Baird Beer : At a Glance
- Opened : July 2000
- Japanese name : ベアード・ブルーイング
- Location : Numazu, Shizuoka
- First beer : Rising Sun Pale Ale
- Head brewer : Bryan Baird
- Homepage : https://bairdbeer.com/
Table of Contents
Baird Beer : Background
Baird Brewing is one of the breweries that helped shape Japan’s modern craft beer scene. Founded in Numazu, Shizuoka, in 2000 by American Bryan Baird and his Japanese wife, Sayuri, the brewery began at a time when Japan’s first craft beer boom was already collapsing. While many breweries were struggling with the reputation of “ji-biiru” as expensive and mediocre, the Bairds deliberately chose a different path, embracing the emerging American idea of craft beer.
The story actually starts a little earlier. Bryan and Sayuri travelled to the Pacific Northwest in the United States to study brewing and immerse themselves in the country’s rapidly developing craft beer culture. They returned to Japan convinced that there was an opportunity to make something different, even if the timing looked rather questionable. They incorporated Baird Brewing in March 2000 and opened the tiny Numazu Fishmarket Taproom that July.
The operation was tiny by modern standards. The original brewery produced just 30 litres per brew, essentially one keg, while the taproom served as both brewery and pub. Baird also introduced something relatively unusual to Japan at the time: genuine real ale served from hand pumps. Their Teikoku IPA, first poured in January 2001, became one of Japan’s earliest year-round craft IPAs and remains one of the brewery’s signature beers.
From those modest beginnings, Baird gradually expanded its brewing capacity and taproom network. In 2007, a 1,000-litre brewhouse was added, allowing the brewery to increase production while maintaining its focus on traditionally brewed, flavourful beer. The first Tokyo taproom opened in Nakameguro in 2008, followed by Harajuku and Bashamichi, with more locations added over the years.
A major milestone came in 2014 with the opening of Baird Brewery Gardens Shuzenji in Izu. Set on three hectares beside the Kano River, the brewery brought together brewing, farming and the natural environment, reflecting Baird’s belief that beer should have a connection with the land around it.
That philosophy remains at the heart of Baird Beer. The brewery focuses on whole-flower hops, traditional floor-malted barley, minimally treated well water and natural carbonation, while aiming for what it describes as “Balance + Complexity = Character.” In other words, Baird isn’t interested in stripping beer down to make something bland and easy. The goal is flavour, aroma and character without losing balance.
After more than 25 years, Baird remains a family-run brewery with a distinctly personal approach. The original Fishmarket Taproom closed in November 2025 after a quarter-century, but its spirit continues at the new Baird Beer Station Numazu, which opened in January 2026. The brewery has changed considerably since those first 30-litre batches, but the basic idea remains remarkably consistent: make interesting beer, respect the traditions of brewing, and give people somewhere good to enjoy it.
Baird Beer : Regular Beer Reviews
The following are some of the beers we’ve had:
- Baird Angry Boy Brown Ale – a 7.0% brown ale that doesn’t let up.
- Baird Kurofune Porter – a 6.0% porter named after the famed American black ships that came to Japan.
- Baird Numazu Lager – a 4.5% Vienna beer that is cold stored for 4 months before shipping.
- Baird Red Rose Amber Ale – a 6.0% brewed at low temperature.
- Baird Rising Sun Pale Ale – a 6.0% American Pale ale brewed using West-coast style techniques.
- Baird Shimaguni Stout – a 5.0% Irish style stout.
- Baird Shuzenji Heritage Helles – a 5.0% German helles brewed using Bavarian techniques.
- Baird Single Take Session Ale – a 4.5% Belgian ale brewed from Belgian yeast.
- Baird Suruga Bay Imperial IPA – an 8.0% double IPA that is twice dry-hopped.
- Baird Teikoku IPA – a 6.5 English style IPA.
- Baird Wabi-Sabi Japan Pale Ale – a 6.0% hybrid of pale ale and IPA infused with local wasabi and green tea.
- Baird Wheat King Wit – a 5.0% Witbeer brewed from Belgian yeast.
Baird Beer : Four Seasons
Released quarterly. This list will change every year and retired beers will be marked with an *
- Baird Cool Breeze Pils – Summer (June) – A 5% Czech style bohemian pilsner.
- Baird Dark Sky Imperial Stout – Winter (December) – a 10% imperial stout that gets better with age. If you can wait that long.
- Baird Saison Sayuri – Spring (March) – A 6% saison named after Bryan’s wife, Sayuri.
- Baird Yabai-Yabai Strong Scotch Ale – Autumn (September) an 8% Scotch ale that is brewed using floor malted Maris Otter malts.
Baird Beer : Monthly Style Series Calendar
Released on the 1st of each month. This list will change every year and retired beers will be shown in bold.
- January – Baird Hatsujozo India Pale Lager – a 7% India pale lager that is brewed with a changing list of hops on a yearly basis.
- Feb – Baird Ganko Oyaji Barley Wine – an 11% barley wine which roughly translates to “stubborn old man” and is brewed with Maris Otter, along with some rye and cara malts too.
- March – Baird Morning Coffee Stout – a 7% stout that is brewed using a variety of coffee that changes every year, so no two years are the same
- April – Bureiko Jikan Strong Golden Ale – a 9% Belgian strong ale with the inspiration for this beer being the renowned Belgian classic, Duvel.
- May – Baird Four Sisters Spring Bock – first brewed in 2004 to celebrate the birth of the Baird’s fourth daughter, hence Four Sisters. Genius! It weighs in at 7%
- June – Baird Hop Havoc Imperial Pale Ale – a 6.5% extra pale ale originally released in 2011 as part of Baird’s 11th Anniversary celebration.
- July – Baird Joie De Vivre Golden Ale – a 7.5% strong golden ale brewed with Japanese Kokuto (Dark Cane) & Korizato (Rock Candy)
- August – Baird Public House Bitter – a 4% British bitter brewed to a traditional British recipe.
- September – Baird Brewer’s Nightmare Rye IPA – a 7% rye IPA so named because it’s a nightmare to make for Baird Beer
- October – Baird Fest Lager – a 6% marzen brewed using Floor-malted Pilsen, Vienna, Munich, Caramel malts
- November – Baird West Coast Wheat Wine – a 10% west coast wheat wine brewed with Japanese Korizato (Rock Candy)
- December – Baird Bakayaro! Ale – a 9% American strong ale that started out life in 2009 as part of Chris Poel’s own design.
- Retired Baird Rainy Season Black Ale – a 7% black IPA volved from a recipe that Baird Beer did for legendary craft beer bar Popeye in Ryugoku.
- Retired Baird Big Red Machine Fall Classic Ale – a 6% marzen
Baird Beer : Fruitful Life Series
A series of beers from Baird Beer that take in various fruits and spices from across Japan.
- January – Baird Carpenter’s Mikan Ale
- February – Baird Temple Garden Yuzu Ale
- March – Baird Second Strike Apple Ale
- April – Baird Fruitful Life Citrus IPA
- May – Baird Shizuoka Summer Mikan Ale
- July – Baird Japan Tale Ale
- August – Baird Asian Beauty Biwa Lager
- October – Baird Country Girl Kabocha Ale
- November – Baird Smoke & Fire Habanero Ale
- December – Baird Jubilation Ale
Baird Beer : Limited Beers
The following are some of the limited beers we’ve had from Baird Beer :
- Baird Baba Oatmeal Smoked Porter – a 5.7% porter that can be found at the Baird Takadanobaba location.
- Baird BB15 Bay Steam – a 5% California common and also one of the original beers on tap at the Baird Numazu Taproom back in 2001; however, this one became the Red Rose Amber Ale.
- Baird BB15 Zamamiro Ale – an 8% golden ale first brewed in 2008 when Baird reached the milestone of 1,000 brews and it makes its return to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Numazu Taproom.
- Baird / Ishii / Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA – first brewed in 2011 to support the Tohoku Earthquake fund.
- Baird Nakameguro Bitter – a 6.3% extra special bitter (ESB) brewed using Mandarina Bavaria hops from Germany.
- Baird Namakemono by Country Boy / Baird Beer – first brewed in 2016 with Country Boy Brewing based in Kentucky.
- Baird Maris Otter 50 ESBaird – 6% English style bitter from Baird Beer that was released in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Maris Otter.
- Baird Pacific Porter – a 9% Pacific porter.
- Baird Product of Time Saison – an 8% imperial saison brewed in conjunction with and on sale at Craftsman Yokohama.
- Baird Red Comet Colloboration IPA – first brewed in February with Funk Estate, a NZ Brewery, and on sale in July 2016.
- Baird Shikoku Wit – a Belgian witbier brewed with wheat grown in Kagawa prefecture.
- Baird Shinshuwase Wet Hop Ale – a 5% English style pale ale brewed using Shinshuwase hops which were developed and grown in Japan during the 20th century.
- Baird Shohei IPA – a 7.5% American brewed in honour of Shohei Taguchi, who unfortunately passed away in August 2015.
- Baird Tohoku Wet Hop Ale 2016 – a 5.5% American pale ale with Cascade hops from Yamagata and Centennial hops from Miyagi.
Baird Beer : Articles
The following are some of the articles we’ve done:
- Baird Beer Brewery tour here.
- Baird Beer Interview with Bryan Baird and Bryan Baird here.
- Baird Beer Brewery Gardens Shuzenji Taproom here.
- Baird Beer Taproom Nakameguro here.
- Baird Beer Taproom Bashamichi here.
- Baird Beer Taproom Harajuku here.
- Baird Beer Taproom Takadanobaba here.
- Closed : Baird Numazu Fishmarket in Numazu, Shizuoka
- Baird Beer Station Numazu (Numazu / Shizuoka)
Baird Beer : Details
- Address : 1052 Odaira, Izu, Shizuoka 410-2415
- Phone : 0558-73-1225
- Homepage : https://bairdbeer.com/
- Online store : https://bairdbeer.com/collections
- Social Media : Facebook / Instagram
