Tripping Far Side

Today after work, we went to a Beer Garden atop Hotel Keihan in the Avanti Building just south of Kyoto Station. Take the elevator to the top of the building, and you can't miss it. The price per person is 3300 yen which amounts to about $27 US with the current exchange rate. It's a flat fee that you pay before you enter at the ticket booth.

Let me explain the concept of a "Beer Garden" in Japan, since it's different from the States.

First and foremost, the beer. It's nomihoudai, which means all-you-can-drink. !!! It's draft beer, poured diligently for you by the attending staff.

And of course, I heart Japanese draft beer--it's the smoothest lager that I've had. I've tried Japanese beer in the States, but it's just not the same. To me, "clean" is the word. Makes you wanna say "Ahhhhh" from the very first gulp. Every tip of the glass is refreshing, and importantly, there's no aftertaste. Well, there's a tinge of sweetness to me (probably because I love it). Doesn't weigh you down either. I've been drinking a lot of beer lately, and I haven't gotten any hangovers when I don't mix. This beer garden served Asahi Super Dry (yes!)

I've found that here, most Japanese seem to prefer the top fifth to be a creamy, white head of foam. Draft beer is served like this at every place I've been to. So, I like to say "awa nashi de", which means "without the foam". Just gets in the way when I'm getting my drink on.

Down the way, was a machine to automatically dispense the beer just right. Put the mug there, press the button. Then watch as it tilts the glass, pours the beer, untilts, and then dispenses the foam. You guessed it--I like to pull the mug out just before the foam starts. Now this is the kind of kegerator I like.

Of course, they also serve all-you-can-drink chuhai, in all kinds of various flavors. Chuhai is shochu (which I think is made from potatoes, like vodka) mixed with a fruit-flavored soda, like lemon, lime, orange, grape, or even Calpis (yogurty flavor?). Pretty popular in Japan, but I'll stick with the "biiru".

The other part to a Japanese Beer Garden is the all-you-can-eat food. !!! All kinds of servings of foods that go good with, well, beer. Lots of fried foods in Japanese-style, as well as yakisoba, dumplings, or such. The poster for this one had pieces of steak, but actually it was slivers of beer. Still tasty.

And all for $27 US. There's just no downside to it.

I've been to various beer gardens in Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Himeji. The formula is all the same: top of a building, outdoors, and flat fee all-you-can-drink-and-eat. Generally at the top of hotels or big department stores--look for posters on the bottom floor entrance (can't miss them). You should familiarize yourself with the katakana for beer: ビール. And, they're only open during the Spring and Summertime, so I say, plan your trip to Japan wisely.

We went for another round at Miho, for Okinawan "Aomori" liquor. Stiff stuff! I really like going out with the Japanese coworkers! We went out on a Thursday night, since Friday is a company holiday. TGIT!

(My pics aren't very good, since blogging wasn't on my mind then).