Taproom OAM : The Bottom Line
Taproom OAM is a good place if you like IPA heavy taplists – the owner loves their IPAs in all strengths and flavours – but if you’re looking for something traditional, then maybe head on to somewhere else in Taproom OAM. Moreover, be prepared to spend some serious money while you’re at Taproom OAM as it is one of the more expensive places in Kobe for drinking. That’s a shame because it’s a fun and friendly place to stand and have a few beers. The whole place is non-smoking, there is no table charge, and there is also some free wifi.
Taproom OAM : Background
Taproom OAM, or to give it its full name of Taproom Onajiana no Mujina (Onadine’s Viperfish), is a small craft beer bar located in Sannomiya, Kobe, about a 3 minute walk from Sannomiya station. Taproom OAM opened in January 2023 and its focus is for people to enjoy hoppy beers – so think hazy IPAs, double IPAs, dry hopped IPAs or pales but basically any beer that is hoppy.
Taproom OAM : Atmosphere & Interior
Taproom OAM is not the easiest place to spot from the outside, with a small door setback from the street. There was a small signboard that does give some semblance of an idea that there is a bar, but for some reason, and this is a minor quibble, it wasn’t facing down the street, but rather just out, so unless you walk directly in front of it, you might miss it.
As you step inside though, you’re greeted by a lot of greenery – plastic vines creeping down the walls, over your head lies an upside down plastic garden, and plants hanging around off every wall. It does feel pretty cool to walk into Taproom OAM and experience something that has some character and is not a bar of minimalist decor. Stickers and empty cans from previously drunk beers also line all the walls.
There is space for around 10 people standing, though there are some high stools but on the day we went, the stools were stacked up against the back wall. The whole place is non-smoking and there is no table charge either.
Taproom OAM : Beer & Tap Information
Taproom OAM strongly leans towards hoppy beers so if you’re not a fan of hazy IPAs or American pale ales, then Taproom OAM isn’t the place for you but I guess that’s the trend at the moment. The beers come in three main sizes: half (300 ml) from ¥1,100, full (473 ml) from ¥1,600, and UK (568 ml) from ¥1,900 but thankfully those prices do include tax but it’s still pretty pricey to drink at Taproom OAM.
There wasn’t any option for happy hour or all you can drink plans but there is a small beer flight on offer with some confusion prices based on the beers – with three beers of 150 ml with prices per beer starting from ¥700.
The menu also has a list of cans that can be drunk in store, with a heavy learning towards imports for the cans. The prices are enough to make you weep really and I didn’t get any due to them being almost double the price as places in Kanto – not even the Patreon can cover some of the beers at Taproom OAM.
The beers were served very well with minimal head or wastage but for the price you’re paying for some of these beers, if there had been even a millimetre of head on top, I would have sent the beer back and asked for a top up. The owner of the bar has said themself that this place isn’t designed for getting drunk at, but merely tasting hoppy beers.
Taproom OAM : Food & Menu Information
I didn’t notice any good at Taproom OAM besides some random snacks. The menus were mostly in Japanese though on the day we went, the staff did speak English very well.
Taproom OAM : Bar Details
- Open : Monday to Friday 18:00 – 23:00 / Saturday 14:00 – 23:00 Sundays 17:00 – 23:00 (L.O 22:15)
- Closed : –
- Happy Hour : –
- Phone : 080-7536-8949
- Homepage (in Japanese) : https://oam.base.shop/
- Social Media : Facebook / Instagram
