Today, continues this little flurry of posts and continues the tale of my increasingly intoxicated journey from Beach Muffin to a football game. It’s another brewpub, but is significantly different from my previous stop, Minami Yokohama Beer Labo. It’s very close to Nokendai station, one stop from Kanazawa Bunko and Minami Yokohama, so it probably makes sense to combine the two if you’re in the area. You can do your own compare and contrast too if you want! Here’s what you need to know.
– Very different feel to Minami Yokohama Beer Labo, this being more of a restaurant/dining place than a bar, but the master was fine with me just popping in for beer. Slightly fancy Japanese counter restaurant feel to it, although I should admit that I have never actually been to a fancy Japanese counter restaurant so I’m flying by the seat of my pants with this comparison. Do they even exist? Perhaps I’ve made the whole concept up. Counter seating for 12 and another table for maybe four. Take your shoes off on the way in and put them in the lockers at the door.
– Once again this is a brewpub, but instead of the brewing being done on a separate floor, it’s done in a tiny space by the door. You wouldn’t know though, as the two beers and one cider I tried were really good! They had six beers on when I was there but their Facebook page shows that sometimes this can be eight. Two sizes, half and US pint and all beers were priced at ¥480 and ¥780 respectively. Decent variety of styles, and avoids the homebrew feel that some other new or small breweries beers have. Very impressive! Lots of other booze available if you’re not into beer.
– According to their Facebook page, they have some daytime opening. The hours seem a little unusual though, so it might be worth checking before you go. I should also say that I went there near opening time and was fine, but there were quite a few reservations, so if you’re determined to visit, and are getting off the train especially, it’s probably worth trying to book or going right at opening time. Better safe than sorry. There was no cover charge when I was there, but maybe this isn’t the case if you’re eating. Tabelog says there is a smoking area, but I wasn’t aware of there being one. Sorry, this is all a bit vague! Perhaps I should have arrived a bit more sober.
This was really a pleasant surprise! It’s great to visit a relatively new brewery (the restaurant has been there a while but they’ve only been brewing since 2016), and find that they are making some very nice beers! The prices are very good too. The master was very keen to chat about his beers and even went into the brewery to put his as yet unreleased cider on for me as he was interested in what I thought about it. I think he can speak some English, but can’t say for sure whether I have made this aspect up as well. Seems this is all a bit of a blur. Sorry!
Japanese breweries seen on tap:
Yokohama Kanazawa
Opening Hours:
Monday-Thursday, 17:00-22:30
Friday, 11:00-22:30
Saturday, 16:00-22:30
Closed Sunday
Location/Map:
釜利谷東3-1-4, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken
Telephone:
045-788-4575