hey guys,
to answer a few questions..
Yes, some people here have home draught set ups. You can either buy them, or if you go through enough kegs they will supply you with a set up for free (you have to give it back though). Or it is becoming popular to hire them for parties, particularly around sakura viewing season.
Homebrewing is virtually non-existant here as it is illegal to produce alcohol above 2 percent at home and booze is so cheap anyway.. particularly if you find a good bar that does nomihoudai (all you can drink), even better is tabe/nomihoudai (all you can eat and drink). The best I have experienced was in a nightclub in Osaka in 2008 when I paid the equivalent of 30 dollars, went in at 7pm and left at 6 am. All spirits/liquers/beers included, the only thing you had to pay extra for was red bull. But more typical is about 15 bucks for 1-2 hours of all you can drink beer. You will generally find that they wont let you go for a second round after they realise exactly how much beer the typical Australian can drink in a couple of hours. But even if that happens you hit the 7-11 and can grab a bottle of jack for 17 bucks and drink it in the street if you really want.
However, the kegs in the pic were all being supplied to small bars and restaurants.. and by small I mean some of these bars (izakayas) have only got 4-6 seats.. I asked about buying some but unfortunately no dice.
They are all spear fittings, generally `Sankey` type so you`d need a proprietary adaptor too.
Kanpai!
Al
