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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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 …
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Takadanobaba Beer Shokudo in Takadanobaba, Tokyo
Takadanobaba Beer Shokudo The Bottom Line If you’ve missed the last train home and need somewhere to drink, then check out Takadanobaba Beer Shokudo. It also offers up something different in the Takadanobaba area – imported beer alongside domestic craft beer though the prices do leave a lot to be desired considering either side of the station there are cheaper …
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Midtown BBQ Yokohama in Kannai, Yokohama
Midtown BBQ Yokohama The Bottom Line Midtown BBQ Yokohama brings a new challenger to the Kannai / Sakuragicho / Bashamichi area for some craft beer and BBQ meats, and along with a decent range of beers on tap, means you’ll come for the BBQ and stay for the BBQ with some tasty beers as well. The whole place is non-smoking, …
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Brewpub Ergo Bibamus in Kannai, Yokohama
Brewpub Ergo Bibamus The Bottom Line I hate using the word potential, but Brewpub Ergo Bibamus has it – now it just has to live up to what its planning on offering, and fast. In its current form, I can’t see Brewpub Ergo Bibamus being high up on craft beer fans’ list of places to go – it’s out of the way, …
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Barley Wheat in Kamata, Tokyo
Barley Wheat The Bottom Line If you’re in the area, then Barley Wheat is the best choice in the wilderness that is Kamata – just. It doesn’t differ much from the Barley Wheat Hamamatsucho branch, though personally I found the beer menu to be rather narrow in terms of variety of beer styles on tap – the IPA craze is still strong here. …
Yona Yona Beer Works Shinjuku in Shinjuku, Tokyo
Yona Yona Beer Works Shinjuku The Bottom Line Yona Yona Beer Works Shinjuku doesn’t offer up anything different to the rest of the chain – and that’s a shame. With identical decor, beer, and food, Yona Yona Beer Works has become the McDonald’s of the craft beer world. It would have been nice to have seen something different – perhaps a …
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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The Red Dragon in Nagano, Nagano
Guest Review by Sam Dwyer- Check out his blog here! The Red Dragon: The Bottom Line The Red Dragon Pub is a British Style Pub here in Nagano city that features an ever changing menu of Japanese craft beers. Most of these beers are local, some are from further prefectures. Aside from beers there is some unreal pub style food …
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Closed: Brew La La in Shimbashi, Tokyo
Editor’s Note: Brew La La has confirmed to have closed. This review will stay up for posterity’s sake. Brew La La The Bottom Line Brew La La is great. The staff is friendly, the beer selection is wide, the food is solid pub fare, and there’s regular events such as pub quizzes (we didn’t stick around for the Star Wars …