Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:
Although the weather is providing a poor indication, the calendar reads “Spring.” Spring, of course, is the season of new beginnings. Today’s 2006 release of an annual Baird Beer spring seasonal — Bureiko Jikan Golden Ale — represents just such a new beginning.
Baird Bureiko Jikan Golden Ale is a Belgian-inspired ale of stealthy potency. It is brewed in the spirit of a lubricant to an important Japanese social custom: bureiko jikan. In Japanese, “bureiko jikan” means the time when the strictures of hierarchy in relationships break away and real feelings can be earnestly expressed without the threat of negative consequences or recrimination. Bureiko Jikan thus plays an important facilitating role in the creation of new beginnings within the Japan social milieu.
The new beginning for Baird Bureiko Jikan Golden Ale in 2006 comes in its ingredient makeup. The malt base is exclusively German this year. Pilsner, Vienna and Carared malts from Weyermann in Bamberg have rendered a lighter body and crisper flavor than in years past. This malt base, together with the large additions of Japanese candy sugar, lend a spritzy and refreshing character to this otherwise strong Golden Ale (alcohol by volume approximately 6.2%) that is almost criminal. It is like a velvet blitzkrieg! The translucent golden hue also will lull the imbiber into a false sense of security, suggesting in its appearance a light and mild lager. The translucence actually reveals a Teutonic clarity of purpose – to get you schnookered!
A wonderfully clean and crisp hop bitterness is provided by additions of American Magnum and Horizon hops. An earthy, mineral-like character is present in both the nose and the flavor and likely stems from the dry hopping with American Mount Hood hops as well as from the additions of calcium chloride and gypsum minerals to the otherwise very soft Numazu water. With time in the glass, this mineral nose gives way to a floral-sweet aroma.
Bureiko Jikan Golden Ale 2006 is available only on draught. It will be served at the Fishmarket Taproom in Numazu beginning Wednesday, April 19. It will also be available on draught at several Baird Beer retailers in the coming days.
Also, please note that the Fishmarket Taproom will be open daily from noon throughout Golden Week this year (including Monday & Tuesday, May 1-2).
Taproom Golden Week Hours:
Saturday, April 29 – Sunday, May 7 (Noon to 12:30 AM)
We hope to see you soon.
Cheers!
