Food

2 kinds of Natto

Purchased some Natto and choose two different kinds which I hadn’t seen before. I was aware fermentation was slightly different from brand to brand to some extent, but this was colour, and on opening also size.
The brand is Azuma Shokuhin.

The dark natto is just normal, I cannot find any info of it being different to plain normal natto, and thats what it looks like. Size is Small = Kotsubu.

The light coloured one is Hikiwari Natto, Crushed natto. Evident on opening.

The light coloured crushed natto is a little sharper with less depth of flavour.

The dark natto is milder but deeper flavoured, and smaller beans than i normally get. Seems a lot more slimier also.

Drinks

Zero but 9%

Finally got one of these after seeing them in photos, online and etc forever.

DETAILS (from Wikipedia):
This drink is a chuhai, an alcoholic drink originating from Japan. The name chūhai is an abbreviation of “shōchū highball” . Traditional chūhai is made with shōchū and carbonated water flavored with lemon, though some modern commercial variants use vodka in place of shōchū. link

Strong Zero is made by freezing fruit in liquid nitrogen, hence the “-196˚” in the name, and then pulverizing it whole and soaking it in vodka. link

But what does it taste like?
Suntory -196˚C Strong Zero Bitter Lemon, 9%, 375ml can.
It tastes like lemon juice, pulp and rind and all, and vodka. Its not pulling any punches or laying off the alcohol taste. This is lemon and vodka with carbonated water, and that’s exactly what it tastes like. Actually NOT what I was expecting, despite the Wikipedia description and the overt 9%. Its real, its exactly what it says.

Music

Holy Shit

Pre Ordered this. Goatlord original on vinyl is almost enough reason alone? Maybe not, but holy shit, finally.

Drinks

Rodenbach, a new old beer.

Rodenbach – Fruitage, Fruit ale, 3.9% 250ml can.

Still a combination of aged and young ale, and like the Alexander version this has cherries added. Far less sour than any of their other beers, I’d hesitate to call it a sour at all, this is lighter, more fruity (cherry obviously) but still has the elements of the Original and Grand Cru such as the oakyness and even wine notes. Nice.

Drinks

Some NYE Beers

Inland Market & Running with Thieves – Can of Beer Pilsner. This would be really good if it was far more carbonated. Hops come through too strong without it. I think this was canned in August

Deeds Brewing – Deeds Draught. Over a year old! Pretty flat, slightly metallic, stored poorly, not great! A lesson in always checking packaged/BB dates on cans!

Garage Project – Bliss Lager. from the BB this is about 6 months old. I have had this before and fresher. The difference isn’t much. A good beer.

Beer Farm – West Coast Lager. This is about 2 months old, and again I have had this before. Good standard Lager with non standard hops.

Innate Brewing – Pale As Bro Kiwi Hazy IPA. Not pictured. Kiwi would be referring the hops, but they aren’t listed by name. Canned October, so 2 months old. Very fruity, but low carbonation for some reason. Would be excellent with more carb, but holy hell, the fruit in these hops in this beer, is fantastic.

Rocky Ridge – Tropicale Tropical Beer. Its a hazy, named Tropical Beer as its style. 3.7%?. I wonder if they messed something up and just released it because it was good, like the Sour White Stout from way back in the day. Its good, its a hazy style beer.

Innate Brewing – Heirloom Czech Pilsner. Its nice, a bit too hoppy, and again I think this is non-standard hops but they work enough. Again lacking in carb. No date on this, but Its nice. Heirloom seems to be some series.

Black Hops – East Coast Low Hazy IPA. Had this a few times and its a great. Real nice hazy IPA.