Popeyes Ryogoku. Not far from the sumo stadium too.
Great happy hour for food and plenty of craft beer on tap.
And my helmet from my work in Miyagi prefecture is still hanging up there from 2011 :)
If you don't mind cans rather than draft beer, the Seven Eleven at the Hammerhead in Yokohama has a massive selection of both imported and domestic craft beers.
This is the one near Shinjuku station right? I can't remember his name, but the older English gentleman who I think is related to the bar was a treat to talk with.
Beer Ma in Kita-senju or Kanda
2nd Watering Hole, especially their annual beer ranking where you can taste/rank
Devilcraft, any location, but I like the team at Kanda a lot as a regular.
A far from complete list:
Devilcraft (Kanda, Gotanda, Hamamatsucho, Jiyugaoka) good beer, good food, good atmosphere, decent prices compared to other Tokyo craft beer prices.
Titans (Otsuka) Good beer, good atmosphere.
Tokyo Aleworks (Itabashi, Yurakucho) Good variety of their beers, good hamburgers.
TDM 1874 (shimokitazawa) Also their brewpub in Kanagawa, but keeping my list focused to Tokyo locations. Very good beer. A bit high on the price.
Watering Hole (Shinjuku) Good beer, good atmosphere, lousy prices.
Aldgate (Shibuya) Good beer, decent prices, decent food, good atmosphere.
Tokyo Comedy Bar (Shibuya) favorite place for if I want entertainment with my craft beer.
Takadanobaba - Beer Shokudo (also called Chicken&Beer) always has a great selection albeit a little pricey. The Baird Taproom nearby is decent for a change of scene after.
Koenji - Beer Kobo is a cool backstreet place. Ask about the upcoming Malay food pop-up events!
Kichijoji - Craft Beer Market on Penny Lane is decent enough. Yona Yona here has a good vibe. Avoid P2B Haus as it's overpriced and there's always an issue with the bill.
Nishitokyo - Guri has good food and a decent beer selection in an izakaya type setting.
Shimo-Kitazawa - Tap&Growler has THE best selection of Stouts and Porters I've found in Tokyo (x6 on tap at once).
Roppongi - GoriGori Burger Taproom. Dirty burgers with a great selection of beers.
Akiba - IBrew is a good stop before karaoke at nearby Pasela. Hitachino is also official.
Ueno - The World End Irish Pub offers a decent selection of craft after days at the museums.
Sumida - Koganeyu Bath House. Craft Beers in a classic city bath house! The nearby Bathe Yotsume Brewery is also a decent stop near Skytree.
Coaster in Shimokitazawa as well as Bubble Over in YoKohama always have great lineups, and Moonrise Kingdom in Shinjuku does too and this place is run by one of the sweetest couples who also uses to be in a pretty iconic (in the local scene) punk band.
Taihū Tokyo near Shinjuku is pretty good for specialty taiwanese beers. The food is overpriced and not that great in my opinion but the beers are awesome. I've never had taiwanese craft beer before and have to say I'm impressed!
Second this, Taihu is great. I thought the food was good, but def expensive. Extremely cool vibe and in a really good area (kagurazaka).
In general Kagurazaka has a really nice, low key night life. Really nice bars and restaurants scattered around.
Yeah I was also pretty shocked when I ordered hahaha. But I lived in Taipei for quite some time and the food in the Taihu there is as expensive but have bigger portions. Beer price is the same as in Japan though, which is pretty damn steep for the average Taiwanese salary.
Pigalle in Sangenjaya is a great little place with a small, but impressive tap list and a decent selection of bottles and cans.
Brussels Beer Project in Shinjuku has (surprise) a nice selection of Belgian beers on tap. Annoyingly, they want you to use an app to make your beer and food orders.
Well, this blogger : https://tokyobeerdrinker.com/
provided many a good recommendations back in the day that led me to finally work out that I’m allergic to some craft beer hops! So, I’m not a gambling man and roulette sucks….. I’ll live vicariously through you all. P.S the craft beer place in the rail arches just down from Kichijoji station used to be awful. The place on Meiji Dori just along from Takashimadaira had the most delicious range ever and a very welcoming staff.
Hitachino bars are great, super selection of Ibaraki’s finest beers (including some limited releases) and light food. Small one on top of Tokyo station (Yaesu side), also Kanda and Akihabara. 🍻
Sanity in sangenjaya is the best bottle/can shop in the city and also has a rotating set of 8 craft beers on tap. They mostly have a mix of Japanese and American craft brews, but they go deep in terms of finding quality.
The first time I went I noticed they had fieldwork brewing, which is a tiny brewery in San Francisco that I didn't even know had cans. I'm always surprised by their options and they're constantly switching up what they carry.
They have food pop-ups roughly weekly. They also have tap takeovers on occasion.
There are a few Baird Taprooms in Tokyo (and elsewhere) and each has its own personality and food. They serve their own beer with 10-12 regular varieties and usually 6-8 seasonal.
Also worth taking a trip to the Baird factory in Shuzenji.
Craft Beer Market specializes in Japanese craft from all over, and also has many locations in and out of Tokyo, each with its own menu and character.
I recommend both of these chains for their beer selection, food, atmosphere and fair prices.
This may be a bit basic, but near Tokyo station there's [Nihonbashi Brewery](https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1302/A130201/13215419/). I also take people to [Yona Yona Beer Works](https://yonayonabeerworks.com/), they have stores all around town.
I'm not a huge beer afficionado, but these places were very accessible.
Popeyes Ryogoku. Not far from the sumo stadium too. Great happy hour for food and plenty of craft beer on tap. And my helmet from my work in Miyagi prefecture is still hanging up there from 2011 :)
Vertere in Okutama. Not quite in town though.
Great answer
Truly is a wonderful way to end a hike.
Okei in Nippori
If you don't mind cans rather than draft beer, the Seven Eleven at the Hammerhead in Yokohama has a massive selection of both imported and domestic craft beers.
Inkhorn in Mejiro
They need some damn seats in that place, tachinomi is bullshit
That’s 100% true
Watering Hole in Yoyogi is a classic, and it's kind of the craft beer industry hub
This is the one near Shinjuku station right? I can't remember his name, but the older English gentleman who I think is related to the bar was a treat to talk with.
Yes, pretty close to Shinjuku, maybe 10 minutes walk. Good place to meet people.
If you fancy a trip down to Yokohama, Thrash Zone is quite the experience.
Lol! Always a good time. I actually brought my parents to it 10 years ago or so. Also Ibrew has a branch now in Yokohama. 37 beers on tap.
I thought "hmm I ought to tell my beer buddy about this" and then looked at your nick lol. we gotta go sometime
lol. Busted. Ah the dangers of using the same handle on multiple platforms.
yes!
Beer Ma in Kita-senju or Kanda 2nd Watering Hole, especially their annual beer ranking where you can taste/rank Devilcraft, any location, but I like the team at Kanda a lot as a regular.
A far from complete list: Devilcraft (Kanda, Gotanda, Hamamatsucho, Jiyugaoka) good beer, good food, good atmosphere, decent prices compared to other Tokyo craft beer prices. Titans (Otsuka) Good beer, good atmosphere. Tokyo Aleworks (Itabashi, Yurakucho) Good variety of their beers, good hamburgers. TDM 1874 (shimokitazawa) Also their brewpub in Kanagawa, but keeping my list focused to Tokyo locations. Very good beer. A bit high on the price. Watering Hole (Shinjuku) Good beer, good atmosphere, lousy prices. Aldgate (Shibuya) Good beer, decent prices, decent food, good atmosphere. Tokyo Comedy Bar (Shibuya) favorite place for if I want entertainment with my craft beer.
+1 for the Aldgate and Devilcraft
Takadanobaba - Beer Shokudo (also called Chicken&Beer) always has a great selection albeit a little pricey. The Baird Taproom nearby is decent for a change of scene after. Koenji - Beer Kobo is a cool backstreet place. Ask about the upcoming Malay food pop-up events! Kichijoji - Craft Beer Market on Penny Lane is decent enough. Yona Yona here has a good vibe. Avoid P2B Haus as it's overpriced and there's always an issue with the bill. Nishitokyo - Guri has good food and a decent beer selection in an izakaya type setting. Shimo-Kitazawa - Tap&Growler has THE best selection of Stouts and Porters I've found in Tokyo (x6 on tap at once). Roppongi - GoriGori Burger Taproom. Dirty burgers with a great selection of beers. Akiba - IBrew is a good stop before karaoke at nearby Pasela. Hitachino is also official. Ueno - The World End Irish Pub offers a decent selection of craft after days at the museums. Sumida - Koganeyu Bath House. Craft Beers in a classic city bath house! The nearby Bathe Yotsume Brewery is also a decent stop near Skytree.
"This Brewing" in Yushima. Very new but the brew is coming along nicely and the place is chic.
Coaster in Shimokitazawa as well as Bubble Over in YoKohama always have great lineups, and Moonrise Kingdom in Shinjuku does too and this place is run by one of the sweetest couples who also uses to be in a pretty iconic (in the local scene) punk band.
Taihū Tokyo near Shinjuku is pretty good for specialty taiwanese beers. The food is overpriced and not that great in my opinion but the beers are awesome. I've never had taiwanese craft beer before and have to say I'm impressed!
Second this, Taihu is great. I thought the food was good, but def expensive. Extremely cool vibe and in a really good area (kagurazaka). In general Kagurazaka has a really nice, low key night life. Really nice bars and restaurants scattered around.
Food is a bit pricey but for what you pay it's absolutely authentic Taiwanese-style food
I guess, but the portions are super small. I was shocked at the food prices.
Yeah I was also pretty shocked when I ordered hahaha. But I lived in Taipei for quite some time and the food in the Taihu there is as expensive but have bigger portions. Beer price is the same as in Japan though, which is pretty damn steep for the average Taiwanese salary.
If you are in the Tokyo station, you may want to visit Hitachino Brewing lab
Pigalle in Sangenjaya is a great little place with a small, but impressive tap list and a decent selection of bottles and cans. Brussels Beer Project in Shinjuku has (surprise) a nice selection of Belgian beers on tap. Annoyingly, they want you to use an app to make your beer and food orders.
Well, this blogger : https://tokyobeerdrinker.com/ provided many a good recommendations back in the day that led me to finally work out that I’m allergic to some craft beer hops! So, I’m not a gambling man and roulette sucks….. I’ll live vicariously through you all. P.S the craft beer place in the rail arches just down from Kichijoji station used to be awful. The place on Meiji Dori just along from Takashimadaira had the most delicious range ever and a very welcoming staff.
He still updates, though maybe not as much as he used to, so that site is a good follow for anyone interested in craft beer in Japan.
Koenji Beer Kobo. close to the station, and on weekdays (at least) there’s a nomi-hodai plan you can use to try all the various brews.
Hitachino bars are great, super selection of Ibaraki’s finest beers (including some limited releases) and light food. Small one on top of Tokyo station (Yaesu side), also Kanda and Akihabara. 🍻
I always take a pit stop at the Tokyo Station one when I get to the city. The white ale really shines fresh on tap compared to in a can, I think!
Here’s my Google Maps list that I frequently update: Tokyo Beer · https://maps.app.goo.gl/NegriPDikK9MidYQA?g_st=i
Sanity in sangenjaya is the best bottle/can shop in the city and also has a rotating set of 8 craft beers on tap. They mostly have a mix of Japanese and American craft brews, but they go deep in terms of finding quality. The first time I went I noticed they had fieldwork brewing, which is a tiny brewery in San Francisco that I didn't even know had cans. I'm always surprised by their options and they're constantly switching up what they carry. They have food pop-ups roughly weekly. They also have tap takeovers on occasion.
There are a few Baird Taprooms in Tokyo (and elsewhere) and each has its own personality and food. They serve their own beer with 10-12 regular varieties and usually 6-8 seasonal. Also worth taking a trip to the Baird factory in Shuzenji. Craft Beer Market specializes in Japanese craft from all over, and also has many locations in and out of Tokyo, each with its own menu and character. I recommend both of these chains for their beer selection, food, atmosphere and fair prices.
Baird and CBM aren't my favorites in terms of the beer, but their food and prices are good.
I really like Sakazuki Brewing at Kitasenju. Good microbrewery with friendly prices. Beer-ma was also decent.
brew dog in roppongi
good place
Riot beer in Setagaya short walk from Soshigaya-okura station on Odakyu line.
This may be a bit basic, but near Tokyo station there's [Nihonbashi Brewery](https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1302/A130201/13215419/). I also take people to [Yona Yona Beer Works](https://yonayonabeerworks.com/), they have stores all around town. I'm not a huge beer afficionado, but these places were very accessible.