In many English-speaking countries homebrewing of beer is well-established, and it is easy to get ingredients and equipment. Japan does not have such a tradition, and these specialized things are not as readily available.
The goal of this blog is to provide information about homebrewing within Japan, although I'm slightly biased towards Tokyo where I live. This blog is organized by topics rather than dates. Please make comments and I will incorporated these into the entries.
There is a great wealth of information about homebrewing generally, and if you are getting started, I recommend "The Complete Joy of Homebrewing" by Charlie Papazian. My goal here is to give information and tips peculiar to brewing in Japan.
The following blog entry inspired Homebrew Japan:
http://www.siberia.rezrov.net/blog/index.php?/archives/23-On-brewing-beer-in-Japan.html
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Big Bottles
The 633 milliliter "oo-bin" bottles which are widely used in izakaya are almost twice as large as the standard 330 ml size. Using these, I don't have as many bottles to wash. Although restaurants pay a small 5-10 yen deposit for these bottles, you might be able to get some by going an liquor store and asking.
These larger bottles are not so well suited for sampling during bottle conditioning, so I bottle into a few small bottles as well. But once the beer is conditioned and in the refigerator, the larger bottles are much more convenient.
These larger bottles are not so well suited for sampling during bottle conditioning, so I bottle into a few small bottles as well. But once the beer is conditioned and in the refigerator, the larger bottles are much more convenient.
Faucet Connection
Both bottle washers and many types of wort chillers are designed to be attached to a water supply. And they come with the fittings appropriate for their locality, the US and Canada in many cases. In Japan, threaded plumbing fittings are quite different, and US-to-Japanese plumbing converters are not readily available. Much more reliable is to connect using tubes, barbed hose fittings and hose clamps.
A home-improvement store, for example J-Mart, has parts to accomodate standard household plumbing fixtures. Examples of pipe sizes used in Japanese plumbing are G1/2, M23x1.5 and W23山14. That isn't a typo, the pipe size actually is W26-yama-20, where yama is the mountain kanji. The 16 mm inside diameter garden hose is common, and few other hose sizes are available. For specialized parts, it a great store is Tokyu Hands, which has a good selection and helpful staff.
The Fermtech Double Blast Bottle Washer connects using a hose, rather than by screwing directly onto the faucet. The 3/8-inch hose has an adapter so it can be attached to a US laundry-machine or garden hose faucet, but this size is not used in Japan. Here are three means to connecting it to a common kitchen and bath fixture, where the swinging faucet attaches with a W26山20 fitting.
The first method uses two adapters available at Tokyu hands:
A second method which might work is to buy a W26山20-to-15 mm garden hose adapter for the faucet, and a short length of 15 mm hose. Then order a 5/8-inch barbed hose-to-3/8-inch barbed hose adapter (also called a reducer or reduction fitting). A good source of such things is McMaster-Carr. Then, cut off the quick-release adpater that came with the hose, plug in the 3/8-inch end of the adapter. Use a short length of 15 mm hose to connect the other end of the barbed hose adapter to the barbed faucet adapter.
http://www.mcmaster.com/
A third method is described on the web site of Advanced Homebrewing that sells this bottle washer in Japan, although it was listed as being sold out as of this writing. As I understand it, the suggestion is to clamp a usual garden hose (15 mm inside diameter) to the outside of the bottle washer hose (outside diameter of about 13 mm). They expect that you'll be able to cut the old adapter, made of plastic, leaving the core inside the hose to act as mechanical support for a hose clamp. To connect it to the faucet, use a W26山20-to-barbed 15 mm hose adapter, which should be widely available. This is cheaper, but less elegant, than the first method.
http://www.amy.hi-ho.ne.jp/brew/equipment.html
A home-improvement store, for example J-Mart, has parts to accomodate standard household plumbing fixtures. Examples of pipe sizes used in Japanese plumbing are G1/2, M23x1.5 and W23山14. That isn't a typo, the pipe size actually is W26-yama-20, where yama is the mountain kanji. The 16 mm inside diameter garden hose is common, and few other hose sizes are available. For specialized parts, it a great store is Tokyu Hands, which has a good selection and helpful staff.
Fermtech Double Blast Bottle Washer
The Fermtech Double Blast Bottle Washer connects using a hose, rather than by screwing directly onto the faucet. The 3/8-inch hose has an adapter so it can be attached to a US laundry-machine or garden hose faucet, but this size is not used in Japan. Here are three means to connecting it to a common kitchen and bath fixture, where the swinging faucet attaches with a W26山20 fitting.
The first method uses two adapters available at Tokyu hands:
- Cut off the end of the hose which has the original adapter on it.
- Attach a 10.5 mm barbed hose-to-G1/2 female pipe thread adapter to the hose. 3/8 inch is 9.5 mm, and the barbed hose adapter is a millimeter bigger for a snug fit.
- Attach this to a male G1/2-to-female W26山20 adapter.
- Remove the swinging W26山20 faucet and attach to the the hose-and-adapter assembly.
A second method which might work is to buy a W26山20-to-15 mm garden hose adapter for the faucet, and a short length of 15 mm hose. Then order a 5/8-inch barbed hose-to-3/8-inch barbed hose adapter (also called a reducer or reduction fitting). A good source of such things is McMaster-Carr. Then, cut off the quick-release adpater that came with the hose, plug in the 3/8-inch end of the adapter. Use a short length of 15 mm hose to connect the other end of the barbed hose adapter to the barbed faucet adapter.
http://www.mcmaster.com/
A third method is described on the web site of Advanced Homebrewing that sells this bottle washer in Japan, although it was listed as being sold out as of this writing. As I understand it, the suggestion is to clamp a usual garden hose (15 mm inside diameter) to the outside of the bottle washer hose (outside diameter of about 13 mm). They expect that you'll be able to cut the old adapter, made of plastic, leaving the core inside the hose to act as mechanical support for a hose clamp. To connect it to the faucet, use a W26山20-to-barbed 15 mm hose adapter, which should be widely available. This is cheaper, but less elegant, than the first method.
http://www.amy.hi-ho.ne.jp/brew/equipment.html
Monday, March 26, 2007
Drinking Beer in Tokyo
There is a growing community of English-speakers beer drinkers in Japan.
The Beer Education, Enjoyment and Research Society (BEERS) is an English-speaking beer club in Tokyo. I believe that there is a subgroup of people interested in homebrewing. If you email tokyobeers@yahoo.co.jp, you can get on the mailing list and find out about the monthly events. This may be one way to meet the other homebrewers.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tokyobeers/
Brews News is a Tokyo beerdrinkers newsletter edited by Bryan Harrell.
http://www.bento.com/brews.html
The Beer Education, Enjoyment and Research Society (BEERS) is an English-speaking beer club in Tokyo. I believe that there is a subgroup of people interested in homebrewing. If you email tokyobeers@yahoo.co.jp, you can get on the mailing list and find out about the monthly events. This may be one way to meet the other homebrewers.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tokyobeers/
Brews News is a Tokyo beerdrinkers newsletter edited by Bryan Harrell.
http://www.bento.com/brews.html
Using Pickling Tubs
Pickling tubs, or buckets, are used for making tsukemono and are widely available in kitchen-supply stores. They can be bought in a variety of sizes, are made of food-grade plastic and so are suitable for beer brewing. I have two 30-liter containers.
By itself, it can be used for primary fermenetaiton.
By adding a spigot, a pickling tub can be used as a bottling bucket and mash tun.
I bought a spigot, and added that to my pickling tub to make a bottling bucket. To cut the hole for the spigot, I drew a circle on the side of the bucket near the bottom, then used a drill to cut a series of holes just inside the circle. Then I used an X-acto knife to enlarge and smooth out the hole, testing with the spigot until it just fit.
When I picked the height of the whole, I unfortunately choose it too low, so that the weight of the bucket is borne by the spigot. This is a problem when the bucket is full of wort. I have to place a spacer under the bucket to get the spigot off the ground (or turn it upside down) so the weight doesn't break the spigot.
The tub also came with a plastic plate for pressing down on the vegetables. This I used for a false bottom for sparging mashed grains. I drilled a couple hundred holes in this plate. For sparging, I put three bowls upside down inside the bucket, which hold the plate off the bottom and above the spigot. Then the grains go on top of the plate, and the runoff goes through the holes. The problem with this setup is that there is a gap between the plate and the side of the bucket, and so I have to carefully place the grains in the center so not too many fall off.
A better idea is to use the double-bucket technique. Drill holes in the bottom of a second tub of the same size and this can be used to hold the grains inside the bucket with the spigot. Since these buckets can be stacked inside one another, the second bucket doesn't require much additional storage space.
I used the brewpot-in-the-bathtub method for cooling wort until I found a technique which is almost as effective as using a wort chiller.
I put the shower head, which is on a hose, inside the pickling tub filled with cold water. Then I put the brewpot into the tub. Following that, I turn on the shower with cold water and low pressure so that cold water gradually moves up pass the surface of brewpot, and then overflows out of the pickling tub. The kettle is 13 liters and the pickling tub is 30 liters, so there is enough space for the kettle to float, but not enough for it to tip over.
By itself, it can be used for primary fermenetaiton.
Bottling Bucket
By adding a spigot, a pickling tub can be used as a bottling bucket and mash tun.
I bought a spigot, and added that to my pickling tub to make a bottling bucket. To cut the hole for the spigot, I drew a circle on the side of the bucket near the bottom, then used a drill to cut a series of holes just inside the circle. Then I used an X-acto knife to enlarge and smooth out the hole, testing with the spigot until it just fit.
When I picked the height of the whole, I unfortunately choose it too low, so that the weight of the bucket is borne by the spigot. This is a problem when the bucket is full of wort. I have to place a spacer under the bucket to get the spigot off the ground (or turn it upside down) so the weight doesn't break the spigot.
Sparging Bucket
The tub also came with a plastic plate for pressing down on the vegetables. This I used for a false bottom for sparging mashed grains. I drilled a couple hundred holes in this plate. For sparging, I put three bowls upside down inside the bucket, which hold the plate off the bottom and above the spigot. Then the grains go on top of the plate, and the runoff goes through the holes. The problem with this setup is that there is a gap between the plate and the side of the bucket, and so I have to carefully place the grains in the center so not too many fall off.
A better idea is to use the double-bucket technique. Drill holes in the bottom of a second tub of the same size and this can be used to hold the grains inside the bucket with the spigot. Since these buckets can be stacked inside one another, the second bucket doesn't require much additional storage space.
"Wort Chiller"
I used the brewpot-in-the-bathtub method for cooling wort until I found a technique which is almost as effective as using a wort chiller.
I put the shower head, which is on a hose, inside the pickling tub filled with cold water. Then I put the brewpot into the tub. Following that, I turn on the shower with cold water and low pressure so that cold water gradually moves up pass the surface of brewpot, and then overflows out of the pickling tub. The kettle is 13 liters and the pickling tub is 30 liters, so there is enough space for the kettle to float, but not enough for it to tip over.
Buying Supplies and Equipment
In English
Beer Club Japan in Kobe. Good selection of ingredients and equipment, including grains; liquid yeasts by special order. Has an English-language page and English speaking-staff.
http://www.bcjkobe.com/english/index.htm
Home Microteq in Tokyo. Sells Brewiser products, including malt extract and hop bags.
http://members.tripod.com/~Home_Microteq/index.html
In Japanese
Tokyu Hands sells a starter's kit, and a limited supply of equipment and malt extracts.
Advanced Brewing Appears to have a good selection of ingredients and supplies.
http://www.amy.hi-ho.ne.jp/brew/
My Beer Kobo Satoru (マイビア工房さとる) in Kobe. A good selection of canned malts. Dried malt extract, pellet hops and some equipment. Japanese translation of one of Charlie Papazian's books.
http://www.h2.dion.ne.jp/~beer/index.htm
Ura Sake in Okayama. Starter kits and Cooper's supplies.
http://www.ura-sake.com/
Beer starter kits, also starter kits for wine making, coffee roasting, etc.
http://www.auvelcraft.co.jp/beer/index.html
Beer kits and few other ingredients and supplies.
http://beer.ocnk.net/ http://www.kenahoma.cx/beer/
An odd and short product list, some kegging equipment
http://www.beerex.co.jp/
Sells a starter kit and a keg, books. Has directions for mashing in Japanese.
http://www.nbjapan.co.jp/
Outside of Japan
There is no shortage of mail-order brew supply stores in the U.S. and elsewhere.
F. H. Stienbart, Portland, Oregon. The online store has a large selection of ingredients and equipment. The staff is helpful and responsive, and I've requested items which are in the store, but not listed on the on-line site. I buy from them regularly, and they will ship to Japan, including heavy items.
http://www.fhsteinbart.com/
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
External Links
Cervesa Japonica is a blog by Stephen Lacey on Japanese craft beers, beer fests and homebrewing.
http://japan-beer.blogspot.com/
Beer Advocate
http://beeradvocate.com/
Brewium seems to be a new site "dedicated to the science of homebrewing"
http://www.brewium.com/
Homebrew Talk Wiki
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Wikipeida articles:
Beer
Homebrewing
Homebrewinng Beer
Brewing
Wikibooks Brewing
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Brewing
Google and "convert" Google is useful for converting to and from metric, for example pipe sizes:
convert 5/8 inch to mm
and for comparing prices in different countries, for example prices of dried malt extract:
convert 12 usd/3 lbs to yen/100 gram
http://japan-beer.blogspot.com/
Beer Advocate
http://beeradvocate.com/
Brewium seems to be a new site "dedicated to the science of homebrewing"
http://www.brewium.com/
Homebrew Talk Wiki
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Wikipeida articles:
Wikibooks Brewing
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Brewing
Google and "convert" Google is useful for converting to and from metric, for example pipe sizes:
convert 5/8 inch to mm
and for comparing prices in different countries, for example prices of dried malt extract:
convert 12 usd/3 lbs to yen/100 gram
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