A new Baird taproom! That kind of came out of the blue. And it’s in Takadanobaba, an interesting area where some beery stuff seems to be starting to happen. As usual, for the full details, I’d recommend checking one of the other Baird taproom posts (Harajuku or Nakameguro. Bashamichi to be done soon, I hope). Here are the significant bits.
– Nice feel to the place. Darker than their taprooms usually are. Has a bit of a Japanese restaurant mixed with a British pub feel to it, if that makes any sense at all. Seven seats at the counter and tables for 30-40 others. Also they have a nice looking patio, although I have only seen it in pictures so far. Looks like it will be very nice in the warm weather.
– 12 regular beers and seven seasonals, so a decent line up. All Baird beers when I was there. The two house beers unique to this branch were the Baba Oatmeal Smoke Porter on handpump and Organic Hop Pale Ale. Usual prices and sizes it seemed (500ml and 250ml for the regulars, and 400ml and 200ml for the seasonals; prices are ¥1000 for large and ¥600 for small, and very occasionally a little bit extra if the beer is extra high alcohol or extra special somehow, but in the same sort of area). I hope this is right as I had consumed a few beers by this stage and didn’t check very carefully.
It had been a while since I had visited a Baird taproom and had forgotten that they are lots of fun. The beers are always decent and the atmosphere is good. I should definitely go back to these places more often, especially when the patio is available to sit on. It’s pretty close to the station so should be fairly easy to get to. Beware though. You can easily spot the Baird logo from the main street, but the entrance is on the side towards the back of the building and not the first one you come to. Check the photo above for the right door to go in.
Japanese breweries recently seen on tap:
Baird
Opening Hours:
Monday-Friday, 17:00-00:00
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays, 12:00-00:00
Location/map:
高田馬場 3-2-14, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Telephone:
03-5332-7795
I've been disappointed recently with some Baird beers—a few bars I go to have Teikoku and at times it's been pretty foul—though that may have been due to the bar's handling of the beer. The beers here all clean and good—and a better atmosphere than some of the other pubs..
Where did it taste bad? Do you want to name and shame? I guess that's something many people forget. There's so many variables involved in how the beer tastes when you drink it. It's difficult to say where something went wrong.