This is incredible, there have been some epic beer ads in recent times but this one from Japan’s Sapporo takes the cake. Called “Legendary Biru”using a seemless collection of digital and live images to create a breath taking video.  That good I think I need another beer – enjoy!

Well after yesterday’s story on Japanese Beer we thought why not have another one. This time its Hoppy. Well it’s not really a beer, in fact it’s nearly alcohol free (0.8%) but it tastes and looks pretty much like a beer.

The beer like drink is actually a distilled beverage and is quiet popular in the izakaya or Japanese pubs where people don’t want to drink too much alcohol. But the drink is sometimes mixed with shochu which is a bit like sake to give it an alcoholic kick; this is very popular in some of the nightspots and karaoke bars.  Hoppy offer a few different flavours of their beverage, including a black bitter and sweet drink which is very like a dark ale and also quite tasty.

There are reports that this beer is no longer brewed by Suntory, we would love some more information if anyone has it.  We bought these two on a recent visit to Japan and found them very refreshing after a long day exploring Japan.  The beer was dry and fairly malty with a sweet nutty flavour. Although there were dark malts used the beer was a bright yellow with very white fluffy head once poured into a glass. Launched in 2005 the beer used corn in its production and it was a low carb drop. The beer was one of the brand’s malt beverages which were not taxed like normal beer, although still 5% alcohol, it was sold quite a bit cheaper than a normal beer. A can in a 7-11 might cost around 110 yen ($1) for a 500ml can where normal beers would sell about 30-40% more.

SharamQ are one of the hottest J-Pop bands in Japan and they feature in this series of Suntory Beer Comercials. Wiht their lead singer Tsunku looking a bit like Adam Ant they belt out the Suntory Jingle. The band  formed in 1988 and ran for a few years then came back due to popular demand in 2006 and have continued to today.  They have had a string of hits but our favorite is Shin R?men Daisuki Koike-san no Uta – which translated is about about Koike who likes Noodles- again only in Japan.

Beer vending machines in the street- well it could only be in Japan. Although not as common as soda or icecream vending machines Japan has Beer vending machines. Many of them are easily accessible on street corners, you just put in your Yen select which beer you would like and presto- a can of beer, you can even purchase your favorite smokes in an adjoining machine how convenient is that.  Minors don’t touch them as there’s a sign on them saying you have to be 18 to purchase grog- a wonderful deterrent, which some how seems to work.

Well while dad is knocking back a few ice cold Christmas beers, its not fair the kids missing out. Well in Japan they can join in too, with this beer like beverage. The beverage looks and tastes like beer but there is no alcohol is actually a apple soda based drink- but kids seem to love it. And there’s even a pink label for the girls and a blue one for the boys- how cool is that.  Check out the video its a lot of fun and there’s a pretty cute snowman in there too!  For a real laugh check out their great website- http://www.sangaria.co.jp  it’s written in Japanese but you will easily get the idea and the music is just ‘great’.  Kampai!

No it’s not our sister site www.happyjappy.com its a happy Japanese guy and his Suntory Beer. I suppose you don’t need a better reason to be happy than have a beer.  Sit back and enjoy the fun!

Yes thats right the Yokohama is the place to celebrate Oktoberfest. German Bier, Sausages, giant pretzels, more bier, Bustly Barmaids (well Japanese ones) and even more beer plus all the things you would expect in Munich can be found at the annual Oktoberfest Celebration in the Japan city of Yokohama. The event started in 2003 and has been a huge hit ever since. It is held at the waterfront at the Aka Renga Soko or old Red Brick Warehouse where huge tents are erected for the event.  This year’s party starts on the 3rd of October and continues through to the 13th.

http://www.nihon-oktoberfest.com/

Trust the Japanese to come up with something so weird- Sapporo Breweries are making a special batch of space beer! Yes, they are brewing beer using barley which are grown from decedents of grain which has traveled to outer space and lived on board the International space station for five months. The team sent just under an ounce of barley into space then planted about a quarter of it when it returned to Earth. This quarter was planted and its crop then sown to produce about 50 kilograms of grain. This grain will end up in the space beer. The test batch will make about 100 bottles, and there are plenty of people lining up to taste it, but we don’t know why. Scientists have tested the grain and found it is no different to grain which has spent it’s life on Earth- well who cares, it will still be tasty Sapporo Beer I suppose.

The Japanese really know how to automate everything, how’s this flash beer pouring machine. Not only does it hold the glass properly to pour it- it even creates the frothy head Japanese love so dearly on their beer. No longer do you need to wait for the bar tender to meticulously create the head (while you could be drinking it) the machine does it quickly and perfect every time, two at a time. It’s a wonder they have not invented a machine to drink the beer…well there’s an idea!

We haven’t done a Japanese Beer commercial for a while and found this one, its a ripper, but we have no idea what it is about- It advertises Sapporo which is one of Japan’s tastier drops and as you will see this ad features a some pretty weird images and sounds not forgetting a quick toilet stop. It looks as if it is shot in Akasaka in Tokyo at a bar, during a few afterwork drinks with the boys- there’s some references to proverbs- and even some weird tribal dancing– who knows?  If you can work out whats going on drop us a line in the comments box below.

For more infomation on Japan visit   www.happyjappy.com

The Japanese sure love their beer and beer drinkers will be out in force next week for the Japan Craft Beer Association is hosting the 11th annual Great Beer Festival at the Ebishu Garden Palace. The event is to be held on the 5th and 6th of May and more than 120 craft beers will be represented. All you need to do is turn up with your sampling shoes purchase a ticket and start trying these lovely beers. (you can purchase tickets before hand and save yourself a few Yen, Family Mart, Circle J-Sankus are a few of the continence stores which sell them, otherwise tickets are Y4800 at the door). The beers are served in 1.7 ounce portions and are sectioned into 12 categories, a great way to fill in a cool afternoon in Tokyo- Kampai!

People in Osaka don’t miss out either as they have their festival on starting May 31 at hte Sky Hall at the Kyosera Dome in Nishi-Ku.
Don’t’ forget to visit http://www.happyjappy.com for all your Japan travel needs.

We have absolutely no idea what’s going on here but its got something to do with beer and we are rolling around the floor laughing at the stupidity of it all. From what we can work out Beer-Chan is the little yellow guy with the beer and he is the Beer fairy. Now don’t just watch the You Tube video take a look at the website for the Beer Fairy it is ridiculous, we are sure as the Telly Tubbies make sense on Speed the beer fairy will make sense on beer- you will probably need a bit though! Enjoy the fun
If you do nothing else today at least go to this site: http://www.san-x.co.jp/charageki/beer/images/Beerchan.swf We would love to hear your comments- drop us a line and tell us what you thought and send the our link to all your friends they will love it!

After yesterday’s amusing Japanese beer ad we thought we would do another, this time for Asahi. These guys are cooking up a huge sausage feast and plan to wash it down with a few ice cold Asahi’s. There’s some great expressions and beer and sausage party looks pretty tasty, wish we were there!

We haven’t featured a Japanese Beer ad for a while and thought it was about time, because there are so many interesting ones. This one is for the tasty Sapporo Beer, Ive got no idea what the ad is about just some lovely Japanese girls laughing at their guys in cardboard godzilla costumes. What are these advertising companies on- probably Sapporo.. Sit back and enjoy.