Kirin Glamping Post-Event Report

(Warning, this is a picture heavy post. With loads of horribly taken pictures.)

Kirin ran a promotion through the month of September whereby with any purchase of their beer, you get a chance to participate in something called "Glamping" on 3 October.

Drink more Kirin.

If you're not too familiar with what Glamping means, it's actually a marriage of 2 words - glamorous and camping. So it's a form of camping where you spend some time away from the comforts of your own home in a sort of a retreat (mostly in the forest or nature reserve, like camping lah), but you don't forgo any luxuries like electricity, plumbing, the internet. etc (hence, glamorous).

Shots!

1. 99 problems but beer ain't one

Image source: Thedieline.com

For some reason, this Texan brewery thought it was an awesome idea to release a 99-pack beer. You know what they say? Everything is bigger in Texas. Beer bellies too, I'm guessing.

Check out entertaining pictures of it on Google.

Brewery website: http://anytimeale.com/






2.  Harry Craddock's Birthday - 29 August

Image source: wbur.org

Harry Craddock (1876 - 1963) is one of the most celebrated prohibition bartenders.

Said to have created about 240 cocktails in his lifetime, he was the 3rd bartender of the The American Bar at the Savoy Hotel  - one of the earliest outlets to introduce American-style cocktails to Europe.

Harry is known for creating the White Lady (gin based) and Corpse Reviver (brandy based, hair of the dog) cocktails, and published the The Savoy Cocktail Book, the hotel's first cocktail book, in 1930. Read more about him here and here.


3. Kirin Glamping Event

Image source: Kirin FB page

Kirin Ichiban wants to bring you on a glamorous camping (glamping) trip filled with Japanese entertainment, food and beer on 21 September 2014.

All you have to do is 1)purchase the bottle, can or draught at any outlets between now and 21 September (does not include purchases from groceries ya!) 2) make sure you receive a Glamping scratch card and 3) register online at kirinichiban.com.my/glamping.

I personally want to go, but I haven't been lucky at getting the scratch cards. For some reason, some outlets are not participating in this or will not give you the card if you don't ask. So make sure you ask about the scratch card first before you buy your beer - otherwise you'll be severely disappointed like me.




4. One giant leap for whisky.

Image source: www.ardberg.com

Think you've tried all types of aged whisky that earth has to offer? Well how about a whisky that's been aged OUT of this world? Uh huh. Ardbeg sent their whisky into space to be aged back in 2011 and it's coming back on 12 September this year.

Scientists wanted to know if there were any differences between a space-aged whisky compared to its earth--based version. So there is a vial of un-matured malt that's been in outer space for 3 years, and there's another identical bottle at the distillery here to act as a control sample.

It was also a great excuse to launch (haha) Ardberg Gallileo, in commemoration of this first-of-its-kind mission. Of course it's limited edition.

Ardberg is really excited about it and asks you to check out the background and news of their experiment here: www.ardbeg.com/ardbeg/ardbeg-in-space


5. A few big names for booze

Image source: thespiritsbusiness.com

• Iggy Pop is with Sailor Jerry rum to launch a limited edition clothing collection. Quite a good fit considering Iggy Pop is punk rock and Sailor Jerry's quite out there too. 
• Jeff Bridges, who was the star of the Big Lebowski, who enjoys White Russians cocktails, is working with Kahlua in a short film about (surprise surprise!) the White Russian cocktail. 
• David Beckham's is the face of a new single grain, NAS Scotch called Haig Club (by Diageo) because football and getting drunk go together, or something like that.

Looks like everyone, even big stars, need a little side income. :D

Have a great week ahead!

Click me for previous Shots! 

Kirin Beer, Kirin 18 years old Single Malt & Chichibu The Peated

Had the enormous luck to have had the opportunity to sample these 3 Japanese beauties. My thoughts as follows (need to profusely apologise for the lack of quality of these photos. taken from a phone with bad lighting and zero photo skills. Bad blogger, bad blogger!):

1. Kirin Ichiban Beer

Image credit: Kirin Malaysia FB Page

This was quietly introduced last year by our friendly neighbourhood brewery, GAB (Guiness Anchor Berhad) and I believe the brand was re-launched this year in April 2014.

Kirin Ichiban, simply translated means Kirin No. 1. This basically means that when the beer is brewed, only the FIRST (hence, No.1!) extraction of the product is bottled - which is usually the least unadulterated. You can read about brewing beer here, should you like to geek out a little bit more.

This is the first time I've had a taste of Kirin. I've had experience with Sapporo and Asahi before (which I both enjoy) but Kirin, while less crisp & refreshing (than the Asahi, for the sake of comparing) is smooth, satisfying, full-bodied and less dry.

This beer is love at first taste. If you've never really had a fondness for lager (specifically this in the style of American Pale Ale Lager) before, you might change your mind with this. 

The biggest drawback for me (be forewarned) is the price of this bottle at the outlet. The pub I visited charged me a really painful RM20++ per 330ml bottle. I'm pretty sure you're able to get at your local hypermarket for much less. 

I believe we only get the bottles and cans for now, and at 5.0% ABV, I believe it is available at your local stores and favourite drinking places. :)

Found out more on kirinichiban.com.my