Craft Beer Bar iBrew Ebisu The Bottom Line
It’s great to have some cheap craft beer in what seems to be Tokyo’s newest area for craft beer bars. Craft Beer Bar iBrew Ebisu doesn’t stray from the tried-and-tested formula of cheap craft beer with slightly expensive food, but then that’s what works for people. While some branches of the chain are notorious for dodgy pours, Craft Beer Bar iBrew Ebisu doesn’t skimp on the beer at all. With no table charge, prices inclusive of tax, free Wifi, and no smoking anywhere, it looks like the chain is onto a winner here. There is one downside to it though – the toilet situation. On one occasion, the toilet flooded and being underground – well you get the idea. Let’s hope that was just teething problems.
Craft Beer Bar iBrew Ebisu The Full Review
Since BeerTengoku has been around, Ebisu, famed for its Yebisu Beer Museum and not a lot else, has slowly seen an increase in the amount of craft beer bars in the area around the station. Early in 2019, there was a rumour going around that Craft Beer Bar iBrew were looking to open up a new bar in the area and it made sense – 5 major train lines pass through the station and its history of being a popular drinking area preceded the huge expansion of shops in the area.
Craft Beer Bar iBrew Ebisu is the fifth in the (slowly) growing chain, and is located less than stone’s throw from JR Ebisu station in one of the area’s most popular drinking alleys. The bar opened in September 2019, and unlike the other chains in the bar, is actually located in the second floor basement of a huge drinking complex. Once you’ve navigated the narrow passageways that lead downstairs to the bar – or taken the lift once it finally manages to come, you’re then greeted to a huge metal door – the bar is open but the door is heavy so give it a good tug to get in.
As you enter, you notice how dark the inside is compared to other bars in the chain. While we know that this branch is underground and lacks the natural light, it’s still surprising how low the light is in here – they could have done with some brighter light bulbs in here. Not that we’re knowledgeable about interior decorating – we still think optics and beer posters count for decoration. There is space inside for about 80 people, all seated, with about another 10 seats at the counter. The whole place is non-smoking and there is also no table charge either. As Craft Beer Bar iBrew Ebisu is underground, they’ve also got some free Wi-Fi too with the username and password on the menus.
Craft Beer Bar iBrew Ebisu has 47 taps of craft beer on, though not all at the same time and the menus are in a confusing order. Perhaps the OCD in me but it would have been good to have the styles with the with a set number rather than all over the shop. The prices are in line with the other stores in the chain: 1/2 pints (235ml) from ¥429 and pints (473ml) from ¥759, with imports and special beers being priced higher. The menus also include the latest tax change that occurred at the beginning of October 2019. Unlike the other bars in the chain, Craft Beer Bar iBrew Ebisu offers up some great two-hour nomihodai (drink as much as you want) plans too, with them including food. There is also the option of a beer flight too, 3 x 90ml for ¥690, 5 x 90ml for ¥1,090, 10 x 90ml for ¥1,990 though the prices don’t include tax.
The food at Craft Beer Bar iBrew Ebisu is priced slightly higher than other places in the area, and the portion sizes are a bit smaller than expected, but you don’t really come to the Craft Beer Bar iBrew chains to eat, do you? The food at Craft Beer Bar iBrew Ebisu is more BBQ based, with various cuts of steak and pork, along with sausages. And yes, there are chips on the menu too!
Craft Beer Bar iBrew Ebisu Details
Open: Weekdays 13:00 – 23:00 (L.O Food 22:00 Drink 22:30) Weekends 13:00 – 23:00 (L.O Food 22:00 Drink 22:30)
Closed: N/A
Happy Hour: None
Phone: 03-6451-2048
Homepage: http://craftbeerbar-ibrew.com/ebisu/
Social Media: Facebook
How to Get to Craft Beer Bar iBrew Ebisu
The closest station to Craft Beer Bar iBrew Ebisu is Ebisu on the various JR Lines and the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. It’s about a two-minute walk from the station.
