Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku The Bottom Line Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku is nothing like the other two branches in Kyobashi or Tamachi – it’s far more upmarket and not really aimed at craft beer drinkers. Instead, it’s aimed at the local office workers – as I found out on the day. While it follows a similar vein to …
Brussels Beer Project Shinjuku in Shinjuku, Tokyo
Brussels Beer Project Shinjuku The Bottom Line If you come to Brussels Beer Project Shinjuku to find some cheap domestic beer, then you’re going to be severely let down. If you like Brussels Beer Project beers then Brussels Beer Project Shinjuku will be right up your street – if you can afford it. At least those yen coins won’t be …
The Silver Lining in Umeda, Osaka
The Silver Lining Bottom Line The Silver Lining is a great bar to go to for friendly staff and comfortable atmosphere. It’s a little off the beaten path in Umeda, but well worth the walk, especially if you’re hungry. While the bar doesn’t have a huge beer selection, what they do have is always good quality. Their food is some …
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Tsukinowaguma in Gakugeidaigaku, Tokyo
Tsukinowaguma The Bottom Line If you’re in Gakugeidaigaku, and you’re desperate for some craft beer, then you can get the train to either Nakameguro or Jiyugaoka, as it is hard to recommend Tsukinowaguma over anything else that’s close by. While there are some taps of craft beer, the place is pricey for what you get both in terms of beer …
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Sidewalk Stand Nakameguro in Nakameguro, Tokyo
Sidewalk Stand Nakameguro The Bottom Line While Sidewalk Stand Nakameguro stretches the boundaries of what is classified as a craft beer bar, it is a cosy little place that should be on your list for a quick beer while you’re going to Deguchiya or perhaps for a nice respite from the crowds along the River Meguro. Sidewalk Stand Nakameguro ticks off …
Y Market Brewing Taproom in Nagoya, Aichi
Y Market Brewing Taproom The Bottom Line There’s no better place than a brewery to get the freshest beers going, and with Y Market Brewing Taproom, you have another choice after Y Market Brewing Kitchen to do that. However, Y Market Brewing Taproom is a trek out of the city to do it, so it’s probably only the die-hard Y …
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Hopbuds in Nagoya, Aichi
Hopbuds The Bottom Line Is Hopbuds a bottle shop turned bar, or a bar turned bottle shop? Doesn’t matter as it does both well enough that you should go there for a few beers while you’re in Nagoya. The multi-nationality makeup of Hopbuds means you’ll end up talking with people from different backgrounds, a welcome change in what seemed to …
Midtown BBQ Nagoya in Nagoya, Aichi
Midtown BBQ Nagoya The Bottom Line You might come to Midtown BBQ Nagoya for the BBQ – and let’s be honest it’s a damn good reason to come here – but like the Yokohama branch, they is also a decent selection of craft beer on tap too. While the prices are the norm it seems for Nagoya, there is also …
Y Market Brewing Kitchen in Nagoya, Aichi
Y Market Brewing Kitchen The Bottom Line If you go to Nagoya, then you have to go to Y Market Brewing. Heck, if you live in Nagoya and haven’t been to Y Market Brewing Kitchen, then what are you doing?! Y Market Brewing Kitchen ticks all the right boxes that we love in a craft beer and we could have …
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Rudy Brew in Kamakura, Kanagawa
Rudy Brew The Bottom Line If Rudy Brew can succeed where Xrosk failed, then they’re onto a winner – however, Kamakura is a fickle place it seems. There ska-punk-esque atmosphere in Rudy Brew is completely the opposite of what Xrosk was – and I liked it. The staff are friendly, there is a variety of beer on the menu, and …