位笑容可掬的老外其实就是Jester King酿坊主人Jeffrey Stuffings，就那样，来自美国的酿酒师和来自亚洲不同城市的啤迷在東京上演了一出即兴的短暂见面会，这就是craft社区的无形引力。

MBCT啤酒庆典关系，在天气不是下雨就是炎热的九月份去了一趟东京，那个星期的東京飞来了不少台湾香港韩国新马泰啤迷，让无论是已相互认识的或之前只在啤迷社交媒体上或打过招呼或只见过名字照片的都聚在同一个城市，因为那样也跟一些之前没见过面或不认识的啤迷朋友们有了真正意义上的喝酒聊天打招呼机会，就像上述见面会那样，对美味啤酒的共识拉近了原本是陌生人的啤迷/酿酒师之间距离。

Not so pleasing weather aside---the trip to Tokyo was obviously a pleasant one---besides MBCT ---it was a week full of good beers--good food as well meeting up old and new friends---all in the name of craft beer/mead.

MBCT is the reason why geeks/drinkers flew in from Taiwan/Hong Kong/Korea/Singapore/Bangkok & Malaysia---I was also excited for a bottle share session (prearranged before flying out) with some geeks living in Tokyo as well the chance of meeting some people from other cities of Asia whom i have either only known from craft beer community social media but never met in person or some whom i have actually met previously.

啤酒庆典前好几天就到了，这次出行，MBCT两天四场庆典是焦点，加上出发前就和住東京几位外国啤迷朋友约好的瓶子分享会，所以并没有去很多不同酒吧或者说特意找之前没去过的酒吧看看，这次除了因为冲着北欧名牌Omnipollo占领啤酒泵活动去了位于大塚站附近的Titans酒吧瓶子店之外，基本都是去回之前已介绍过的几家店比如很快会搬去三轩茶屋以提供不少美国盛名啤酒为人知的涉谷名店Craftheads，一直盘根在三轩茶屋的欧陆风小店 Pigalle，东京“米吧”等啤点见见朋友喝喝聊聊。

除了在城里几个不同啤点，也跟相识多年的住日英国人啤迷朋友去了一趟距离東京一小时左右火车程逗子市再访一家素食小餐厅兼日本酿坊Yorocco唯一专属品饮室，去的当天，人不多，五个啤酒泵上全都是Saison(农场风格啤酒），听起来一样但依据不同食材水果酿造所以都有着或细微或明显不同之处，和老朋友吃喝聊聊，过了个非常惬意舒适下午。

Bottle share has been my favourite way of "drink less taste more" since discovering the pleasure of tasting some years ago---this time around--- a planned single sharing session became two---the first one was at a geek's home while another session few days later was held at a rather interesting place--a common area/public area inside a high-end commercial building in Tokyo( i can imagine security guards throwing us out if the session were to be held here in KL).

Of the two bottle sharing sessions--of course line up wise the first one was really up there with some exciting ones--some varieties from the likes of Bullfrog(awesome sour) Hillfarmstead(Nelson) Bottle logic(Let The Grain Begin)---plus that "super hyped" Toppling Goliath Mornin Delight--also "hyped" Cantillon Blabaer 2018( which tasted so so fine with blueberry goodness coming through nicely)--and then the much awaited mead of Banana Pancake from Pips(no words really--if you love say cake or pastry or food with banana in it--this one is quite something else--i can't imagine anything with banana in real food term can be this tasty) and also Statement from Schramms which shows why mead lovers treat Schramms in such high regard.

The second bottle sharing session was more of a fun one --no big big names brew but good company with some newly met geeks.

这次行程重点节目之一是动身前就说好的瓶子分享会，说重点节目是因为有不少重量级盛名难寻瓶子。不过第一次分享会后，朋友又建议了另一次跟另外几位不认识的啤迷新朋友分享会，变成了两次趣味迥然不同的瓶子分享会，第一次是在一位啤迷住家进行，另一次则相当有趣的在一栋高级商住大厦的室内公共空间自带冷却袋杯子还有洗杯子的瓶装水等类似野餐聚会的方式瓶子分享会。两次分享会，瓶子阵容以第一次在啤迷家中最精彩，除了有从美国带回来的新鲜类果汁IPA，重点是出现了比如Toppling Goliath酿坊出名难寻黑市炒到几百美金一瓶的咖啡黑啤Mornin Delight，比如Schramms和Pips这两家顶级蜜酒作坊的酿品，也有比如Hillfarmstead，Bottle Logic等盛名美国酿坊作品，加上喝起来出乎意料之外美味的2018年版本比利时大师级酿坊Cantillon蓝莓天然发酵果酸啤酒Blaeber，让分享会水平提到一个新高点。

As it turns out---i did not visit many bars during the week in Tokyo--was mostly going back to bars/bottle shop i been visiting previous trips because some old/new friends were there---for examples the visit to Craftheads Shibuya was to meet up with some "strangers" from Taiwan craft beer community who of course are no longer strangers now. It was an evening pack full of geeks and brewers who came to town for MBCT----shortly after walking in the bar there they were--Drew & Hannah of 18th Street Brewery---as well bumping into geeks from Singapore/Thailand and some Americans/Canadian geeks who lives in Tokyo---and then when Jeffrey Stuffings of Jester King walked in and joined group of mainly Taiwanese Asian geeks who were busy taking group photo of Jester King bottles--it quickly turned into an impromptu meet the brewer session..... 

Also went to Yorocco taproom Beach Muffin in Zhusi( an hour or so by train from Tokyo) with my first Tokyo beer friend Neil whom i always make it a point to share a few beers whenever im in town.And then good time sharing some beers and chat with some known friends/geeks/ newly met friends from Hong Kong/Taiwan and Japan at Pigalle Tokyo, that little beer shop located at Sangenjaya. The only new place( as in i have never visited previously) i went during the week was Titans nearby Otsuka Station because of a certain Omnipollo tap takeover with really good selection both on tap and bottles--and also bumping into some geeks living in Tokyo  as well a geek friend whom i have only met briefly last year in a beer event at Shimokitazawa-- intended short visit to the bar became a much longer stay for the evening.

在東京，去瓶子店看看是少不了的指定动作，有打算买些啤酒回酒店喝或者说结束旅程後带回自己所在城市的啤迷都知道这里好些瓶子店值得一探，比如位于目白站附近转角处卖很多威士忌和其他酒类但也卖不少欧美啤酒特别是每次都会有比利时酸啤瓶子但所有瓶子只能带走不能在店内喝的Tanakaya，比如位于北千住站附近商业街已从之前只是瓶子店变身为有提供啤酒泵版本啤酒可在店内喝的Beer Ma，或者说距离涉谷站走路可到以比利时啤酒为主的可喝可带走瓶子小店Hiranoya，都可以先去走走看看之后再规划/决定接下来几天去哪里喝什么，这次虽说重点放在两天啤酒庆典和瓶子分享会，还是习惯性的第一天就去瓶子店走走看看有什么值得先买点收着的。

Of course---coming from craft desert KL--bottle shop is always a place i would visit upon first day of arriving ---no exception this time though i did not buy much at all at Tanakaya---did not visit Hiranoya this time but end up kinda accidentally visiting Beer Ma nearby Kitasenju station on last day while walking around Asakusa area and bumped into a fast train going that way.

短短一周，虽然几乎天天下雨，再不然就是在两天啤酒庆典少有的大太阳底下几乎烤焦，回看喝过或带回来啤酒/蜜酒收获，还有新旧啤迷/酿酒师朋友聊聊喝喝时光，这次東京行是不理想天气下仍然亮丽的啤旅程。

The weather has not been kind---it was either raining all day mostly or for that two day when MBCT was held---it was burning sun--too hot to handle---but beer wise(and mead too)---be it whatever drank during that week in Tokyo or what was hauled back to KL--it certainly was a really nice beer/mead week with some good company over many different parts of the world coming together in Tokyo in the name of craft beer......

WEEK 131---That "Struck by Lightning" Moments

The title can be a little bit misleading in that we are of course NOT talking about the scary actual incident of lightning striking someone but just a way of describing those moments when one tasted something so nice which brought new experiences /sensation to palate enjoyment, which sort of open up one's senses/ appreciation level of a beer/mead to new heights.

那天和朋友聊起过去这几年喝过些什么精彩的，这么多不同酿坊不同类别酿品中什么是喝到当时突然觉得有一种被雷劈，味蕾被超乎想象美味层次所惊艳/震撼经历，喝到现在什么酿品是个人觉得能占据心目中前几名的？

其实要选出个人至今觉得最有感觉的几支佳酿还真有些难度，部分原因是个人没有详细记录喝过啤酒/蜜酒习惯，也没有像一些啤迷朋友那样因为玩比如Untappd评酒手机程式（功能包括可详细记录所有喝过酿品）可以比较有系统挑选，要是只凭喝过瓶子照片和有时候不太可靠的大脑记忆来回想选酒的话，以下是让味蕾有过深刻印象，自然而然就想到的几支。

一路走来，从启蒙阶段到逐步摸索了解提升味蕾鉴赏力的必要，这之间都有不同阶段感觉味蕾被唤醒被惊艳被提升的佳酿出现，不过，既然是问到至今的个人前几名选酒，那就只挑几支喝到美味层次感觉好像被雷劈的说说：-

In short this piece is about beers/mead which opened up/elevated my senses/appreciation level---i was asked not long ago by a friend which are my personal top 5 or top 10 brews---instead of picking so called top5/top10---i picked these as some brews which truly impacted my senses/palate appreciation ability along the way---of course what impacted me in a big way at a particular period of time during the journey of craft exploring might not be seen in the same way by others as different people would have their own BIG impact beer/mead through different pathways.

DARK LORD VANILLA BEAN

Had my first ever Dark Lord(regular version) here in Asia sometime in November 2013---it was a 2009 white wax bottle--honestly i was not able to fully appreciate that beer then---my palate was overwhelmed.  And then in 2015---during CBC week in Copenhagen---at Three Floyd's tap takeover---there was plenty of delicious ones on tap--including regular Dark Lord & Vanilla Bean version.  Yes--some people been calling Dark Lord a "diabetic beer" for it's sweetness---and some are saying Dark Lord has lost it's luster with the rise of so many other big stouts---but personally there's no denying the deliciousness of Dark Lord Vanilla Bean impacted at that time---if you were to asked would i want to drink it again?  Yes of course i would ---if only it's so easy to get one.

美国酿坊Three Flyods的年度大作Dark Lord是啤迷都知道的大黑啤，除了原味版，也有这个加了香草豆再桶陈（有分波本酒桶或苹果白兰地桶不同版本）的升级版限量难寻瓶子。虽说近几年一些其他酿坊黑啤的冒起意味着黑魔王已不再那么受啤迷追捧，更有一些啤迷因为觉得酒味偏甜而开玩笑贬称黑魔王是糖尿病黑啤，不过，再怎么说就算只是原味版也还是几年前备受推崇的大黑啤，如果是升级版的话，那就更矜贵了（黑市成交价从几百到过千美金都有过）。

喝到升级版黑魔王是在哥本哈根的FFF占领啤酒泵活动上，当时有原味版升级版可一起嚐，升级版有着明显的波本桶陈和香草豆浸泡带来的更深层香醇甜美，黑啤来说味道虽较甜但不腻，加上衬托的黑色果实烤麦芽咖啡巧克力香，喝着时候心里是赞叹的，就跟吃到意料之外美味食物时候那种雀跃感觉那样。

Hillfarmstead Clara

At 4%---with what some might describe as "taste like water"--this is obviously a very "plain" beer---it was my first ever HF beer---not knowing what to expect---me and drinking partner at that time were slowly drawn into the seemingly simple/plain yet definitely NOT one dimensional easy drinking magic of this low abv beer. This one along with LA PETITE Prince/Princes of Jester King were  the ones which opened up my senses about how tasty really well made low abv "plain like water" beers can be.

这是个人第一支喝到的Hillfarmstead，这家位于美国Vermont一个比较偏远农场的酿坊作品就算在美国境内也不容易买到，这是支低酒精度的Grisette，一般来说被认为属于“淡如水”的类型，换句话说好像并没有非常明显味道特色让人去期待，就那样，有点期待又不知道该期待什么情况下，喝了第一口，再来第二口时就确实感受到了什么是平淡中显现功力，可以在这么低度淡然酒中展现不同的层次口感不是件容易的事，这支酒很肯定的让我知道什么是淡如水的美味。

Superstition Strawberry White(Ceramic Bottle)

Yes i have heard of this mead from Arizona---but one will never know how it actually taste no matter how many reviews you read or how much you heard from those who had it before---so when i finally got to taste it for the first time---the first thing that came hitting was the nose---it was smelling so nice the space around the bar was literally aromatic--full of chocolate/honey and jammy strawberries goodness--it was a mind blowing moment---palate and senses struck by lightning kinda sensation.

喝到之前已知道这是备受喜欢蜜酒人推崇的作品，虽说对这支佳酿有非常粗略的概念，但是，还没喝之前一闻浓郁的酒香就已经让人确实感觉到，这是非比寻常的一款，喝第一口之后根本是雷劈感觉，这不是那种闻香很好但喝的时候酒体表现只是一般般的平庸酿品，这支蕴含了蜂蜜巧克力梅果精华而成的蜜酒绝对是让人喝过难忘的上乘之作。

Russian River Pliny the Elder + Alchemist Heady Topper

This is perhaps very old school sounding to mention these 2 when NEIPA is the new buzz word----but personally if not for the timely reminder/intervention of these 2 ---i would have given up drinking IPA few years ago having been sick and tired of those in your face hops attack of some average or well past it's best(poorly handled/kept)  ipas here in craft desert KL. These 2 demonstrated what's a truly well balance elegantly done ipa & how tasty ipa can be even though it pack quite a hop punch.

在类果汁NEIPA近年大行其道时提起这两款已经有岁月痕迹的作品好像有点不合时宜，不过，说起IPA 的话，这两款风格迥异的美国经典作品还是个人随时都欢迎再喝的，就是这两款让我了解什么是真正酿得均衡美味的IPA /Double IPA，也让早期只是一直在本地喝或已过美味期或平庸之作的我从” IPA厌倦症”中领略到什么是真正把啤酒花发挥到淋漓尽致的作品。

3 Fonteinen Zen Y Frontera

For someone who spend most of his time in craft desert KL--and with such little supply of Lambic in Asia especially 4-5 years ago--I'm quite lucky to have been able to have some chances ( either when travelling or rare occasion of getting some bottles sent this way) to taste quite some tasty ones from the masters of this uniquely Belgium speciality.  Looking back to some of the nice ones i have had so far---this masterpiece from 3 Fonteinen stood out naturally---the complexity/deliciousness of this one been lingering on in memory---this is no doubt by far the one which demonstrated how far lambic can go---like no end...

在亚洲要找到比利时大师级酸啤并不容易，说起来个人真正能比较领略天然发酵果酸啤酒美妙是几年前去比利时大师级酿坊Cantillon参观并喝到一些难寻佳酿之后的事，说是味蕾眼界开窍之行完全不为过。当时喝到几家酿坊的酸啤佳酿让人了解为什么比利时天然发酵酸啤被那么多啤迷尊崇/追逐。

这几年陆陆续续在本地或其他地方有机会喝到好些果酸啤酒，真要选出一支夸张点说让人“惊为天酒”的天然发酵果酸啤酒的话那会是今年喝到的另一家大师级酿坊3Fonteinen 的雪梨酒桶熟成作品Zen Y Frontera，无论是酒香还是口感层次都在在显示底蕴的深沉，酸啤桶陈过程吸收的雪梨酒桶影响起了点睛作用，非常美妙的融合了酸啤存在的不够圆润菱角，让酒的层次提升到一个很高的境界，有机会的话，这毫无疑问是个人想再喝一次再喝的上佳酿品。

WEEK 130----MBCT----a mixed feelings ASIA's First

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.