Lager than life
Nice to beef you: The Teikoku IPA shines next to 12/10’s magnificently executed Wagyu course.Photo courtesy of Platform 360
When one thinks of tastings and beverage pairings, beer is generally not the first thing that comes to mind. Beer has been stereotyped as the accompaniment to chicken wings, tacos dripping with salsa, jalapeño poppers, and other more casual fare. None of which are in any way bad, but beer, like many spirits, is more than just a one-trick pony. Last Nov. 22, the folks at Booze Online Inc. — the largest imported beer distributor in the country, exclusively distributing global beer brands such as Becks, Chimay, Hoegaarden, Stella Artois, and Paulaner, to name a few — introduced us to the complexities of handcrafted brews via its latest import, Baird Beer.
A History of Perseverance
Baird Beer is more than just the manufacturer of beer; it is the manifestation of a husband and wife’s passion to create brews with singular personalities. In the mid to late ’90s, Bryan and Sayuri Baird quit their day jobs, took their shared love of beer and plunged headfirst into brewing their own ales right around the time that the ji-biiru or craft beer movement in Japan blossomed. With a capital of 12 million yen (somewhere around $92,000), they created small batch brews and opened their Numazu Fishmarket Taproom in the year 2000. It wasn’t initially well received, and within six months of its opening, funds had become increasingly tight.
The greatest detriment to their success, it seemed, was the very thing that the dream of their product was founded upon. Baird beers aren’t filtered and are fermented twice in one package, which allows for natural carbonation. It’s meant to be served cool, not cold, where the carbonation is moderate. Beer drinkers round the area were much more used to crisp, cold lagers, and by comparison found Baird brews to be on the warm and flat side. Baird Beer persevered, knowing that the ales they were making would gain the recognition and love they deserved.
These days, it’s fair to say that the Baird Beer love has definitely caught up to the company: Baird Beer has six of its own taprooms in Japan; is available through retailers, pubs, and restaurants across 12 cities in Japan; and is exporting to many countries around the world. Apart from seasonal brews, their catalog boasts 12 different bottles available year-round, in a range that includes pale ales, an amber ale, a stout, an IPA, and an imperial IPA. Their selection will soon be available locally, and because of its diversity, it serves to widen Filipino beer-drinkers’ beer palates.
Something for Everyone
At the Nov. 22 event, Baird Beer and Booze Online Inc. partnered with 12/10 Izakaya on Guijo Street in Makati. Together, they demonstrated how the different flavor profiles of the beers could act in the same way wine is meant to when paired with food. The first course of local Aklan oysters was paired with the Numazu lager, Baird’s most neutral beer with a snappy finish. The Wabi Sabi Japanese Pale Ale came next, with notes of green tea and wasabi enhanced by an accompanying sashimi course. The flagship bottles of Baird Beer shone brightly with the two mains: the beautifully refreshing Rising Sun Pale Ale (which was my personal favorite) together with an unagi-style catfish course, and the intricate Teikoku IPA with a perfectly executed Wagyu, smothered in mushrooms and a touch of jus. To cap off the delicious menu was none other than 12/10’s classic killer dessert of faux Twix, which brought out all the toasty chocolate notes in the surprisingly light Shimaguni Stout.
It’s no wonder that Baird Beer’s thrust is the celebration of beer, which founder Bryan Baird defines as, “the comprehensive enjoyment of beer in a way that enhances the overall experience of life.” These beers, full of significant character, aren’t designed to pigeonhole a drinker into one cuisine or one mood. They’re each crafted in such a way that they adapt to your needs, your tastes, your experiences, and quite simply, your ulam. Whether it’s to celebrate full-on, to unwind with quiet ease, or anywhere in between, Baird Beer has the perfect brew in its catalog of endless possibility.
