One thing I’ve come to realize is that Japanese people love their alcohol. When a work day is finished, the Japanese salary-man would go to an “izakaya” (Japanese pub) for some drinks with fellow workers. If the boss is going along as well, you have no say in the matter and don’t really have a choice but to go! The selection of Japanese alcohol is impressive, especially outside of the typically known sake. With the trend of Japanese food and Japanese bars in North America, it only helps to understand all the options (or poisons) available to enhance your night! And as they say in the popular Pokémon anime series…. “Gotta Try ‘Em All!” (Or more correctly, “Gotta Catch ‘Em All!”).
The typical beverage ordered is beer, sometimes in a mug and other times by the bottle. Each person will pour a drink for someone else, never pouring their own drink. If a person decides to make rounds to speak with everyone in the party, he or she would bring a long a bottle to top up each person’s glass.
As I’ve mentioned, beer is the number one drink of choice by the Japanese people. But there are many other drinks they may order as well in the izakaya and clubs. Despite having lived in Tokyo for the past two and half years, I have yet to try all of the drinks I will be introducing. But I’ve had my share of hang overs with many of them too!
1. Beer – There are four main breweries: Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory with Asahi being the most popular beer in Japan.
2. Sake – Japanese rice wine usually served either hot or cold. This contains 10-20% alcohol.
3. Umeshu – Japanese plum wine which is sweet, fruity and has an almost juice like flavor. This drink is wonderful if you aren’t big on beer and sake and want something with an UMPH in it. This is one of my favorite drinks to order when I’m not up for beer, but be warned, you don’t want to drink this like you’re drinking juice!!
4. Shochu – This drink is best served mixed with either oolong tea, fruit juice (like orange juice), or water (regular or sparkling with ice) to soften the blow from the 20-40% alcohol content! The varieties of shochu is simply astounding (as seen in the picture below).
5. Chuhai – This is a nice alcoholic drink which comes in many flavors such as: apple, lemon, peach, grapefruit, and lime. Containing 5-8% alcohol, there is a little bit of shochu mixed in.
6. Red-Eye – Surprisingly, this is frequently ordered in clubs. Basically it is 1/2 tomato juice, 1/2 beer! Strange, yes, but the Japanese club goers love it.
7. Hoppy – A beer-like tasting drink, which is NOT beer, is mixed with shochu and ice. Mostly found in Tokyo, there are smaller establishments serving it, if you can find it.
8. “Sour” drinks – Peach Sour, Lemon Sour, etc. – Mixed from shochu, soda water and flavored liqueur, sour drinks are great in taste. However, I consider it to be a dangerous drink considering how many times I’ve gotten drunk from it!
Some of these are typical drinks you might already know and have tried, but if you get the chance, and are daring enough, I would suggest trying the more unusual, uncommon drinks. But be warned, most of these drinks are not good for those who are considered light-weights. I hope you’re now inspired to try ‘em all!
[Picture courtesy of flickr: naotakem, kenleewrites]
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[...] got an excellent choice of drinks (or poisons) to enhance/finish your night. To say the least, the selection of Japanese alcohol is impressive, ranging from varieties of beer, sake, umeshu, shochu, Chuhai, to unique Japanese cocktail mixes. [...]