For the first time ever a Japanese Brewery, Black Tide, joins us for our Thursday night Meet the Brewers Series - and there's some fascinating stories to share!

You can grab the beers we discuss in this episode from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/black-tide-mixed-4-pack

If you're quick you can also head down to Benchwarmer Bar in North Melbourne and find them on tap - a big thanks to Locky from Benchwarmer [who pops up in the podcast a couple of times] for all his help in making this episode happen!

James from Black Tide has an amazing story to share starting in a home-brew store in Portland Oregon and leading to running a brewery in a Japanese fishing town with lots of lessons and insights along the way.

We find out what he's learned from internships at Japanese breweries, the similarities and differences of how things are done compared to the US and how the Japanese craft beer market is faring generally.

There's a detailed discussion about the amazing art that appears on Black Tide cans and of course there's a coolroom experience or two to share - and did Locky really dress up a couple of kegs in a trench coat to get them through a Japanese airport?