Booze in Tokyo
As summer approaches, the beer appetite sores in Tokyo. Tokyoites enjoy beer as much as Americans in the hot and very muggy summer days.
Tokyo, the gourmet capital of the world, certainly has superior beer products, and beer plays key roles in multiple food styles ranging from traditional Japanese to contemporary fusion. Japanese developed their own quality of beer for a better culinary experience. Today, particularly with its global popularity, local label beer, makes Tokyo’s food scene even better and more unique.
Although Tokyo doesn’t have a brewing tradition, Tokyo’s high quality of restaurant industry and Tokyoites’ high expectation for good food drive local brewers to produce high quality beer. Local beer has been very popular all over the country since the mid 1990s, and Tokyo’s local breweries have been very active and competitive not only with quality of taste, but also with creating the best, unique atmosphere to enjoy their freshly brewed beer.
The Beer Produced
for Traditional Japanese Cuisine
The manager of traditional Japanese ryokan, kaiseki restaurant, Mumon-An, was looking for the best beer for superior Japanese formal kaiseki dinner, and crafted the new local beer. He succeeded in brewing the perfect beer, Kamikaze Beer, using American brewing methods with California malt, Boston yeast and carefully selected wheat to achieve the best flavor. He also runs Kamikaze Beer Restaurant by the nearby commuter train station Nishi-Kunitachi Station of JR Nanbu line. Kamikaze Beer is available only at these two restaurants, but it is worth taking trains for 30+ minutes from central Tokyo to experience this American style beer with fabulous kaiseki dinner or German platters at the Beer Restaurant. Kamikaze comes only in two flavors – cream and amber ales. The brewery is also relatively small, but this contributes to the freshness of the beer since it doesn’t sit in the tank for long before being served.
Tokyo’s Historic Brewery
The Ishikawa family has been running a sake brewery for about 400 years, and they started brewing beer in 1888 as modernization spread in the country. Despite that they started brewing beer at a very early time in Japan, their beer manufacturing had a long pause until very recently. Today, they brew both sake and beer, and their Tama-no-Megumi (the blessing of Tama) label is the revival of Ishikawa Brewery’s historical beer brewing. They also serve their fresh brewed products at a few different small bistros on their premises. Tama-no Megumi is brewed cold with local mineral water, unfiltered. They serve 5 out of 10 everyday at their bistros, and the menu contains a large selection of appetizers with locally grown ingredients, in German, Japanese and American styles, that go well with their beer. The Ishikawa family’s long history is colorful for local development, and their storehouse displays local historic items, including their brewery-related items, for public viewing. A brewery tour is also available, and the Ishikawa Brewery is a worthwile one-day cultural and local culinary experience.
http://www.tamajiman.com/english/index.html
Waterfront Brewery
Tokyo’s canal side is a great place to hang out, and beer is a perfect companion, particularly in the nice weather. Tokyo’s waterfront has it all: In the former warehouse buildings along the canal, local beer lovers established a brewery, T. Y. Brewing Company, at the western edge of popular Tokyo Bay area, Tenno-zu Isle, realizing a comfortable and relaxing beer experience with the great view of Tokyo’s iconic Odaiba area across the canal. To maximize their home-made, high-quality beer and culinary experience, they chose this location that used to be a busy transportation hub along the river, as a reminder of Tokyo’s important canal history. Today, the old warehouse along the canal is a perfect location for this unique local brewery restaurant with its nice breeze and urban culture. T.Y. Brewing Company produces six labels year round along with large varieties of seasonal western style cuisine, which goes very well with their ales and lager beers. They also expanded their outdoor lounge in 2006, which opened for customers on boats. Just a short walk from busy Shinagawa Station on the JR Line, Tenno-zu is an urban oasis with modern architecture by the historic bay area. T.Y. Brewery offers a relaxing atmosphere with fresh beer and an amazing view of the sunset over Tokyo Bay, followed by Tokyo’s evening cityscape.
http://www.tyharborbrewing.co.jp/restaurants/tyhe.html
——- Nori Akashi : Public Relations Manager at the New York Office of JNTO
Japan National Tourism Organization
New York Office
11 W. 42nd St., 19th Fl., New York, NY 10036
TEL: 212-757-5640
www.japantravelinfo.com
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