WEEK 217---Bangkok Beer Trip 2024

 

It's been quite a long while since the last visit to Bangkok, in a small way was waiting for Mikkeller Bangkok to annouce the date for their 10th anniversary event since late last year as it's more interesting to fly in knowing there's an event happening during my visit.

一月底睽违四年後去了趟曼谷，诱因之一是过去多年来一直是亚洲重要craft beer吧的米吧（Mikkeller Bangkok)十周年庆活动，另一个诱因是单纯想去曼谷吃喝走走看看，相比十年前完全冲着活动/选酒第一次去米吧心态，这次更多的是为了曼谷这个城市而去。

And so it happened late January--it was a long awaited trip back in Bangkok though this time around going craft beer bar visiting is still what i enjoy doing but no longer at the pace or urge when i first visited many years ago. This time around it was very chill/leisurely. While almost everytime i would always have my first beer at Mikkeller Bangkok, this time around during the 5 days trip actually visited a few other places first then only went on their 10th anniversary event day for a couple of hours. 

so here's the few places I went to( plus a few which i did not ) :

Mikkeller Bangkok

It's been known among my geek friends circle that I do have high regards for Mikkeller Bangkok since the day they started some 10 years ago--with it''s very relax setting in an old bunglow with a garden--and most importantly consistent flown in of some highly regarded USA-European breweries over the years(a few actually First in Asia)--this is undoubtedly 1 of the best craft beer bars in Asia for a longtime. 

And so when the tap list for their 10th anniversary was announced--it was a bit of a head scratching one to some including myself as the list is so "RETRO" there was a lot of beers from yesteryears. While there maybe a play of retro feels from the bar since it's a 10th year annivesary do--personally i would have expected a very different list with some newer/ intrend/hyped breweries + classics to better showcase the selection style of this bar since day 1.

The annoucement of Carlsberg being a shareholder of Mikkeller in Copenhagen did not stop me from flying out to Bangkok for the event as I have my respect for what this bar has done over the years--but seeing tap list for the day did brought about mixed feelings--not really sure how the changes in ownership back in Copenhagen would impact this Bangkok bar but i sure hope they will continue on the right track as they have done over the years and celebrate the 11th anniversary with a tap list that's in line with what they have done--leading the way with nice selection of new and exciting breweries + some solid classics come next year.

一直以来，米吧是以往每次到曼谷当天就会去报到的第一家craft beer吧，不过这次情况有了变化，只在抵达曼谷好几天之后庆典活动当天傍晚去了一会儿，主要是去和之前认识的一些曼谷啤迷朋友打打招呼，以往30个啤酒泵选择可以逗留半天然后连续去两三天的情况已不复在。

是什么改变了？ 首先是在出发去曼谷前几天，哥本哈根米吧总部官方宣布已经跟丹麦国际大厂啤酒C牌联手合作，大厂公司会持有Mikkeller 20%股权，消息一出啤迷反应可想而知，从一开始就摆出叛逆不妥协要跟大厂啤酒作对的姿态到如今跟C牌大厂啤酒携手，虽说商业决定上一点都不关啤迷半毛事，但品牌赖以成长的craft beer文化精神层面来说，不少啤迷会觉得失望或品牌丢弃了一直以来的信仰是可以理解的。

再来是曼谷米吧十年庆的酒单选择“复古”到让有些年资的啤迷傻眼，因为绝大部份选酒都是N年前的酒单，是那种会让之前一直支持曼谷米吧的资深啤迷一看就觉得有点摸不着头脑的选酒，以曼谷米吧之前作风来看十周年庆应该是很与时并进的强强联手式酒单，然而这次摆出来的酒单阵容真的让人失望之余也希望多年来一直是个人心目中亚洲最佳专卖吧之一的曼谷米吧今后不会偏离轨道。

Duke of Beerington

Already heard of this place for a long while but never visited so decided to finally make a trip to Tonglo area for a visit--it's not far from BTSstation if that's how you like to travel in Bangkok--and actually quite close(opposite road) from the famous eatery 55 Pochana--as well the famous mango sticky rice shop Mae Varee--nice options to fill up stomach first before drinking.

This is a small bottle shop bar located at the lobby area of an apartment slightly hidden inside an open space from the main road--not hard to find at all though i did missed the spot on first try....

As with the trend in Bangkok in recent years--this place has imported breweries as well Thai craft beer selections--small tap plus fridge selection here--ower is a guy who lived and worked in Europe before so communictaion in English is no problem at all--a geek himself which makes it even easier to talk beer with.

In fact decided to share a bottle of Hidden Gems 1st test batch smoked porter (brewed in Hong Kong and hand carried by a geek friend to pass me in Bangkok) on my second visit with the owner and craft drinkers around the bar at that time.

位于ThongLo区BTS站不远处一栋公寓楼下的小小酒吧/瓶子店，选酒方面有泰国本土酿坊加一些进口选择。

店主是在国外生活过的泰国人所以英语沟通完全没问题，对啤迷来说重点是他本身也是啤迷所以啤酒语言也不会有障碍，也因为啤酒语言相同所以第二次再访时决定把香港啤迷朋友带来曼谷的赠酒带去跟店主及在场的酒友分享。

要是有去这家，顺便说下小酒吧附近有好吃的热炒店以及盛名芒果糯米饭专卖店。

Tai Soon Bar

Saw this bar when i was browsing through what other bars not known to me prior to flying out and decided to go for a visit. This is a bar already well known among those who look for "instagramable" places to visit.  

It's located at the old part of Bangkok(1 MRT station away from China Town)--an area which i have never been to--and was pleasantly surprised with the ambience and look & feel of the area--it's distinctly different from the down town area of Bangkok especially if you almost always hang out around Siam Pragon/Central World to say Thonglo area,.

The bar is housed in an old shophouse--the eye catching reds stood out--as well the decor giving out this obvious "come take picture" vibe. Tap selection is around 21 with mix of Thai brew & imported ones plus few fridges slightly on the inside.

Fairly busy evening for the bar when visited but overall the mood and vibe was relax and chill, a nice looking bar to visit should you be aroud the old area of Bangkok.

对喜欢打卡的网红或旅客来说，这家位于曼谷旧区（跟中国城隔一地铁站距离）开在一间旧式店屋的酒吧早已因为很适合拍照打卡的室内设计装潢广为人知，这次出发前网上查找偶然发现于是决定去看看。

实际进到店里感觉跟网上看到的没差，确实是拍好看照片/打卡的地方，酒单方面十多个啤酒泵上大多数是泰国本土作品加进口选择，离酒吧不远处的几个冰柜也一样。

Side note:

Hair of the Dog

Did went to say hi to the guys i know--this is 1 of early years craft beer bars still going strong. Known for their slightly quirky way of bar decoration with surgical light--Unlike when first started the selection now is mix of imported ones + Thai craft beer since this has been the trend.

上述三家之外，也去了曼谷较早期就开业的craft beer吧之一Hair of The Dog跟认识的人打打招呼。这里选酒以入口酿坊啤酒选择为主，不过随着近些年泰国本土酿酒师的出现，酒吧也有一些泰国本土作品可选。

Recommended or Thought of but did not go:

朋友推荐或之前已知但没去：-

People's United Brewing

this is a place run by a few Thai Brewers hence the name united--selection wise im told it's all Thai brew--location wise it's not too far from the Tourist familiar Chatuchak market( of course you do need to hail a taxi or call a Grab to reach).

这之外，其实也有其他曼谷啤迷朋友介绍的其他酒吧，比如位于游客很爱的恰图恰市场方向专攻泰国本土啤酒的People's United Brewing。

Dock 13

this is a bar with a same owner restaurant next to it and best known for river view in the evening--again did not go since im too casual/leisure to want to go slightly out of town center for a beer and river view by myself.

还有位于城市另一头能看到傍晚河景的13号码头酒吧（Dock 13)不过都因为个人过于随心而动或比较慵懒不想去感觉离市中心比较远的地区找酒喝所以都没去到

Chit Beer

To some if not many Thai craft beer lover--this is the place that slowly started the trend of filling up taps in Thai craft beer bars with local brews--yes again did not go since it's slightly out of the way--though they now have another place called Chit Hole which is closer to town area.

可说是泰国本土早期萌芽的推动据点，也是因为自己懒所以没去到，不过这间原点之外也开了另一家算是比较靠近城里的新酒吧。

Baan Dok Kaew House Bar

Located at Ari--this Thai brew focus bar is housed in an  two-story old house--and even with urban legend strories to go with according to some--10taps + fridge selection is what you get.

位于据说是不少文青喜欢去打卡的ARI区， 是以泰国本土作品为重点的酒吧，开在一间旧房子中，10个啤酒泵加冰柜选择。

WEEK 216---2023 Most Memorable Beer List--- by Neil(Tokyo)

 

2023 is already in the past, as usual with this blog there shall be a few list from invited beer geek friends & myself just to remember what were some of the more memorable ones from last year.

一年很快过去，照例会有来自啤迷朋友以及本人的去年最有印象酒单，今年只有来自东京和香港的啤迷朋友酒单，先由东京的英国啤迷朋友NEIL酒单打头阵。

This year there will be 2 list from geek friends plus my own--to kick start with the list--here's a list from my Tokyo Beer Drinker website friend Neil--English by the man himself--Chinese transcript by me.

Japanese beers

Hop Kotan - Hure

Green Neighbors - Japanese Apricot - Prototype 

#GNO15

Cycad - Potaro Salted Caramel

Once again, I spent most of the year in Japan. Although we’re back to normal when it comes to being able to travel, the pandemic and other world events have meant that the prices of plane tickets in Japan are now about twice as much as they were a few years ago. Therefore, I’m not traveling out of Japan as much. 

Japanese highlights this year included Hop Kotan’s Hure, a fruited sour made with grapes lees. It was lovely, as was the white wine version they also made, but the red was just a bit more lovely.

Green Neighbors is a new cidery based in Tohoku near Morioka and they are making some very nice ciders with a variety of fruits. I really enjoyed their cider made with Japanese Apricot, (ume, sometimes called plum, I have no idea what it actually should be called to be honest), but out of the twenty or so different ciders I’ve had by them, there are only a few that I would say aren’t delicious. So they’re definitely worth checking out. 

Finally, my favourite bar now has a brewery called Cycad. Most of their beers are New England IPAs, which really doesn’t work for me, but their salted caramel porter was really nice and had loads of flavour for the relatively low strength. Potaro is a series of different kinds of porters. There’s been a new one released with salted vanilla which I haven’t tried yet and I’m looking forward to seeing what else they are going to salt and put in a porter in the future.

日本在地啤酒

去年NEIL大部分时间都身在日本，因为疫情导致的机票价格飙升所以去年除了年初和年底回去英国过节基本没出去。

去年有印象的酒如下：

忽布古丹酿造Hure是一款果酸啤酒，使用葡萄酒渣，有白葡萄酒版本，也有红的，相较之下NEIL个人比较喜欢红葡萄酒版本。

来自东北岩手县的苹果酒酿坊“緑の隣人”是后起之秀，使用不同水果酿造，NEIL试过大概20款不同作品，其中以梅子入酒的作品最对味，值得一提的是其他作品也绝大多数具备一定水平。

再来就是NEIL经常去的酒吧有公园来自CYCAD酿坊（个人去年到访東京时有去过靠近池袋的品饮室）作品，虽然大多数都是类果汁IPA所以不对口味，但其中一款海盐焦糖黑啤让NEIL刮目相看，低酒精但风味十足。

British beers

Siren - Static Charge

Kernel - Biere de Saison Sabro

I spent some time in the UK at the start and end of 2023. There seems to be a ridiculous amount of new breweries there, some of which I tried, but to be honest, the best beers from those trips were from old favourite breweries of mine. 

Siren’s Static Charge was an amber saison ‘aged on pomace of pressed grapes and fruit’. I don’t know what that means but it was very nice and very welcome as it seems that recently most of SIren’s newly released beers have not really been in my favourite styles. 

Kernel’s Biere de Saison series beers are always amazing as far as I’m concerned. I could have chosen the sour cherry version which was lovely, but I think the Sabro version really stood out for me. I like Sabro hops for their weirdness and I think they really worked in this oaky and sour beer. Lovely!

英国啤酒

去年初和年底NEIL都在英国渡过，也发现数量相当惊人的新酿坊，不过NEIL感觉最有印象的两款都来自旧相识酿坊：-

Siren Static Charge是一款琥珀色农场风格啤酒,以葡萄果渣入酒,在众多酿坊新酒都不是对味情况下, 这款的确相对好喝.

Kernel Biere de Saison Sabro 对NEIL来说这家酿坊的农场风格啤酒系列一直都是高水准作品，虽然NEIL也喜欢酸樱桃版本不过觉得SABRO啤酒花的“怪味”更能衬托出作品的木桶和酸味表现。

Some other stuff

Godspeed - Bůh Originální Ležák

Brasserie de la Senne - Saison de la Senne

Recently, we’ve been getting a lot of lovely Godspeed beers imported to Japan which is a really welcome thing for me. I like Godspeed’s lagers the most and am really happy that recently lots of breweries are taking a bit more care over the way they make lagers. I can’t really explain what the differences in taste are as they are always subtle, but it’s very obvious when you have a delicious lager and very obvious when you have one that’s made by someone who isn’t an expert at making them. Godspeed is naturally very much in the former category. 

Brasserie de la Senne has long been one of my favourite breweries and I really should seek out their beers more in Tokyo. Of course they are a lot cheaper in Belgium, but they’re definitely worth paying the extra for in Japan. Saison de la Senne is a strange one, as I bought a bottle of it in Tokyo and it’s still in my fridge. When I visited Belgium late in 2023 I tried it at the new De La Senne taproom and it was amazing so I was delighted when I got home and confirmed that I can try it again.

其他选酒

Godspeed - Bůh Originální Ležák--日本不久前开始出现Godspeed进口不同类型作品,, NEIL相当喜欢这家酿坊的浅啤 LAGER，虽然感觉LAGER都是浅白易喝类型，但是喝到不擅长酿造这类酒其他酿坊作品时会很快察觉不对味，对NEIL来说Godspeed是个中高手。

Brasserie de la Senne - Saison de la Senne-无可置疑的比利时高手

酿坊之一，作为比利时啤酒的爱好者，也大概每年都会去趟比利时品酒旅，虽然因为进口运输等因素明显的東京价格会比较贵，但不久前在比利时这家酿坊品饮室喝了新鲜作品後，NEIL觉得今后应该要在日本多点找这家的酒， 更妙的是之前有买了放在家里冰柜一段时日，比利时喝了之后想到回日本也有同款啤酒喝有点爽。

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。