Pitcher perfect: Japanese beer blog IDs best brews

Japanese beer has gone through a rough patch in recent years as the nation's drinkers abandoned the real stuff for cheap beer imitation products. The big four breweries, who sadly must follow consumers' leads, are spending more and more resources on making the so-called 'third-category beer' rather than premium brews. Even the best new beers seem to be historical recreations.

The good news, however, is that Japanese craft beers are becoming a greater part of the liquor landscape. The problem: With the increasing number of beer pubs boasting epic menus, we now need a guide to the best of the best.

This is where the blog Beer in Japan steps up. The site's anonymous author travels across Japan in search of the most refreshing new Japanese beers and most adventurous craft breweries. His latest article looks at Minoh Beer in Osaka where two sisters received the brewery as a present from their father.

The site also offers complete beer pub listings (with iPhone compatibility) and a list of Tokyo's best beer bars.

So stop double-fisting Orion and start hitting Beer in Japan's recommended spots. Japanese beer needs you now during its darkest hour.