Beer flights – are they a good thing or a bad thing? I can imagine for bars, brewpubs, or taprooms that have to wash glasses by hand that it’s an annoyance. Trying to get into those nooks and crannies with a brush that is too big. For those places with a dishwasher, then it’s a little bit easier. But then you also need to store all of those smaller glasses somewhere – more space that is being used up. On top of that, it takes time to pour those beers – and sometimes those pours are poor.
As a consumer though, there are plenty of good enough reasons to pick up a beer flight at a bar, brewpub, or taproom given the chance:
- Choice – with all those beers and styles on tap, sometimes the paradox of choice creeps in. Being able to pick four, or more at times, means you can reduce that problem.
- Novelty – there could be some beers on tap that are weird, such as smoothies, or high in alcohol, such as Imperial Stout, that a half pint, let alone a full pint, would be too much of.
- Variety – If you quickly get bored with one kind of beer, looking at you Hazy IPA, a flight gives you the chance to taste a little bit of everything.
When you do order a beer flight, here are some suggestions before knocking them back, one after one, and ordering another soon after:
- Drink the beers in the beer flight starting with the lightest to the strongest.
- Ensure that each type of beer is served at the correct serving temperature. Don’t assume that drinking them together means they will all be at the same temperature.
- If you’re still in doubt and can’t choose, ask the bar staff to choose for you. There’s not many surprises left in life, so a beer flight can be a good surprise with the beer.
- Do not chug! You will miss out on the taste and flavor, which is the purpose of the beer flight. Slowly sip and enjoy.
Here, we list some of the best value beer flights we’ve had across Japan, without any preference to area. Of course, the prices may have changed since the original publication.
Libushi Bashamichi (Bashamichi / Yokohama)
Libushi Bashamichi is a fantastic addition to the craft beer scene in Yokohama. There are plenty of taps to choose from when ordering a beer flight, and the beer flight is the largest we’ve come across – the beer tasting flight for ¥2,400 that gets you any 4 x 240 ml beers. Almost a litre of beer!
Link to Review : Libushi Bashamichi (Bashamichi / Kanagawa)
Sankt Gallen Taproom (Hon-Atsugi / Kamakura)
Sankt Gallen opened this taproom in 2022 and since then, it’s often busy. The beer flights come in two choices : regular 4 x 150 ml beers for 1,320 yen, which is any four beers on the menu, or the massive 20 beer flight of 150 ml beers for 6,050 yen which gets you one of every beer on the menu.
Link to Review : Sankt Gallen Taproom (Hon-Atsugi / Kanagawa)
Tokyo Aleworks Station Taproom Yurakucho (Yurakucho / Tokyo)
Tokyo Aleworks‘ Itabashi location is a bit out of the way for some people but this location is more convenient and has some tasty food. However, it’s the beer flight option with any 4 beers on the menu in 150ml glasses for ¥1,500. That’s a bargain when some of the beers are pretty strong.
Link to Review : Tokyo Aleworks Station Taproom Yurakucho (Yurakucho / Tokyo)
Platinum Fish Beer Marche (Kawasaki / Kanagawa)
This place is open from 10 am – so if you’re going shopping and need a break, here’s a place you can pop in from early. They also offer up a beer flight of any 3 x 200ml beers for ¥1,300 – though the pours may need topping up so ask them nicely to do it.
Link to Review : Platinum Fish Beer Marche (Kawasaki / Kanagawa)
Gori Gori Taproom (Roppongi / Tokyo)
Ok it’s not quite a taproom, but they do have some awesome burgers on the menu. There is a six beer flight of 240ml for 1800 – that’s almost 1.5L of beer for that price. A bargain if you ask me and with plenty to choose from, there’s something for everyone as there are around 15 taps of craft beer.
Link to Review : Gori Gori Taproom (Roppongi / Tokyo)
Beer Stand Marca (Taisho / Osaka)
You’re drinking on a boat! What more of an excuse do you need to come to a place that serves beer. It also has a beer flight option, and the first one I’ve seen in Japan that gives you options for the glass sizes. You can get four beers of 150ml for ¥1,500, 300ml for ¥2,800, or the big boy option of 500 ml for ¥4,400.
Link to Review : Beer Stand Marca (Taisho / Osaka)
Yanaka Beer Hall (Taito / Tokyo)
I went for the beer but came away having enjoyed a nice few drinks in a building that had been beautiful reused. However, there two choices for a beer flight, though you do not get to choose which beers are in them, with both flights being 1,600 yen for four 130 ml beers
Link to Review : Yanaka Beer Hall (Taito / Tokyo)
iiie (Nishishinsaibashi / Osaka)
It’s one of those places where if you haven’t heard about it, then you probably will go in with low expectations. There is also a three beer tasting flight of three 150ml beers for ¥1,500 – and that’s a bargain considering that some of the beers on the menu are priced over that.
Link to Review : iiie (Nishishinsaibashi / Osaka)
West Coast 12 (Shizuoka / Shizuoka)
West Coast 12 – twelve, from West Coast Brewing, is now one of the best places in Shizuoka to get some decent craft beers. They also have a very good beer flight option whereby you can get four 150ml beers for ¥1,600 and that’s any beer on the menu – a pretty good deal if you ask me.
Link to Review : West Coast 12 – Twelve (Shizuoka / Shizuoka)
Craft Beer iBrew Akihabara (Akihabara / Tokyo)
47 taps of craft beer to choose from? That’s a decent number of beer flights you can get. This location is a little out of the way, but for me, it’s the best one. The beer flights are 3 x 90ml for ¥745, 5 x 90ml for ¥1,177, 10 x 90ml for ¥2,149, or the epic 47 x 90ml for ¥10,789.
Link to Review : Craft Beer Bar iBrew Akihabara (Akihabara / Tokyo)
How about you? What places do you recommned for beer flights? Let us know in the comments below.
