This question is best asked on TGR, unfortunatly it has been asked many times so maybe search first. PNW's snow is heavy but in places like baker etc just as plentiful as Japan. Just watch any of those Nimbus videos with Pollard to see what it is like. For some reason, Whistler is still the place of choice for most seatle people and though it isn't quite the same in terms of snow quality vs. Hokkaido, the terrain is much, much, much bigger. It can be an expensive sh1tshow though. I have to run to a meeting but I spend about a quarter of my ski days each year in Whistler so I could go on and on.

>(on a 5-10 year plan) I want to move back here and open a brewery.... my genkan looks rediculous with bottles and fermenters right now.

kick ass! I used to brew in college and loved it! Some batches came out great, others were average like a happoshu, others were shite, but it was so much fun nonetheless. I look forward to trying your best batch Dec 29th up at Tokachidake

I have spent hours thinking about this, Seattle is the #1 option. Sacramento rarely gets brought up though and it's only a few hours from Tahoe.

Portland is nice. Denver and SLC would be doable.

Never been to Bellingham, WA, but really close to Van and probably big enough to support a job in the rat race.

Sacramento-- never thought about it-- Ill look into there- Denver would be cool but it feels a bit isolated--

a good friend of mine just moved from Hokkaido to Bellingham a few months ago.. options options!

on the note of brewing beer--- Ive made a lot of bad beer- and a lot of good beer... hah practice makes perfect,most definately--

I just bottled a Chimay clone-- smells great!

＞I just bottled a Chimay clone-- smells great!

Awesome. Thats a great freaking beer there. 8% alcohol content and so lovely going down. Ive been enjoying the helloutta the Kirin Akiaji Looking for some Edelweiss but not having any luck. Feel like some German beer for some reason. Im tired of Belgium

germannn.. Im also making a Raspberry Hefeweizen right now--

last night I moved it from the primary to the secondary and added the raspberries...

gooooooood shiet i think!

You are wasting your time talking to most (96%) of foreigners in this country about beer. They think Japanese beer is good stuff, many like Corona and other mass factory brews like Stella and that shit starting with H in a green can. Most think Australian beer is good. It is a horrible state of affairs. Very few have ever even drunk a German beer and scoff at ales. It isn't their fault - there was once a time when I didn't know any better either.

So, after that rant, please start a thread with all your sources for brewing kit in Japan. I have a history of making excellent Pils.

This is where I draw the line at HAGs elitism. Japan makes a fucking great lager and a good pilsner. Yes, they lack the breadth of Belgium or Germany but what they do they do well. Even the most commercial of beers, be it Asahi or Kirin, is a fucking good lager. No, they don't have good white beer, stouts, ales or whatever but credit where credit is due, the Japanese do a good lager.

It isn't elitism. Japan makes ok Lager and couldn't make a Pils to save themselves. Go to Germany, you will see.

Asahi is shit. It is beer-like drinking fluid.

Credit where credit is due: most Japanese beer is better than most Australian beer and always better than all mass brews like Corona etc.

lol beer fights!
Im a honey brown ale man when I can get my hands on one!

australian beer is truly fucking awful.... you pay for a decent Japanese lager before you'd drink free Carlton Draught.

Yebisu is a good beer. This is an undisputable fact. and Chu-hi is Japan's best invention since the Sony Walkman.

Wise words stp

It is fucked everyone loves asahi in Canada but Yebisu is no where to be found, they dont even sell at the restaurant called Yebisu. what I would do for a chuhi vending machine in canada.

As for living, Seattle is the spot (if it has to be america). a lot of quality ski hills. Baker is sick, similar vibe to Hakuba but actually has inbounds gnar.

Seattle is close to baker and all the others in Washington. A reasonable 2-3hour drive to Whis and further. And the other way is Utah/Oregon... and all the other epic US places. And you have surf plus a really good music scene/tour stop.

Yebisu Dark, best beer in Japan. But if beer and skiing is what you seek you can't beat this place. Moose's Tooth, Sleeping Lady, Midnight Sun, Glacier Brewhouse and many more micro breweries have excellent beers and great variety. If you have a Co2 system a lot of them will give you kegs if you buy the beer. I don't buy beer in bottles anymore I just take my growlers to whatever brewery I fancy at the time. Its cheap too $8 for half gallon. AK currently has no glass recycling so its reducing my garbage output as well.

A lot of people from Seattle here, many who came up for a visit and never left.

We will see as I will be in AK in late march. Please reserve a table at the Great Alaskan Bush Co...

America and good beer now you must be joking!
I remember the days when I could drink uni students under the table that
had come up from New York. They couldnt handle the 5% achool cause
they were used to 2 and 3 % piss.

Dude, nobody drinks 2-3% beer. I don't even think they sell beer that weak outside Utah. Come have a taste you won't be disappointed.

Finally Ive heard somebody say it besides me, Asahi is the worst fucking beer in this country. I find it repulsive and would soon rather drink water than put that shit in my mouth.

Japanese lagers are better than most general american beers as well - say your budlights, coors, budweiser (cant belive those cunts stole the name!!). Where America really makes up are allllll the delicious microbrews that are out there. Damn I miss them.

yeahhh give me a Sapporo Lager, (or sapporo Classic) any day--

also Heartland is good shit-

Sapporo black isnt bad but for the most part I hate it.
yebisu or heartland out of the bottle.

Microbrews are everywhere I dont know how you can judge a countries beer but the
mirco brew industry.

Claiming you drink beer for the taste is like saying you buy playboy for the articles...

I buy playboy for the articles and surf the net for the real stuff

regarding seattle -- it is a big surrounding area -- i would focus on living about 1 hour drive north of downtown, between mount vernon and bellingham. this way you are commuting distance to seattle, but also great access to baker and the surrounding ranges. whistler is doable but involves an increasingly arrogant and obnoxious canadian border patrol.

As a Canadian I am nostalgic for the days when the simply asked if you are Canadian or not and just waved you through.

Asahi comes as piss with carbon from a bottle or piss with carbon from the tap or caned piss with carbon.
No mater how you enjoy it, its still piss with carbon.

BTW- I tried my plain Hefeweizen last night, not the raspberry one, one I bottled some weeks ago..

fucking awesome.

all grain, if anyone wants the recipe let me know.

No time to brew, but you could bring over a few bottles to Tokachi/Asahidake area when Tsonda and I are up

I like Asahi.
Not that I love drinking beer that much anyway...
as for the worst one I have ever had.. must be VB. almost gave me spasms it was so g d awful.