A little of each town’s story

Ryoma 1865, a non-alcoholic beer

From: Chestnuts, saury and an autumn feast

The plate of saury and a can of Ryoma 1865

What I drank on the veranda and at dinner was Ryoma 1865, a non-alcoholic beer from Nippon Beer Co. It is 0.00 percent alcohol, brewed from 100 percent malt with two kinds of hops and no additives; the can reads "100% barley malt, non-alcoholic" and "zero purines."

Sources: nipponbeer.jp

This moment in the journey

Sudachi on the veranda

I sat down on the veranda and poured a non-alcoholic beer into a glass. In western Japan, the way to eat grilled saury is with a good squeeze of sudachi.

Sitting in the open doorway, I picked at the fish while looking out over the fields and rooftops. There is a quiet happiness in feeling the seasons turn through what is in season. Beyond lay rice paddies and the village ringed by mountains, the afternoon sun coming through the branches.

Grill saury in the garden and eat it on the veranda with a cold drink: a small dream, now fulfilled. The season for veranda beer has arrived.

Watch this scene on YouTube2:00

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