Dunkel, or Dunkles beers are Bavarian-style lager beers brewed using a dark roasted Munich malt, and in fact the dunkel was the original Bavarian beer until new brewing techniques introduced in the later half of the 19th century which allowed the preparation of a lighter malt. The name Dunkel literally means “dark†in Deutsche. Although one would expect a stronger flavor from a darker beer, in general, dunkels have a smoother and “maltier†flavor than the other common Bavarian lager, the helles, or pale lager, and have no significant bitter or sweet character from the hopping. This example from Otaru Bakushu Brewery in Western Hokkaido has a mild smoky flavor, but has only a hint of malt taste. The initial mouth feel is smooth but slightly thick with the carbonated “karakuchi†dry bubbly sensation popular in Japanese beers. There is a hint of caramel sweet in the middle from the roasted malt and hopping. There is no significant bitter. The finish tapers to a faint malt flavor. The color is a dark, nearly stout-like brown. The carbonation level is moderate. This Dunkel is easily quaffable. Like the Otaru Bakushu Pilsen, this beer has no objectionable traits, but it similarly doesn’t really have the strong malty beer flavor I would expect from a dunkel. I am not sure if this has anything to do with the “organic†origins of the beer, or if it is due to the brewmaster’s choice. I would almost say that with the hint of sweetness and the light malt taste, this seems more like a bock than a dunkel… Continue reading ‘Beer Is Good – Otaru Bakushu Organic Beer Dunkel-Type Jibiiru’
Forgive me for this what I’m sure will be a downer post, but I feel the need to put out some of my feelings, as much to help myself as anything. With the turn of New Year is supposed to be hope for a brighter future and all that. The turning of this New Year was with me quietly festive and nothing out of the ordinary. Small group of friends, fireworks to chase out the bad, some drinking. Morning was yummy traditional Japanese as prepared by my mother. All was well until today. My mother, who was still quite active and in good health, suffered from a sudden hemmoragic stroke. No prior signs. Just as she was talking on phone it hit her. The outlook is not positive. My dad is taking it pretty hard. This was very sudden and unexpected, she’s only 66. She’s currently in the ICU and is getting good care. I have nothing but good to say for all the staff of Queen’s and the EMS technitians. Honestly, I hold these healthcare professionals in the highest regard. I can’t say the same for the fool on Kalanianaole Hwy. ambling along in the middle lane yacking on his cell phone. Didn’t he wonder why there were no cars around him all of a sudden as the ambulance passed?
I know there’s the whole life & death thing, the end of your life is inevitable. But when you come face to face with it with your immediate family, it’s still harsh. I’m feeling it’s too early here! She’s stable in ICU right now, but after her second scan she was worse than first came in. The prognosis for recovery is not good and there isn’t a whole lot they said they can do. Surgery was not advised and is likely to not make much of a difference. Basically we came to decision with the doctor that they will do things to keep her comfortable, but if things turn for the worse, they will not undertake extreme measure to prolong life. There’s a part of me that wants to scream, no, damnit, she can’t die! She still has much to enjoy, much to contribute. But the doctors compassionate, but realistic assessment of if they went through extreme measures to keep her alive, in all probability she would be severely disabled requiring nursing home care and would not be able to communicate, made me realize that she wouldn’t want that. I wouldn’t. I don’t think there are many people who would. In a somewhat ironic touch, my dad said he & mom were talking the other day that she said when she dies, she wants to go with a stroke. No prolonged illness battling cancer or anything like that.
Thanks to all my good buddies who were quick to lend a hand and ear (and texts, in this day and age of instant communication technology. I’ve discovered that texting also allows me to maintain composure and communicate better. I’m sure I’ll have more bouts of choking up, sorry bout that Chuck). I’m not a deeply religious person, although I do hold some feelings toward Shintoistic beliefs that there is spirituality around beyond what we can see. Perhaps it is only a human device used to seek solace in moments when there are things beyond your control, but it is a valid device none the less. So I will not deny any of your prayers to whatever belief you hold. I welcome it and am thankful for it. Perhaps the spirits will decide it is not her time and will give her and us the strength to pull through and recover. Otherwise, I hope they can grant her quiet and peace to go without suffering.
Anyway, it is getting late, I need to try and rest to see what the dawn of a another day will bring. Once again, thanks everyone for your thoughts and feelings.
Fabio’s favorites Pabo performed, but unfortunately, paired with some old guys. Perfume got to do a solo, but they were pretty terrible with the synthesized Cher-o-phonic distortion thing going, but they still weren’t as bad as show opener Hamasaki Ayumi. I wonder how long it will take people in Japan to wake up and realize that she really sucks jagged kidney stones? Speaking of suck, NHK resurrected the dead with a performance by washed-up has-beens,Speed. Last year it was TMR who got a chance to reprise his youthful days as a top-selling artist. This year, Speed went on to prove that time and a mediocre wine yield an old, mediocre wine. They were still as bad as they were when they were on the Oricon charts, with flat notes and voices strained on the high-pitched edge of cracking in the same places they have always been. Mikawa Kenichi’s performance was somewhat rudely intruded upon by some gangly tall transvestite. I guess recently, they have felt the need to have something on the shocking side – last year it was that naked fitness dude, and the year before that it was HG. Probably the best performances of the night were the operatic tenor dude and Jero (Jerome Charles White, Jr.). Angela Aki, Aoyama Thelma, and Hirai Ken performed well, although I am not a big fan of their genre of pop. Needless to say ,there was no good rock. There have been rock acts in the past, but nothing harder than L’arc en Ciel. They really needed Krauser II and DMC! Here’s the official site if you’re interested.
Just about now, the sun is rising in Japan for the first time in 2009. On the webcams in Hokkaido, people have been up since dark, getting ready to photograph it at various scenic spots. Being the furthest part of Japan to the East, Hokkaido will get the sunrise first.
Just watching now to see the moment…
Oh… there it goes!
Shin-nen akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!
Whoa!
How does one begin to describe this…
We got lunch from Sugoi’s in Kapalama (near Woodcraft and the Driver’s Licencing office). They had breakfast stuff, so I ordered the “Hash Loco Moco“. Lo, a more amazing thing I have never before had! Imagine if you will, a Loco Moco made with a 3cm thick, 15cm diameter breaded and deep fried corned-beef hash patty instead of the hamburger patty! Essentially corned-beef hash katsu and a fried egg on rice smothered in brown gravy! The gravy was a tad salty, but the hash was very good. Continue reading ‘Sugoi!’
Packed in my senbei I had for lunch. Oh my, that sounds very dangerous! I better go find some dessicant to pack this in!
Finally replaced my M Frame Rx’s. I’ve always had problems finding sport glasses to fit my face. Low nosebridge the most annoying problem so that glasses nosepieces were superflous and the bottom edge would sit on cheeks, and a gap over the top of frame I could look out over. At the time the M Frames were one of the few (or only) high coverage sport glasses with a single layer prescription lens. I learned to live with the nose bridge. The optics were stellar. But the prescription insert eventually would cause the outer polycarbonate lens to crack. I actually had one of the first generation models, and went through three iterations. Each successive one Oakley improved on the problem, but eventually those stress cracks would still appear. Continue reading ‘Oakley Flak Jacket, XLJ G30, Rx, Asian Fit’
Wow! This is the first time I’ve had a pear that made me go, wow! My mom received a box of “Royal Riveriera Pears” as a gift. Just had a quarter of one, eaten with a spoon, kind of like eating a wedge of melon with a spoon. Creamy texture, juicy, and wonderfully sweet. I’m used to grainy, bland, watery. This had to be the best pear I’ve ever had, simply amazing!
Right next to one of our work clients is a takoyaki shop. It’s located on corner of Kuhio and Nohonani St, Waikiki Marketplace. Finally got a chance to try it. Small shop set up with a bunch of tables and folding chairs to hang out in while munching on your tasty snack. You’ll commonly see takoyaki translated as octopus balls, although I think octopus dumplings is a more appetizing western description. Spheres of glutunous batter with chunk(s) of tako cooked on a special shaped grill. No, it’s NOT deep fried! It’ll have a lightly browned outside, inside soft and mouth burning lava hot. Best eaten while said lava hot, they definitely lose much appeal if allowed to cool and deflate. All takoyaki places I’ve been feature the grill in open view so you can watch the cook deftly spin the takoyaki into spheres, and Takoyaki Samurai is no exception. I believe it’s part of the experience, it wouldn’t quite be takoyaki if you don’t get to watch them being made. Continue reading ‘Takoyaki Samurai’
Wow, Chain Reaction Cycles is pretty fast considering we’re all the way in the middle of the Pacific and they’re all the way on the other side of the world in Scotland… I sent the mismatched set of shifters back on 14 November 2008, they received them on the 20th, and shipped out a replacement set. Those arrived on 01 December! I didn’t have time to put them on before heading to Japan, but I threw them on Tuesday at McBike along with the new cassette and 9-speed chain. Shifters are quite nice. They seem to stick out more than the XTR’s, but that’s just an impression. I did have to remove the Optical Gear Displays so I could mount the shifters outboard of the brake levers. In that position, the shift paddles line up correctly with my fingers with my hands in the normal position on the grips. More on the shifters in a future review…