Neil is a fellow blogger(Tokyo Beer Drinker) i got to know on social media very early on when this blog started--and became friends after meeting up in Tokyo--still remember that's when i had my first Dark Lord(2009) bottle found and shared at a bar in Shibuya.
Neil是比较早期通过社交网络认识，是如果人在东京一定会见面喝几杯的啤迷朋友。这是他连续三年应邀写来的年度选清单，细读的会发现他的酒单中还有一些对啤酒的感想心得态度。。
This is 3rd year in a row Neil is writing his list--as always, it's not only about what he drank--but some thoughts too...
here's the list in his own words:-( in English ofcoz)
Kyoto Brewing
Not
specifically one beer I know (and this you will soon see is a bit of a trend in
my list of memorable beers this year), but Kyoto have been coming out with some
great stuff this year. Not to be confused with Kizakura whose beers have Kyoto
in their names and are widely available in bottles, Kyoto Brewing are at the
moment on tap only. Normally when the Belgian and US beer worlds collide they
end up with something that’s a little disappointing, but Kyoto’s main theme of
mostly brewing Belgian style beers but with a nod towards US stuff avoids this.
Their year round beers Ichigo Ichie and Ichii Senshin are great. The kind of
thing I want to drink all year round which is pretty convenient. Some of their
specials have been great. Highlights were Nidomemashite, Catcher in the Oats,
Ishin Denshin, Aki no Kimagure. But to be honest, it’s rare that they have
duffers. So pleased that I can drink Kyoto all the time.
来自英伦的Neil喜欢比利时是认识他的人都知道的事--在他印象中，当酿酒师尝试酿出融汇比利时和美国啤酒特色啤酒时，很多时候是让人失望的。不过，凡事有例外，京都酿造这家美国人主理的酿坊就做得很不错。除了很不错的常态款, 也有好些出色特酿.
对于能时不时喝到目前仍然没生产瓶装版的京都酿造啤酒, Neil显然很开心。
Rare lambics at The Trailer
We had a
special event in Tokyo a few months ago where some ultra rare aged lambics were
sold by the glass by a bar that is normally known for having a pretty boring
selection. Really not sure where the event came from as it was a bit of a
surprise, but it gave me a chance to have some great stuff that I never thought
I would be able to drink. These included a Drie Fonteinen Schaerbeekske Kriek
from 2002 and a Cantillon Grand Cru Bruocsella from 1996. Whilst these beers
were great it did make me think that things seem to have gone a bit crazy
recently with rare beers. They were special, but maybe it is more special to
sit on a terrace in Brussels and drink something that might have only recently
come from the brewery and enjoy it for what it is. The reason we all drink beer
is that it is enjoyable, but I feel somehow that the enjoyment has gone for
some people and it’s more about acquiring the rarities in some kind of show of
oneupmanship. But I shouldn’t complain too much, as at least these beers were
being drunk and not just left unopened and traded round the world time after
time. So, maybe I should add to the comment saying that I believe beer should
be fun and enjoyable, the fact that it should also be drunk instead of being
used as currency.
几个月前，东京有家酒吧举办了特别活动，这家NEIL形容是“平时选酒很闷”的店来了一批比利时果酸啤酒陈酿--包括2002年的Drie Fonteinen Schaerbeekske Kriek和1996年的Cantillon Grand Cru Bruocsella--店家做法是开瓶一杯杯卖。
在东京喝到这样难找的陈酿对NEIL来说有些感触，一是如果换作是坐在比利时酿坊某角落喝感觉会更爽--另一是，NEIL觉得这样的出名酿坊陈酿对有些人来说已经失去原本喝酒人的乐趣，因为这些人只会拿这样等级啤酒来炫耀，觉得拥有这些瓶子就好像高人一等，再不然就一直只是收藏或当作啤酒交换筹码，一瓶啤酒不能喝只是全世界换来转去的，有意思吗？
NEIL觉得，啤酒应该是有趣的，拿来喝的，不是当作交换货币般使用。
Yorocco Kinkan Porter Brett version
Almost
appropriate that Yorocco should follow the rant above, as they are starting to
pick up some admiring glances from various places. Yorocco is run the right way
though, believing that we should drink local. This means that it is pretty
difficult to find it even in Tokyo. It often doesn’t make it outside of Zushi,
and in a way this makes it more special. If you have to work to get it, maybe
the satisfaction increases. I really admire the way they do things and even
better, they make great beer too. There seems to be thinking behind the beers
they are making, rather than the more hit and (mainly) miss experimentation of
other certain brewers in Japan. The Kinkan Porter Brett was amazing. But
generally speaking, most of their beers are. But don’t tell anyone that, as
their beers are already difficult enough to get as it is.
这是一家位于逗子市的小型日本酿坊，注重在地精神意味着这家的啤酒在东京也难觅踪迹，NEIL喜欢这家的大部分啤酒，也希望啤酒炒家们离这家远远的。
Hitachino Nest Barrel Aged Nipponia
A real
surprise as Nest beers have been a touch on the safe and dull side recently.
Probably the biggest parts of the surprise were how cheap they were selling
this beer at the Keyaki festival and the fact that it was even available.
Normally the bottles are expensive and go straight to the US. This was much
nice than a lot of the US sours I’ve tried this year and was even reaching for
Belgian levels. Let’s hope their regular beers get a bit more exciting.
这是一支让NEIL觉得意外的啤酒，近期这家的啤酒徘徊于“安全或沉闷”之间，在一次啤酒节庆以相对便宜价格喝到这桶陈版本让NEIL觉得比起一些美国酿造酸啤酒来得更好，甚至感觉逼近比利时酸啤酒水平。
Omnipollo Noa Pecan Mud Cake Stout
One of those
beers that feels wrong, but tastes so nice. Not sure how many I could have, but
this was really delicious even though it sounded a bit gimmicky. Will have to
look out for their latest stuff.
NEIL感觉这支是“听起来很不对劲，喝起来很美味”的酿品。
De la Senne bottles
As I alluded
to above, I’ve got this thing about drinking beers in appropriate locations. It
really adds to the experience I feel. On my summer trip to Belgium I was lucky
enough to run into a whole load of new seasonals from De La Senne, one of my
favourite breweries. No trip to Brussels is complete without at least a few
Zinnebirs, but this time I also got to try their Bruxellensis, Birthday
Session, Session 4, Sineke and Double Saison. Probably shouldn’t have drunk them
all in the same evening but when the chance is there, you’ve got to take it.
NEIL是喜欢在感觉对的地方喝比利时啤酒的人（就是在比利时喝比利时啤酒 ：）-今年夏天他很幸运的碰上这家酿坊发放的一些新品，虽然喝完了觉得好像不该一次过喝，可是机会难逢，还是喝了再说。
Shonan Weizenbock
This totally
came out of nowhere for me. I wasn’t expecting it to be so good. Weizenbock is
a style that I like but I’m not wild about, but this one was just mind-blowingly
nice. Shonan make some good stuff and kind of get forgotten sometimes. I also
really enjoyed their Barrel Aged Belgian Stout and some of their single hop
IPAs have been great too.
这是完全意料之外的发现，湘南酿坊的这个德式啤酒好到令NEIL“脑震荡”--他也喜欢这家的桶陈黑啤和IPA。
Siren Barrel Aged Shattered Dream
A bottle I
brought back from the UK early this year. I’m just picking this beer to
represent my love for Siren’s stuff. I think they are definitely at the
forefront of the UK scene, making interesting and often delicious stuff. Not
everything has been a hit for me, but the majority have. I should also mention
that they have excellent customer service, perfectly sorting out a problem I
had with an order from them, even though it was by no means their fault. Cheers
Siren!
从英国带回东京的瓶子--虽然不是所有酿品都合心意，不过，因为对SIREN这家酿坊的喜爱，NEIL选了这支代表心意。
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