Reasons to drink - Hanami

Not that we ever need a reason to drink beer, there are events around the world where it makes even more sense.

This time of the year (in Australia) Japanese cherry blossoms that are around blossom for a short time and remind us why Japan is such a beautiful place.

As a part of my aikido group I participate in a yearly hanami, or flower viewing in English. It’s a unique time of the year where people (in Japan) gather under the cherry blossoms, drink, eat and immerse themselves in nature now that spring has arrived.

I’m sure there are many places where sakura are planted in Australia are planted but I only know of Deloraine, Tasmania where many trees that were donated to the area by Japan were planted by the river.

I have toasted to the blossoms in fashion this year, with Japanese beer. As an added touch we make sushi to take with us and drink warm saké, Japanese rice wine.

The pictures in this post are from last year.  

Cheers,

Dave

NZ Pure

In all of my beer drinking experiences I had yet to come across anything from New Zealand.

Now I can say that not only do they have beer but I have tried one and can say it was pretty good.

In saying that, NZ Pure won the trophy at the 2012 New Zealand Beer awards for being the best New Zealand style lager.

The make-up of the beer is similar to other beers I have discussed, made using malt, hops, water and specially selected yeast it is pure in that it is beer made from the core ingredients (remember the old German beer purity laws?).

Pure, just like the beer

Upon tasting I had flash backs to James Boag’s Pure, a fantastic beer that is sadly no longer with us.

I have never been to New Zealand but I know some people from there, a nice country with a lot of culture and history to share. If their beer is this good, I’ll have to put them on my bucket list to visit one day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWOwe_n-2Gw

The locals enjoying the scenery

This one isn’t as easy to find given that it’s an import, but it is owned by Asahi (the Japanese are back!), who obviously export it as one of the better beers New Zealand has to offer.

I wonder if there are any other NZ beers in Tassie that I can find? I’ll keep you posted.

Cheers,

Dave