Given that we needed to change trains at Shonandai to get home after Yumegaoka Sunday Brewing, it seemed natural to give the interestingly named Rraap Brewery a go too. It’s not too far from the station exit and looked kind of intriguing when I added it to a digest post a while ago. After visiting I can say that I think I get what’s going on a bit better now, but still can’t quite get a grip on it. This is definitely quite different from other brewery tap rooms I’ve visited in the past. Here’s what you need to know:
- Even though I knew there were a lot of seats here, I was quite surprised when I arrived to see that it is indeed quite big. The decor is quite different from what you might expect from a brewery taproom. Definitely feels more like a kind of party dining bar, if that description actually means anything… It’s difficult to say though as we were there shortly after opening on a Sunday. I think the fact that it’s usually open till 3am might suggest that it’s more of a place where things get going later on in the evening.
- Seven taps of Japanese craft beer. Four of their own which don’t seem to ever change and three Japanese craft guests of limited excitement. Beers served in one size in a glass the volume of which is quite difficult to estimate. I’m going to guess around 300ml but I might be way off on this. Prices ranged from ¥870-¥1300, their own beers all being very much at the lower end of that range. They also offered a beer flight of three beers of your choice for ¥1600. Judging from the normal prices, you’ve got to imagine the beers in the flight must be about half the size of the normal glass, but as they didn’t mention the size and I didn’t have a flight, I can’t say. Sorry.
- Lots of food. And it was good! They make their own Mozzarella and ‘Brown Cheese’, (I wasn’t sure what this was until I googled it), which I think adds something even more to the confusion I had about the place. Both of these cheeses were great though. Lots of bottles of booze too, so I suspect lots of people drink cocktails here. No cover charge and you order through your phone using the QR code in the table. No daytime opening. But loads of LATE LATE opening.
I really was confused by this place before I visited. I was also confused whilst I was there and now am still confused afterwards. It really didn’t feel like a taproom, and definitely had more a party vibe to it. But they do make their own beer. (And cheese). I wonder if they wanted to open a party bar with craft beer and decided they might as well make their own rather than order it all in. Likewise with the cheese. I have to say though, I had a surprisingly fun time here. The beer was fine, the cheese was great, the fish tanks were engrossing and the bathroom tap was entertaining. (I’m not going to say anything more about the tap and will leave it as a surprise/challenge). In spite of it being a bit bigger than most places, it still really felt like a place where there was some passion involved rather than it just being an attempt at getting some money from the craft beer boom. Perhaps that passion is for partying. But even for non-party people like me there’s something here for you. Even though it seems like the beers never change, I can see myself visiting here again for the cheese some time! And maybe next time I might be able to work out what the name is all about.
Japanese breweries on tap:
Rraap
Sankt Gallen
Swan Lake
Johana
Opening Hours:
Monday-Saturday, 17:00-03:00
Sunday, 17:00-00:00
Location/Map:
湘南台 2-8-7 , Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa-ken
Telephone:
0466-53-9377