On Feb 17, 5:06 am, mtfes...@netMAPSONscape.net wrote:
> One of my complaints about Japanese beers is the lack of good dark
> beers. Nijiya (here in SF) is now selling the above-mentioned stout.
> Not bad at all (though I'd label it more a "porter".) How available
> is it now in Japan, or am I the first to hear of it?

Its available in boutique pubs here and there. I often have it when I
stumble into popeye
http://www.40beersontap.com/
That pub usually has a good range of the "new".

I reckon its more of a porter, sort of in between the "shimaguni
stout" and the "kurofune porter" that BairdBeer produce in Shizuoka.
They may be sourcing from same/similar suppliers. If those two are
also in SF you might enjoy comparing them with Echigo.

The major mass-breweries are trying to market stouts. I have trouble
obtaining Beamish or Murphy's in kegs, but Guinness is just about
everywhere now so Kirin etc are trying to get in on the action. The
Kirin "stout" is nowhere near the local boutique breweries in terms of
taste though.