Gora Brewery & Grill The Bottom Line Perhaps Gora Brewery & Grill should be renamed Gora Grill & Brewery because I’m sure the grilled food is miles better than the beer produced. The setting for Gora Brewery & Grill is second to none – beautiful views over the valley, Japanese zen garden, a foot bath for you to rest your weary feet. But …
Swan Lake Pub Edo Roppongi in Roppongi, Tokyo
Swan Lake Pub Edo Roppongi The Bottom Line I so wanted to like Swan Lake Pub Edo Roppongi but I left feeling cold and done over. Having visited two of their other branches in Tokyo – the Kyobashi branch and also the Tamachi branch – this one just pales in comparison. The beers are some of the most expensive in the area and the dreaded …
Barley Wheat Hamamatsucho in Daimon, Tokyo
Barley Wheat Hamamatsucho The Bottom Line It’s really not worth trekking out to Barley Wheat Hamamatsucho considering what is in the area. While it does have a nice chilled out atmosphere, especially at the weekend where it seems the whole area is cleared out due to the lack of office workers, the prices and servings just do not justify going there. …
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Minami Yokohama Beer Labo in Kanazawa Bunko, Kanagawa
Minami Yokohama Beer Labo The Bottom Line While the beers at Minami Yokohama Beer Labo were drinkable (more on that later), it’s the cosy atmosphere that I liked more than anything else. It felt like I was sitting in someone’s living room drinking their beer. There was a real mix of clientele – families with young kids, families with teenagers, your …
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Brasserie Beer Boulevard in Shimbashi, Tokyo
Brasserie Beer Boulevard The Bottom Line BBB was alright, they had a good selection and weren’t terribly expensive but it felt more like a date spot than an actual craft beer bar. The seats for lonely loners are all directly in front of the door which really made me feel like they just wanted us out of there as quickly …
Kawaguchi Brewery in Kawaguchi, Saitama
Kawaguchi Brewery The Bottom Line Saitama doesn’t have much to offer – nor does it have many craft beer bars in the area, let alone brewpubs. If you’re in the area though, Kawaguchi Brewery is worth a visit, now they have their own beers on tap. Their beers are better than most brewpub efforts I’ve had and are reasonably priced too. …
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Craft Beer Dodo House in Meguro, Tokyo
Craft Beer Dodo House The Bottom Line Craft Beer Dodo House may be off the beaten craft beer track in Tokyo, but I liked it. While it does involve a bit of a walk from Meguro station, the varied tap list and friendly, non-smoking atmosphere helped make Craft Beer Dodo House stand out. The main downside to Craft Beer Dodo House was …
Beer Butterfly in Sumiyoshi, Tokyo
Beer Butterfly The Bottom Line With Beer Butterfly’s confusing pricing system for beers and food, how much you pay and if it’s right is going to be hard to guess, but at least the taplist makes up for the confusing prices. The tap list is nice and varied though so there is definitely a beer that you can pick from. I’d …
Closed: Mile Post Cafe in Kayabacho, Tokyo
Editor’s Note: Mile Post Cafe, and its reiteration of Eitai Brewing, have closed. This review has been kept up for posterity’s sake. Mile Post Cafe The Bottom Line If it weren’t for the table charge and the lack of tax included in the prices, then Mile Post Cafe would be a 100% recommendation, though if you do factor those two issues …
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Craft Beer Market Awajicho in Awajicho, Tokyo
Craft Beer Market Awajicho The Bottom Line If you’re in the area looking for a lunch time beer, then Craft Beer Market Awajicho is a decent choice but it’s closed at the weekends due to lack of business in the area, so remember that next time you think it’s open for a beer. If you’ve been to one Craft Beer Market bar, …