WEEK 215---TOKYO 2023--KANDA/ AKIHABARA

Into 2024, let's continue with the Tokyo beer trip weekly column article published on the last day of 2023 before putting the Tokyo articles( 2 more to go) on hold to accomodate for the customary 2023 Most Memorable beer/mead list come next blog posting.

进入2024，由于报纸专栏是双周刊，所以把这期2023最后一天刊登的東京啤游记上载後，接下来还有两期的東京啤游记会稍缓押后让位给年度酒单。

Here's we go:-

Yamanote JR Line is a vital link to Tokyo rail system & a very useful guiding route for first time visitors to Tokyo, personally this is the easiest reference point/guiding light for the seemingly complex (or intimidating to first timer) Tokyo rail system. Along the circle of Yamanote Line, Kanda & Akihabara are next to each other--in fact within walking distance if you wish to sober up or shake off some calories after say drinking at Akihabara and wanted to continue drinking or eating at Kanda or vice versa. Of course, if you don't wish to walk then it's easy--just hop on a train since the bars mentioned below are all quite close to JR stations.

山手线是東京重要的一条环状电车路线，是很多本地人和游客都会使用的日常出行路线，无论是内环还是外环线路基本都可以到达城里大部份地区，而且站和站之间距离有时候用走路方式就可到，像秋叶原站和神田站之间就是直接能走到的，意思是如果在其中一区喝了酒然后想到另一站其他酒吧喝的话，以漫步消耗一些酒精卡路里的方式走着去是个不错选择,当然要是不想走路去，电车站就在附近很是方便。

Beer Ma Kanda

Been to this bottle shop/bar place prior to Covid blank us all from travelling overseas--this is a branch out from their start-up shop at Kita Senju where it started as a purely for take out bottle shop--the original shop has also evolved into a bottle shop/bar set up now.

This Kanda shop has 2 levels--step in and it's a bar with 8 taps + small kitchen for some bar food. Go 1 floor up and that's where all bottles/cans are stored in a long line of fridges--you can either drink down stairs or upstairs--no issue if you only wanted to pick beers from upstairs bottles/cans and drink downstairs--or have your order from taps sent upstairs.

This is a revisit after about 4 years--good to see that the place did not got stuck in time in terms of breweries/beer styles choices--besides some in trend Japanese breweries choices--they do have some newer/sought after US/European choices.

这是家本店位于比较远离市中心地区（北千住）原本只是较大型瓶子店的转型分店，从之前本店只卖外带瓶子罐子变成可以坐在店里喝酒吃点东西也可以只来买外带啤酒的酒吧瓶子店。

店分两层，楼下是酒吧模式有啤酒泵酒单选择也可以点些酒吧轻食，上楼即可看到一排长长的冰柜内列各种来自欧美以及一些日本在地酿坊瓶子和罐子选择，想在楼上开喝也可以，楼上楼下是通用的。意思是可以点楼下啤酒泵版本到楼上喝，也可以拿楼上瓶子罐子到楼下喝。

这家的选酒还有店内氛围是很在地，实际上几年前已来过，这次是旧地重游，观察到的是店里选酒并没有守旧停滞不前而是与时俱进，一些新晋欧美或日本酿坊作品都能找到。

Mikeller Kanda

This is the 2nd outlet in Tokyo and been around for quite a while--this time around somehow did not visit the Shibuya first bar as i went to the fairly new 3rd outlet operating from a lobby floor of a hotel the other side of Shibuya--as i was at Kanda and it's within short walking distance between Mikkeller & Beer Ma--only logical to visit both on the same evening.

Rather small place but with 3 floors--all with sitting facilities--step in its more of a small kitchen than a bar as the taps are located at 2nd floor--3rd floor with more sitting places--the only concern here is the steep wooden steps to climb up & down--be careful of your steps especially if you have had one too many....

There are 12 taps--including Mikkeller's own+ guests beer choices--did not notice a fridge or asked for a bottle list so assuming none( but don't take it from me--ask if you are curious or want to find out)--went on a weekday evening--place was quiet and cosy.

米吧在東京开的第二家酒吧，至今已开了好几年，这次终于有机会去看看坐坐喝喝。酒吧开在距离神田站不远小巷子里，店面分三层，楼下是轻食小厨房，吧台啤酒泵在二楼不过要是选择坐在楼下的话可以楼下直接点酒，侍者会帮你拿点好的啤酒下来，不得不提的是要注意上下二楼和三楼的木梯很陡，要是喝多了真的需要注意小心移动。

酒单选择基本和涉谷本店方针一样，意思是吧台12个啤酒泵除了有Mikkeller 本身不同作品也会有其他友好酿坊作品选择，因为没看到冰柜选择所以很大可能并没有瓶子或罐子可选喝，不过要是去到感觉好奇的话还是可以问一下酒保的。

IBrew--Akihabara

One of the bars suggested by my Tokyo beer friend while deciding where to meet on the first day--apparently they have a few bars in and around different areas of Tokyo( 1 at Yokohama too)--good thing is you can check online what's on tap currently since they have different choices available at different locations even though this is essentially a "chain-store" sort of bars with same name.

This one is further away from the usual bustling anime area/crowd of Akibahara--but not too far to walk to--in fact if you know which JR station exit to come out from then it's even easier/shorter to walk.

Located on the ground floor of a commercial building--from the outside this bar look kinda like a temporary wooden shack--once inside it's bigger than what the outside might have suggested--and rather cosy too--there's bar area as well sitting areas--with a rather big kitchen too. Taps with all those temp control on board looks quite impressive--but most important to a geek is all about selections available--came for some in trend Japanese breweries choices including Uchu x GreenCheek collab brew on tap--as well Amakusa Sonar Beer--all good. Perhaps only miss out was not trying any food as I came in after food.

東京啤迷朋友第一天约见面时建议到的其中一家就是这个品牌酒吧，上网看了才知道原来是在城里不同地区包括银座，惠比寿，新橋还有横滨等地有好几家分店的“连锁式”酒吧，不过每家分店当日选酒不尽相同，所以去之前看一下官网的当日酒单才决定哪一家分店会有帮助，实际上市场行销观点来说这也符合了不同喝酒人各取所需的要求。

去的这家距离秋叶原最热闹商区有点路程但走路可到，店开在大路旁巷子里铁路高架桥对面一栋建筑楼下，乍一看还有点临时搭出来小木屋感觉，走进去的直观感受明显比外观宽敞舒适，这是有厨房的酒吧，店内有用餐座位也有吧台位，啤酒泵一字排开看起来很有架势，除了因为数量多也因为上面密密麻麻的都是温度控制装置，当然最重要还是当日选酒，虽然日本不同地区在地酿坊选酒占了大多数但其实符合了个人这次不刻意寻找欧美酿坊作品喝到心态，在这里喝到了几款不同日本人气酿坊的高质量新鲜作品。

WEEK214---TOKYO 2023---SANGENJAYA

 

Tokyo is a big big city, each area has it's own characteristics,  as the leading city in Asia for craft beer, there are many places in and around town that serves craft beer be it a craft focus taproom, bottle shop bar, restaurants or tiny pub with craft beer options available. Today we are travelling to Sangenjaya, a neighbourhood 1 train station away from busy Shibuya, mainly because 1 of my go to places in Tokyo is situated here and more....

東京是巨大的，不同城区间各有特色，做为走在亚洲最前端的craft beer城市，城里各区到周边能找到不同型态或专精或只是配售craft啤酒选择的酒吧/瓶子店/餐厅，距离涉谷一站之遥的三軒茶屋也不例外。

Pigalle Tokyo

First visited this place around 10 years ago (yeah, it's been that long already since the first time). Overseas beer geeks who been around the craft beer game for quite a while would know this place run by the ever-present team of Chie & Hide--this is a tiny place--bottle shop bar with 6 taps & bottles/cans selections mainly from Europe as well some Japanese breweries including up and coming ones. On a busy night this tiny place can be rather crampy, but the familiarity feelings is what makes it a place i would come back for a beer (or three) whenever im in Tokyo.

It's been qiute a while since i last visited Tokyo in 2019--everything still feels the same the moment i stepped into the bar and greeted by the smiling duo busy manning the bar.

有些年资啤迷会知道这家由夫妻档打造店内装饰走欧陆风的小小酒吧/瓶子店，吧台有6个啤酒泵加上冰柜瓶子/罐子选择，从大概十年前第一次去这家店开始，每次去東京就会去探望下已成惯性动作。

店家选酒以欧洲进口啤酒为主，加上选择性一些日本国内酿坊作品，狭小店内空间容纳不了多少人，但每次去東京还是会去跟店主夫妻俩打招呼喝点酒聊聊天，店面虽然很小但无阻这家成为不少国外酿酒师和啤迷会到访的東京酒吧/瓶子店。

四年没见，一去到店里一切还是像每次到访那样，虽然店面空间狭小人多会拥挤但每次到来就算客满还是感觉自在，熟悉感的确是会让人放松的。

Sanity

If Pigalle is the "senpai"botlle shop bar with an European tweak bar decor wise--then this place which is rather new to the scene is the more lean & chic type of bottle shop bar, There are 8 taps + few big fridges--selections are mix of US( some Europe too) & some currently in trend( some might want to say Hype) Japanese breweries from different areas of Japan--if these are you aim then this place will not dissapoint you.

This is basically a standing bar with hardly any seats available--so if you are used to sitting at a bar then this need a little bit adjusting to --but if the beer is good then standing and drinking won't be much of an issue i guess. 

如果说Pigalle是欧陆风的三軒茶屋前辈店，那这家距离不远近两年才开业的酒吧瓶子店走的是比较简约新颖路线，店面装置感觉之外更体现在选酒方面，无论啤酒泵还是冰柜选酒都能看到一些美国知名酿坊作品加上近年冒起的几家日本人气酿坊选择。

 店里除了冰柜里的瓶子罐子选择也有不定时更新酒单的8款啤酒泵版本可喝，对于不太熟悉站立式店家文化的外国啤迷来说，或许店内没有座位只能站着喝是唯一需要点脚力适应之处。对想找寻一些比较当红人气日本酿坊作品的啤迷来说，这里的选酒可以找到好几家，而且可以在店内直接开喝也是比较方便的一点。

Side Note 1

Besides the above mentioned 2 places--there's a restaurant bar plcae not too far away by the name of Apart--those who been visting Shibuya's famous American craft beer & bourbon focus "extreme bar" Craftheads would know that this is a sort of  "alter ego" shop after the owner decided to close down Craftheads Shibuya back in 2018 and moved to Sangenjaya with this "breakfast place + Izakaya+ craft beer & other alcoholic beverages" place.

Though concept wise Apart is quite different from Craftheads but still one can find some good old brews from US breweries such as Hair of the Dog, Three Floyds, Jester King and more...

Rather sadly--due to timing issue--though i did went to Sangenjaya more than once during the trip--did not make it to this place. And the miss will be forever since i have received news that Apart will close it's door on the 28th of this month.

To geeks who have enjoyed some good old whalez so to speaks during the heydays of Craftheads Shibuya--here's a toast to Micheal aka Koji San who has played( and still is) his part of what Tokyo ( as well Asia for some of us living in different parts of Asia who been part of Craftheads nights) craft beer journey was like.

^(you could type the word craftheads in the search column in this blog to see posting from those years)

侧记1

有一家叫Apart的餐酒吧，是多年前在涉谷赫赫有名的美国波本和啤酒专卖吧Craftheads 闭店後在三軒茶屋再开的店，虽然新店转了型更像餐酒吧而不再是之前涉谷店那样专注于美国波本和啤酒，但还是可以找到比如Hair of The Dog，Jester King，Three Floyds等美国老牌酿坊作品，无论是之前去过涉谷店还是新朋友，这家是值得一探的，在三軒茶屋其中一天有想去，可惜最後还是因为时间关系没能去成。

#专栏见报当天就看到台湾酒友安迪局长在脸书上发的“时代的眼泪”说APART营业到这个月28日就闭店不做了。对当年有去过涉谷Craftheads店的啤迷朋友来说，这是珍贵的啤酒记忆，在美国大酒还没有像近年那样可以自由出现在网络啤海等待被买断年代，涉谷Craftheads的出现某种程度上缓解了亚洲啤迷朋友想找到美国大酒的习题。

 

Side Note 2

Tokyo is full of all kinds of drinking places--big or small--focus on particular drinks or otherwise--there was 1 evening after the first bar me and a few old & new friends went to was closing after 10pm--decided to seek for another bar nearby to continue the camaraderie--so we stepped into a tiny standing bar with 1 row of standing space--meaning everyone basically stand in 1 line straight in front of the bar--and it hardly squeezed in around 10 people--There were 4 taps of craft beer to choose from since this is essential more of a wine bar--on tap selections was rather limited but this trip i was not in the chase ( especially in the first few years of visiting Tokyo) for specific beers from US or Europe--this time around it was more of a go easy attitude and just enjoy the company & conversations with friends.

侧记2

東京不少地方都有小酒馆，就是那种可能只有三五个座位或只能站着喝立式小店，和啤迷朋友去三軒茶屋泡吧其中一晚因为原本那家十点最後点单，于是去了另外一家，小小的立式店以卖葡萄酒为主但也有4个啤酒泵craft beer选择，当时主要是相聚聊天所以也不太在意啤酒选择有限，从门口进来小店只能一字排开站着，这是个人去过至今最小立式酒吧，是吧台上长长一排铁制槽，内里放满了核桃类坚果，提供手握开壳器让客人自由享用，啤迷朋友一开始好奇试着开了一粒，因为手握打开核桃时发出的声响结果一发不可收拾的一直玩下去。某种程度上，这次在立式店经历也侧面反映了个人之前到東京只想找高质欧美进口啤酒喝，到这次心态转变不刻意追寻欧美进口啤酒而是更自在享受当下喝到的以及和啤迷朋友相聚聊天时间，实际上，这些年来喝过好些啤迷们公认的高评分或大力追捧“大酒”後，有时候像这样跟朋友聊天喝点可能比较“平平无奇”的也不错。

WEEK 213--Tokyo 2023--Harajuku/Shibuya/Nihonbashi

 

This is the 1st (of a few more articles to come) piece for the newspaper column--mainly as a sort of personal notes about the trip rather than a Tokyo beer guide because there are too many craft beer places in and around Tokyo that even if i had stayed for a month it's still only scrathing the surface.

十月底去了趟久违的東京 ，这次逗留时间稍长，也因为好久没去，接近两周时间内去了十多家城里和周边地区或新或旧专卖吧/瓶子店，也和住東京的新旧啤迷朋友们有过几次瓶子分享会，接下来会分几篇聊聊去过哪里喝了些什么当做个人啤游小记。

Also--though i probably could have gathered more than just 3 beer spots mentioned here--due to newspaper column spaces for words + pics--decided to just go with the flow and post when it's published forthnightly.

This week it's about 3 beer places that i have not been to previously( pre-Covid)--while Harajuku & Shibuya are next to each other on the same side of the Yamanote Line--Nihonbashi obviously is on the other side and via underground Metro rather than JR--went to these places on different days anyway so not really matter distance or direction wise.

Harajuku--Dig The Line Doors

This is one of few places suggested by Neil who i will not miss having a beer (nope it's always more than a beer) with whenever I visit Tokyo since the first trip many years ago.

Went through the few places including browsing on the tap list and decided on this place partly due to it's location--of course the most important is still what's inside to pick and drink from. Location wise it's basically right in front of Harajuku JR station--inside a lifestyle shopping mall( which was quite not what i thought of--thinking it could be a small place hidden somewhere in the alley away from the bustling streets of Harajuku).

It's a small place--modern & neat--with low benches & bar stools to pick from--6 taps & interestingly placed fridges--mix of in-trend Japanese breweries + imports of Europe & US--would say the selection was quite good when visited--ended up spending the entire afternoon there sharing some Japanese & imported ones. It was a cosy afternoon & a happy one since it was the first session of the trip after 4 years of not visiting--and definitely nice to have met and shared some beers with Neil. 

#apparently they have another bottle shop/bar in Kyoto so if you are there it's one to look for.

原宿---Dig The Line Doors

每次去東京都会约上常住当地的英国啤迷朋友Neil见面聊聊喝喝，这次也不例外，去的这家是小型酒吧瓶子店，位置很方便，就在原宿站正对面一家餐饮购物中心底层，走出车站过对面路就能找到。

店家不大，正中斜位摆置的冰柜除了一些进口欧美酿坊作品也满满的放着来自日本国内不同地区酿坊作品，其中不乏好几家高人气酿坊作品，瓶子和罐子选择之外，店里也有6个啤酒泵提供更多不同选择。

店面虽然不大，去了两次看到选酒和氛围来说感觉不错，特别是如果想找近期比较高人气日本不同地区在地酿坊作品的话，这家的瓶子或罐子选择不会让人失望。

Shibuya--Mikkeller Kiosk Bar

This is the 3rd bar by Mikkeller Tokyo( after Kanda bar)--heard of this prior to the trip and obviously included in list of places to visit though no definite date as to when--came here on the later stage of the trip--and just so happened it was an evening with some nice ones on tap--a mini "post MBCT 2023" tap takeover event with a few participating breweries such as Lua, Bottle Logic on tap. 

An event such as this in Tokyo would mean 2 things--1 is the tap list would be better/more interesting than a normal day list, 2 is the chances of bumping into some familiar faces is rather high--true enough--enjoyed the tap list and bumped into a few friends including Hamilton the man behind( or more like in front) Mikkeller Tokyo--as well the  team of Hide & Che from Pigalle Tokyo.

As for the place--have to say it was bigger/cosier than i thought it would be since the word Kiosk might suggest it's a tiny place(the fact that it's housed under a hotel lobby area and look quite small from social media posting)--but it's not--there are sitting area inside the bar as well as outside--and you can sit on the concrete "roadside bench" too if you so desire. 

Location wise it's not far from Shibuya JR station either though on the other side of the First Bar--much like how you could walk to the First Bar located at Dogenzaka--if from Hachiko statue it was always go left via 109 to First Bar--for Kiosk Bar it's go right side---it's not that far to walk--in fact from the "roadside bench" one can see that the hot new place Yamashita Park(where Shibuya Yokocho located) is very nearby. With 20 taps  there were some good choices to pick from(not sure if there's bottle list available as i did not asked)--ended up spending time here and did not make it to the First Bar( which i normally would everytime in Tokyo).

涉谷--Mikkeller Kiosk Bar

一直以来，开在道玄坂一家神社对面的米吧本店是每次去東京都会一探的点，这次因为还没来过开在涉谷一丁目一家酒店楼下的三号店所以选择了这里。（二号店在神田）

到访当天适逢酒吧有十月中举行的東京啤酒庆典(MBCT23)关联几家美国酿坊的小型占领啤酒泵(tap takeover)活动，当中包括新晋酿坊Lua，加州黑啤高手酿坊Bottle Logic等等，换句话说，当天酒单要比平常日子精彩许多。

从字面意义来看，Kiosk可以是比较小型类似便利店那样的，之前从网上图片看到觉得可能会是小小的一间，毕竟米吧本店就在涉谷不远走路可到的另一边，不过实际来到後比想象中宽敞，啤酒泵选择也有20款，店内座位之外也有户外选择，而且酒吧是开放式所以整体感觉还蛮舒适惬意的。

Nihonbashi--Omnipollo Tokyo

This is the only Omnipollo bar in Asia( as far as i know)--so it's quite obvious this place is on the list of beer places to see in Tokyo during my trip--even though personally i would prefer a place with many different breweries choices to pick from but this place is still worth a visit for sure.

It's located at Nihonbashi--or rather more accurately it's closer to Kayabacho' subway Station(茅场町駅） if you are taking train and do bit of walking. Interestingly the place look very much like someone's wooden house right next to modern tall buildings--from the outside if not for the eye catching neon signage one might just miss it--but once inside the bar--it's very much omnipollo feels with 9 taps & 2 slushie machines which in a way has somewhat become a signature part of Omnipollo be it during a beer festival or bar assocaited with Omnipollo( Titans bar at Otsuka also has got slushie machine).

It's expected that all 9 on taps are all beers from Omnipollo since this is their Asia "avatar" bar--the place is small but not crampy--there are comfortable sitting area to rest your legs and enjoy some beers after walking--personally--this is a bar that if you are a fan of Omnipollo then it goes without saying that it's certainly worth your time--but even if you are not--it's still a nice little place worth a visit.

日本橋--Omnipollo Tokyo

瑞典名牌酿坊在亚洲唯一“分店”，开在日本橋商区一间旧式看起来比较像民居房的木屋内，小小一间夹在周围高高冒起大厦中，除了显眼的招牌外观平平无奇，不过踏入酒吧看到内部装置就能感受到酒标设计感强烈北欧酿坊的构思延伸.

酒吧有9个啤酒泵，当然也少不了两架他们拿手的冰沙搅拌机，有趣的是虽然这是家不折不扣的啤酒专卖吧，但看到那两架摆在吧台的沙冰机会很自然的觉得这就是Omnipollo专属酒吧会有的设备，他们在啤酒庆典活动中就是这样把啤酒当沙冰或类似奶昔那样来玩的。

当天酒单上的9款啤酒全都是自家作品，并不像一些有自家作品酿坊酒吧那样也会出现一些其他酿坊作品，毕竟是酿坊品牌的亚洲唯一”直属分店”，数量不算多啤酒泵上的全是自家啤酒自然可以理解。

WEEK 212---Tokyo Beer Trip 2023

 

It's at times surreal/absurb yet so very real that we have been through the period of social distancing/ no travelling....

My last visit to Tokyo was end of 2019--after the long wait, finally made a trip last month end, basically to see beer friends, check out old and new beer places, and of course eat some Ramen( and more...).

在有时感觉虽然真实但也有点荒谬好像没发生过似的新冠疫情打乱所有旅游计划之前，最後一次去東京是2019年，距今已四年。

等待多时後终于在十月底去了趟久违的東京，除了跟几年不见啤迷朋友们见面聊天分享一些私藏，自然也要去不同专卖吧瓶子店走走喝喝看看東京craft beer新旧面貌。这次去的时间稍长，和不同啤迷朋友有几次瓶子分享会，旧地重游同时也去了疫情前没去过的一些新店探看。

以外地人角度看，四年後的東京 Craft Beer市场并没有因为疫情影响而停滞或后退，相反的作为站在亚洲最前端的Craft Beer城市，東京市场选择一定程度上有明显提高，除了出现更多美国欧洲高手酿坊进口作品，不同地区也有些新酿坊出现，其中不乏具备一定水准的人气酿坊。

序篇就以过去接近两周以来浅接触的几家日本在地酿坊有特点作品开始，之后再逐篇聊聊在東京期间去了什么地方的专卖吧或瓶子店，这当然不是什么東京啤酒图鉴（因为专门写東京和周边地区以致全国其他地区Craft Beer图鉴的另有其人，至少我的東京啤迷朋友中就有一位是写了多年的网站Tokyo Beer Drinker负责人），所以再怎么看也只是很浅显的个人東京啤酒行程小记。

This is the first of few articles for the newspaper column--basically as a sort of personal record of which beer places i went but by no means a beer guide or whatever because that's far from what i plan to do--in fact if you are interested do check out my Tokyo beer friend's long standing blog turned into a proper website https://tokyobeerdrinker.com/

For the articles to follow--will try to gather the closer to each other( location wise) beer places basing on JR Yamanote Line--but that's only a rough idea so let's see how it goes.

So after 4 years of not visiting Tokyo--and with very much lesser drinking while in KL(good beers are hard to come by is 1 very real reason--come live in Malaysia and you will very soon know why)--was rather surprised to find myself actually went to roughly 15 beer places at different parts of Tokyo--as well had no less than 3 bottle sharing sessions with old & new beer friends in town.

The 1 obvious thing i did this time around was relatively speaking sampled more different Japanese breweries beer than i ever did. And it's fair to say that some were good or average but of course there were a few which stood out or at least very interesting to drink, here's some which i like:-

Amakusa Sonar Beer

Never heard of this brewery from Kumamoto before( as compared to the others mentioned below)--had cans & on tap version of basically fruited sour & hazy ipa/pale ale---honestly the hazy or pale were just average--but the Banana sour as well as Orange/Tangerine sour were absolutely interesting and nice to sip---there's another variant of Mango waiting to be sampled.

来自日本西端熊本县天草市的酿坊，東京期间在不同酒吧喝了几次这家作品，有啤酒泵版本也有罐子，出色有趣的是果泥奶昔类型啤酒，水果选择有香蕉，柑橘，芒果等等，作品水准跟同时间喝到的进口美国酿坊作品比较的话感觉有过之无不及之处。

Songbird

A few of my Tokyo beer buddies actually been to this tiny brewery located in Kisarazu, Chiba. One of my friend's description was " in the middle of nowhere--run by a couple--and there were kids running around when visited."

Had the opportunity to sample around 3-4 of their beer--all bottled condition--styles sampled includes brown ale-biere de garde & saison--yes you can more or less see where this brewery is heading beer style wise.

As someone who like Saison--i do have a certain parameter palate wise--this bottle was shared with a fellow Saison lover and we both were in agreement that this is quite a beer--the ume/oak/woody smell & taste was tasty with some depth. ( oh yeah--the current untappd pont given is rather low for wthat this beer is)

住東京的几位啤迷朋友都有去过这家位于千叶县木更津市的小酿坊，其中一位说法是“位于不懂哪里的郊区，由一对夫妇打理，到访时有小孩跑来跑去。”

第一天到東京时就喝到三款不同作品，其中桶陈农场风格作品最有亮点，介于橡木桶和梅子的气息味道相当特出，易喝有层次有余韵，是远比现有Untappd 评分高的佳作。

Totopia

Seems like the new in trend brewery or so im told--eye catching bright bold designs on the cans--but of course craft beer is not just about label designs--what's inside the can/s will decide.

It's sour IPA with fruits & vanilla thrown in--did not taste like IPA nor those thick/bold fruited ones--fairly easy drinking though slightly on the sweet side rather than sour--interesting one.

爱知县長久手市的新兴人气酿坊，罐子设计走鲜明用色处理，第一天跟老朋友见面时喝到是一款相对有趣的作品，类型标明是酸味印度单啤（sour ipa)，除了啤酒花投放也加入血橙樱桃椰子香草等不同食材提味，喝起来口感味道既不是典型酸啤更不是印度淡啤，反而有点接近清爽果泥啤酒类型。

#grab from internet

Uchu

Was actually considering traveling out of Tokyo to Hokuto, Yamanashi to visit this brewery--not that im a big fan of Hazy but because the taproom was such a cool set up it looks like "a flagship handphone or computer store"( in my beer friend's words).

In the end did not make that trip out but sampled a few of Uchu's beer--including this collab brew with GreenCheek--had this on tap--and it was good--just the nice balance of hops & sweetness--nothing cloying or overly bitter-sweet.

上Untappd搜寻排名最前或者最热门日本在地啤酒的话，宇宙酿造和另一家（West Coast Brewing）作品基本包办了“排行榜”中超过一半位置。酿坊位于山梨县北杜市，附属的品饮室造型简约有型（啤迷朋友说看起来很像高端手机电脑专卖旗舰店），启程前有考虑列入東京郊外行不过最後还是没去。

这次刚好能喝到这家以类果汁印度淡啤(hazy ipa)为人知的酿坊推出和美国高手酿坊GreenCheek合酿的啤酒泵版本，果香甘涩新鲜度均衡度都有做到，是好喝的。

Vertere

A small brewery from Okutama, Nishitama area with very minimalist style of can designs.

Had their hazy ipa which i must say was quite good, but the one which attarcted most attention was this Raspberry sour--on first sip was already drawing attention--nothing thick or bold but rather the opposite way of being clean-light-yet with some layering, easy to drink but not in a boring way.

高人气的多摩川酿坊，简约风格酒标设计具有很高辨识度，当然craft beer讲究的是酿造水平，以喝到的几款作品来说，干净不花俏是直接感觉，其中一款覆盆子果酸农场风格作品就简单平实中见功力，水果酸香适中，整体易喝但不单调，是水准作。