Job Discussion Forums

[Evil Giraffe]

I'm a beer lover. Stouts, India Pale Ales, Red Ales, Hefeweizens, etc. I love them all. I've even brewed some in the past and would like to do so again in the future. But the purpose of this thread is to find out what I can expect with regards to beer selection if and when I get to Japan.
I am a bit spoiled here in California. I can get many varieties of styles from many different brewers. A few years ago I went to Oklahoma for xmas and was shocked to find that I couldn't find a decent beer to save my life (and I mean that literally ). All I could find there was Bud, Miller, and Coors. Now I'll drink those if that's all I can get, but my taste buds usually rise up and revolt against me when I do. We even went out ot a bar at one point thinking that what we could not find in the stores we would surely find in a bar. But no. Their tap selection included all of two beers, bud light and coors light. This turned me on to the fact that not all places have the selection I am used to here on the west coast.
So, can I expect a good selection in Japan? Is beer easy to find or will I have to search long and hard to find it? Or do I not stand a chance of finding good beer and would be better advised to start exploring the world of sake? I like sake, but sometimes (many times) there is nothing like a large glass of guinness or a thick pale ale to take your mind off the game.

[Lucy Snow]

Mass market beer in Japan is light-years away from American Bud, Coors (is that really beer?) or Miller. My favorite when I was there was Yebisu; my husband really liked Asahi Super Dry.

A microbrewery started up in Ibaraki-ken, and they were making some pretty good beer. I think the brand was Owl's Nest. I don't know if it's available outside of Ibaraki.

You can also easily find Guinness, Heineken, etc. If you're willing to really lay out the yen, you can buy Grolsch, ot one of the Belgian high-alcohol-content beer (my favorite brand name was "Delerium Tremens with its pictures of pink elephents).

Don't fear, evil giraffe. There'll be more than enough good beer to keep you satisfied.

[Buck Turgidson]

If you are in a large city there will be import food stores with a decent selection of imports. I imagine if you are in Tokyo you can find about anything if you look hard enough. I was in Kitakyushu and if I remember correctly the local import shop carried Heiniken, Becks, Guiness, and an assortment of brands from Belgium the names of which I have forgotten. They also had American Budweiser and MGD. These beers are pretty expensive though. If there is a specific brand of import you may be out of luck. What specifically did you have in mind?

Japanese beers are widely available at every convenience store and even in vending machines.

[Glenski]

And if you are into malt liquor, you'll be in heaven. Japan's "happoshu" is booming because of the cheaper prices.

[Brooks]

it depends where you are.
On Sunday I was in Kobe and I had dinner at a Belgian restaurant called Brugge.
It is real close to the Hankyu station in Sannomiya. It was not cheap but it was good. The Belgian fries were nice. Obviously there was a lot of beer, in the different styles. I don`t care for lambics so I drank Grolsch and Kronnenberg. But they had alts and other varieties.
The interior was authentic, especially upstairs. I thought I was in Brussels.
Great interior design. The glass and wood used was something else.

There is a bar I like in Roppongi (Tokyo). They have a good selection of all sorts of beers, but it doesn`t come cheap. Some beers cost as much as 1000 yen. The bar is called Cerveza.

I live in Kanagawa Ken, not far from Tokyo. There is a nearby liquor store that is fantastic. The selection is amazing. So much Scotch, basically everything is there.
My girlfriend wanted me to buy South African wine. She prefers white, and sure enough they had white. Granted only one kind to choose from.
In terms of beer I saw a large selection. Even Chilean, which I have never seen before.
So I have seen beers from these countries at this store:
Israel, Thailand, Singapore, Tahiti, Australia, Peru, Mexico, US, Canada,
Turkey, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Ireland, UK, Germany, Italy, India,
Vietnam, Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines, etc.
Oh, from Myanmar too. And from Cuba. Jamaica, Austria, and Egypt.
Maybe from Brazil too. I have had Brazilian beer in Tokyo.

A good bar I like is in Sagami-Ono which is on the Odakyu line, just one stop away from Tokyo in Kanagawa. They have lots of beers (200?). But not cheap. I have not been in awhile because it is expensive. It is called Lemon Pie.
I went to Europe last year and brought Staropramen (from Prague) and Zlaty Bazant (from Slovakia) back and exchanged them for a couple beers from this bar. The bartender was grateful because he loves beer. I did it because I said there is more to Czech beer than just Czech Bud and Pilsner Urquell.

Japanese beer does not have much variety. The main beers come from Sapporo, Kirin, Asahi, Suntory, and Yebisu.
Kirin , I think, has experimented more than the other brands. For example, they used to make a bock in Kobe only. But it is not made anymore. There are microbreweries, like in Kyoto or other places.

Brooks

[guest of Japan]

Yebisu. Very satisfying.

[David W]

I believe Asahi make a stout that you can only get on tap. I've yet to sample it as I only know of one place where I can get it.

[Shonai Ben]

I would also say that Yebisu is a great beer but I don't buy it because it is too expensive and never goes on sale.My favorite beers are Sapporo Black Label and Kirin Ichiban.Personally I would stay away from happoshu.It is cheap but it doesn't really taste like beer imo.Asahi Super Dry is probably the most popular beer in Japan but does not suit my tastes.Have fun taste testing all the different beer here in Japan.I am sure you will enjoy the beer here.
Cheers.

[Sunpower]

Yebisu - Expensive, heavy but good.
Asahi Dry - Easy to drink and a good beer.
Happoshu - Cheapest alternative to the "real deal"
Black Label - Good beer.
Grolsh - Expensice but also good.
Found a micro brew out of Nagano but don't remember the name of if, have to ask my girlfriend. Was pretty good, though.
You get the Ameican major beers as well.
Canadian beer - Just Moose Head and Labbats. Nothing else from what I've seen.

[Evil Giraffe]

thanks to all. you have put me at ease. nice to know that my favorite beverage will be accounted for in its many varieties. and now, to find a job.....

[nakanoalien2]

In general, Guinness, Bass and a variety of Belgian beers are available in Tokyo.

There are a variety of Irish/British pubs in Tokyo. A chain British Pub called the HUB is increasingly found outside Tokyo. They push draft Guinness and Bass.

In Jimbocho and Roppongi there is a Belgian Pub called Brussels. Great in Jimbocho with an excellent selection, but pricey (1000 per beer on avg). They have beers like Kwak, Guillotine, Delirium Tremens.

There are a few places very near Shinjuku station as well. Basically, not difficult to find Guinness, Bass on tap.

In stores you can find Guinness (including the newish draft cans), Chimay (blue/red), Hoergarden, Bass, Duvel, some pilsners and others.

[Romulus]

Costco carries a variety of beer Bass,Sam Adams etc. you pay by bank and have it delivered by deliery service.Honestly, I dont know what it will cost but call Brendon Hanna at Flying Pig.Com 092-948-3793 also good for BBQ supplies.

Also James at Avon Drinks.com they have a homepage.

[Dean T]

well im a aussie and there is nothing like a aussie beer.

thankfully suntory are the distributors for some of my favs like

VB XXXX redback coopers so if you want a Aussie beer find a Aussie bar........ or suntory brewers

Red Rock in Nagoya is a good place to have a aussie brew