I’ve finally made it to Beer Shop Llama so have done a major revamp of this post. Normally in this situation I just update the new part and leave the old bits for reference, but in this case I think it would end up with too much mess, so everything here is about Llama and information about Drunk Bat, (it’s previous incarnation), has been consigned to the dustbin of history. Here’s what you need to know.
– Still divided into two areas as it was before. The front part is now a well stocked bottle shop with a small standing table. The taps are also in this front area too. The back area is a standing bar with most of the space being taken up by the area behind the counter. I’m not sure exactly what goes on behind there to be honest as you get your beers in the front part. They serve some snacks, so I guess that’s where they make them. Perhaps due to the limited space out front, this back area seemed to be popular with the locals when I visited.
– Ten taps of mostly Japanese craft (there was just the one import when I visited). The balance is in the opposite direction when it comes to the fridges. The Japanese stuff was served in two sizes, half and pint. I am guessing the half is UK half and the pint is US pint as is the case in most Japanese bars. The import was served in US half and 400ml. The Japanese stuff ranged from ¥850-¥1000 for the half and ¥1350-¥1650 for the pint. The import was ¥1050 and ¥1750 for the two sizes. Along with the beers on tap, they also had lots of fridges of cans and bottles for consumption on site or for take away. They charge a ¥200 corkage fee if you drink in the shop, but they have no corkage fee on Wednesdays which is pretty good!
– There was no cover charge, they have a bit of daytime opening in the week and a bit more at the weekend and they had Wifi! The holy trinity!
Have to say, this was a really nice place to have an admittedly very quick drink. I’d kind of messed up my timings meaning that if I had gone to where I was going directly I would have been much too early and then because I stopped in here, I ended up being quite late. I think the tap selection was pretty interesting and there was loads of choice when it comes to bottle and cans so I definitely could have stayed much longer. There was plenty I wanted to drink and sadly too little time. Will definitely pop back though as it’s pretty close to the station and Mitaka is an area I find myself in from time to time. You should definitely give it a go too!
Japanese breweries seen on tap here:
Craft Rock
Let’s Beer Works
Minoh
Oni Densetsu
Cycad
Tokyo Aleworks
West Coast
Japanese bottles and cans from:
Uchu
Vertere
West Coast
Minoh
Oni Densetsu
Opening Hours:
Tuesday, 17:00-00:00
Wednesday-Friday 16:00-00:00
Saturday, 15:00-00:00
Sunday, 15:00-21:00
Location/map:
井上ビル, 1F, 下連雀 3-23-5, Mitaka, Tokyo
Telephone:
0422-24-7757
Has it changed its business plan? It is now being described as a "bottle shop".
Those in metropolitan Tokyo likely know this, but for others: Numerous upward Tokyo Metro Tozai Line trains through-run beyond Nakano to Mitaka.
Still a bar I think. Have friends who go there sometimes. Perhaps they sell bottles to go, but it's still a bar. Thank you for all your comments. Working through them now.