Shimoda Brewing Taproom : The Bottom Line
If you’re in the Shimoda area, then you’ll already know that there aren’t many other options for craft beer, so you’ve got Shimoda Brewing Taproom ahead of you. With a decent selection of beers on tap, and also plenty of variety on tap so you’re not just stuck with IPAs, you’re bound to have a couple of beers here. Moreover, there’s actually some fun entertainment for you in the form of darts, pool, and an outside drinking area. The bar is cashless though so you’ll need some sort of electonic payment before you go.
Shimoda Brewing Taproom : Background
Shimoda Brewing Taproom is part of the same company that runs Two Dogs Taproom (Roppongi / Tokyo) – one of the best places for craft beer in Tokyo, in part because of the pizza as well. As the name suggests, the taproom is located in the city of Shimoda, Izu, which is better known for Shimoda port, which was opened to American trade under the conditions of the Convention of Kanagawa, negotiated by Commodore Matthew Perry. There are plenty of landmarks around the area for you to view while you make your way to the taproom.
The taproom is located around a five minute walk from Izukyū Shimoda Station, which is on the Izu Kyūkō Line, the only train line into and out of the area. This wasn’t the first place conceived for a brewery though, as the original plan was to use the second floor of the Two Dogs Taproom; however, with it being so popular, the need for space for customers outshone the need for a brewery.
Shimoda Brewing Taproom : Atmosphere & Interior
As you approach Shimoda Brewing Taproom, the area does seem rather quiet for a craft beer bar, yet you can hear some of the voices travelling from the second floor, when the doors are open. The first floor is used for the serving and also takeout of beer, with a small deck out front that is both a smoking area, and also an area for drinking. There is space for around 12 people outside to sit at the tables.
On the second floor, it’s a lot more open, with the counter being used for the ordering of beers to drink in, though the beers are poured downstairs. Order upstairs, served downstairs is a rather weird situation but I am guessing the distance the beers have to move is a lot less. The second floor has plenty of standing room, with some seating around the edges. This floor also has some darts and a pool table for customers to use – a great pairing of entertainment once you’ve been drinking. The second floor is also non-smoking and the whole place has no table charge either.
Shimoda Brewing Taproom : Beer & Tap Information
On the day I went to Shimoda Brewing Taproom, there were ten taps of craft beer, with a split between in-house beers, and some guest beers, with all the beers priced the same : pints (470 ml) at ¥1,200 and half pints (240ml) at ¥700. There is also a four beer flight of 180 ml glasses at ¥2,000. Unfortuantely, there wasn’t an option to get any takeaway beers in cans, though some plastic cups were available.
Shimoda Brewing Taproom : Food & Menu Information
There’s plenty of options for food on the menu with some lighter snacks and bigger meals on the menu, though very few vegan or vegetarian options. The menus are in English and Japanese, with all the prices inclusive of tax.
Shimoda Brewing Taproom : Bar Details
- Open : Weekdays 17:00 – 23:00 / Weekends 12:00 – 23:00 (L.O Food 22:00 Drinks 22:30)
- Closed : Wednesdays
- Happy Hour : –
- Phone : –
- Homepage (in Japanese) : https://www.shimodabrewing.com/
- Social Media : Instagram
