Japan has a flair for refining everything from etiquette to dining. Now serving beer cocktails in vessels akin to wine glasses, Minato’s newest brewery bar, Beer & 246 Aoyama Brewery, is transforming the craft beer scene in Tokyo.
Only a short taxi ride from Tokyo Tower, this beer palace is every man’s dream destination. With a bar in the front and brewery in the back, with the copper brewing tanks visible through a large viewing window at the back of the bar, this is a modern-day shrine to Tokyo’s craft beer movement.
Six craft beers are brewed on-site, including a rich lager-style black beer, a smooth IPA brewed with a malt and hop blend, and an American-style bitter ale with subtle citrus notes.
Not a strong beer fan? This new brewpub also creates cocktails by adding fruit, spices, and herbs to selected beers, each served with a shot of ‘flavour’ for you to mix at your leisure. Try the Portland Espresso, a glass of rich black beer with a squeeze of citrus and an espresso shot on the side; or the Lemon Beer Sour, a Belgian white ale served with a glass of homemade lemonade; choose from dry or sweet and the mixing is left to you.
If you’re looking for the perfect food pairing, or just want something to snack on at the bar, the venue specialises in food compatible with its God-sent libations. The menu includes beer-battered chicken strips served in a cone for easy sharing; and rustic fried potatoes served in brown paper with roasted monkey nuts, sprigs of rosemary, and an aioli dip.
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For those with a sweeter tooth, sip your craft beer cocktail with a dessert like the Original Chocolate Parfait, made by pastry chef and chocolate wizard Kazuaki Eguchi of the famed Patisserie & Cafe Delimo. Whether you’re a complete novice or a beer fanatic, this innovative brewery has something for everyone.
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