It’s that time of year where the American brewers are putting down their brewing paddles and heading to Japan to offer their delights at the American Craft Beer Experience.

This is the fourth year of the Yanks coming to town, which will be held at the Takeshiba New Pier Hall for two days and it’s hosted by the American Brewers Association. At the BA booth, they will be selling cans and bottles from Beards Brewery, Mother Earth Brewing Company, West Sixth Brewing, and Goodwood Brewing Company.

There will be a few newbies at this event but let’s not judge them so quickly.

Goodwood Brewing Company

Goodwood’s beer, made in Louisiana, Kentucky, takes its heritage from Kentucky bourbon, primarily due to the limestone water. Second, each brew touches wood in some fashion, whether in reclaimed oak casks that was once used for bourbon, red wine, tequila, rum, or brandy. If they are not aged in wood barrels, they are seasoned with oak, hemp, poplar, or ash. Goodwood’s “shade-grown beers” are all touched by the natural gradations of reclaimed casks and other wood types that give flavorful expressions. (Sold in bottles or cans)

Beards Brewery

Beards is located in downtown Petoskey, Michigan and this brewery has been eager to bring their beers to Japan because their sister city is Takashima in Shiga Prefecture. Their motto is “Passionate about Craft” because they are utilizing local and seasonal ingredients while having a dedication to music and supporting local art programs. They were kind to give us a list of the brews that they will be bringing to you.

Owlmadillo – Bright American IPA featuring Mosaic and Amarillo hops.

Oh! The Citranity! – Bright, citrus nose and flavor profile with pronounced grapefruit notes and a balanced bitter finish. Pairs exceedingly well with fish, BBQ, burgers on the grill, and for ball games.

Luna – Crisp and Refreshing saison-styled American wheat ale with notes of citrus. It pairs amazingly with summer days on the beach and nights by the campfire.

Serendipity Porter – Exceptionally smooth with a pronounced chocolaty flavor and balanced sweetness. There are subtle notes of cherry and smoke on the finish. Pairs well with desserts featuring peanut butter and chocolate, or a second glass of Serendipity

Deez Nutz – It is smooth and chewy with nutty caramel flavors and a medium body. Deez Nutz brown ale is brewed with oats, chocolate, and caramel malts and English varietal hops.

West Sixth Brewing

Last year, West Sixth sent their beers to the ACBE 2017 addition, but this year, they are coming to have a drink with you. West Sixth Brewing is in the heart of bourbon country in Kentucky. They have been in the game of brewing for 6 years in an old bakery that is over 100 years old and their 120 acre farm is located one hour from the brewery.

West Sixth IPA – This IPA is their flagship beer and after reading the description, we can see why half their production is this brew.

Pennyrile Pale Ale – This pale ale won the bronze medal at the World Beer Cup earlier this year, so grab a can as quick as you can, because it is also one of their seasonal beers.

Snakes in a Barrel – It is an Imperial Stout that has been aged over one year in fresh Kentucky Bourbon Barrels at 13%.

Five Good Inc. (Importer)

Five Good is a fairly new importer, that was just established last year. This company focuses on breweries on the east coast, especially in the New York. For this event, they will be importing products from Evolution Craft Brewing Company in Maryland. Their lineup of their beers is not set, but Taihei got a rough list of what they will be bringing from the folks at Five Good.

Lot No.3 IPA – An American-style IPA that has over 2 pounds of hops per barrel, is there a thing of too many hops?

Pine’hop’le IPA – A classic American IPA that has a pineapple profile, because it was brewed with lots and lots of pineapple juice for those big citrus notes.

Day Crush Session Sour – This session sour has a mash bill of over 50% wheat; a crushable drink for sure.

Rise Up Stout – A Caribbean-style stout; the beans in this Caribbean-style stout are locally roasted at Rise Up Coffee in Easton, Maryland.

A few veterans that have been to this event will be returning with some different beers from the previous event.

Sound Brewery

Mark Hood, the founder of Sound Brewery is no stranger with his products in this event and in Japan. However, he has shipped in an Idaho 7 Brut IPA and their 11.5% Pale Quadrupel Entendez Noel for the ACBE.

Bombshell Blonde

Dubbel Entendre

Entendez Noel

Humulo Nimbus IIPA

Idaho 7 Brut IPA

Liberty Bay IPA

Monk’s Indiscretion

Octoberfest

Tripel Entendre

Melvin Brewing

Jeremy Tofte, the founder of Melvin Brewing, the 2017 Great American Beer Festival – Group Brewery of the Year will be present at the event. You can expect a full lineup of their beers at the ACBE.

Drunken Master IIPA

Asterisk IIPA

Hop Shocker IIPA

Hubert MPA

Melvin IPA

Killer Bee Golden Ale

Heyzeus Mexican Lager

Heretic Brewing Company

Jamil Zainasheff, founder of Heretic Brewing, has a close relationship with Mr. AQ Bev and Taihei has it on film, but Jamil will be bringing something great. This year Taihei got him to willingly hold a mini signing event of his book “Brewing Classic Styles“, for those home brewers showing up for the event. If you don’t have the book, make sure you get one of his beers instead.

Dry-hopped Agony

This Beer Makes Me Awesome IPA

Torment

FiftyFifty Brewing

FiftyFifty Brewing is based in Truckee, California and known for their barrel aged beers. Named the Great American Beer Festival’s 2018 Brewery Group of the Year award, they are bringing great beers to the ACBE.

West Coast Haze

Leg Lifter IPA

Eclipse (Bottles)

Schooner Brewing

Schooner Brewing, based in Seattle, has been going through many changes recently. You may remember them as Schooner Exact, but they promoted Joel Stickney to Head Brewer in 2017 dropped the Exact in 2018. Joel Stickney will be present to tell you all about his beers at the ACBE.

HopVine IPA

3 Grid IPA

Grinder Face

Sodo IPA

Mosaic IPA

King Street Brown

Sour Brown

Wa Dat? Sour IPA

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

A couple friends were on an adventure and met up at a sheep station in Australia called Hardywood Park. It was here that the idea of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery was born. These two friends created a brewery based on quality beers, local ingredients, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and giving back. It is this idea that they are bringing beers to the ACBE.