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Fujiyama Beer by Tara Lowe In 1994, the Japanese govenrnmet lifted the heavy restrictions on microbrewing in Japan by lowering the strict production requirement for companies from two million liters to just 60,000 liters a year. Thus, the Big Four (Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo, and Suntory) could no longer maintain such a strong oligopoly over the country's brewing industry. As a result, cities like Fujiyoshida have been able to open small microbreweries of their own with the intention of drawing customers from the thriving local tourist industry. Within just two months of opening, Fujiyama Beer managed to draw in over one thousand customers a day and during one of the city's peak tourist seasons, Golden Week, they succeeded in serving over two thousand people a day. These figues sound truly amazing for such a small city, but you will soon know exactly why it has been so successful. Fujiyama Beer keeps them coming back again and again with its lively atmosphere, lots and lots of good food, and of course, plenty of great tasting beer. A Real German-style Environment
Brewmeisters and equipment were brought over from Germany for a period of several months to come up with and teach special beer recipes to suit the local tastes and to get the place up and running. Thus, it is no wonder why as soon as you set foot in the lobby, it feels as if you have been transported back into time to a medieval German castle hosting one giant beer hall lined with row and rows of jolly drinkers, mugs raised in unison and cheerfully toasting each other with a tall frosty glass of foaming white suds. Also, the numerous colorful flags streaming down from the ceiling with their various coats of arms featuring valiant knights on horse back and ferocious-looking lions teamed together with the red brick and polished wood interior all help to further bring out the restaurant's medieval motif.
Delicious Course Meals Sticking with the German theme, the restaraunt serves up a variety of breads and cheeses, sausages, and sauerkraut, and of course, potatoes and lots and lots of grilled meat. In addition, there are also a number of other rather unusual tasty morsels which have been added to please the local palates. Don't miss the seafood pizza served on a toasted squid ink crust, the big plates of peel-n-eat shrimp, the daikon salads, and of course, the special Yamanashi specialties of raw hores meat and udon. On the weekends, you will be both surprised and happy to see a number of women shoving big carts around piled high with steaming baskets of Chinese dim sum. And, when you are finished trying all of these, don't even think of walking out withut indulging in an order of kabotcha (pumpkin) ice. This special dish is served in a cute little green pumpkin hollowed out and filled with a nice sized helping of lip smacking pumpkin-flavored ice cream. Bring out the Beer!
Now lets get down to business. After all, this is really a giant watering hole so I definitely cannot forget to say something about the beer. By making use of the high quality water from nearby Mt. Fuji and harvesting an abundant supply of hops growning on the mountainside, Fujiyoshida has been able to come up with three unique beers: Weizen, Pils, and Dunkel. The Weizen is a bit cloudy and has a fruity flavor, and quite popluar among female drinkers who prefer it served up with a small slice of lemon. The Pils is the most popular beer and is recognizable by its light taste and pure golden color. Finally, drinkers should be quite happy to indulge in the Dunkel which is a special dark beer made of roasted malt and possessing a much stronger flavor. The beers are served in glasses measuring 300 to 500 ml, and of cource there are the 1.6 liter pitchers. If you have trouble deciding on which beer to indulge in, then it is suggested that you try a sample set. They will serve you a cute wooden tray holding three 70 ml glasses of each of the beers. After drinking these and deciding on your favorite, order a glass or an entire pitcher. Finally, when it gets time to leave, you will be quite relieved to kow that each froth is available for sale in its own take-home refillable bottle. The practice of microbrewing is rapidly catching on in Japan and since many Japanese are travelling overseas and developing new tastes for more exotic beers, it is no wonder that microbreweries are popping up in small towns all over the country. Fujiyama Beer is a perfect spolt for hanging out with a bunch of your pals and relaxing while sipping on a few cold ones. There is seating for four hundred and they offer several large tables in back, perfect for your next office party. |
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