This brewery up in Otaru has a fantastic atmosphere. From the outside you have a cool 19th century warehouse along a canal and inside you have high ceilings, wood everywhere and a giant copper brewkettle in the middle of the room. They have tours of the facilities lasting about 20 minutes which is nice though I think you’re better off calling ahead if you want it in English. They have four taps, a Dunkel, Weizen, Pilsner & a seasonal. When I was there it was a Dunkelbock which was a bit more expensive than their standards. Prices here are great, plus they have growlers (1800 yen for the bottle & 700 yen for the beer), take out beers (500 yen) as well as bottles, tons of glassware and other beer gear. I hear on Thursdays & Saturdays it is all you can drink for 2200 yen! The beers are solid examples of the styles, my favorite was the weizen so maybe they tweaked it hogfodder went in 2008. If you want innovative beer this isn’t the place for you but if you want good beer, great atmosphere & a german vibe in Japan you should definitely visit. If I lived in Hokkaido I would have picked up a growler...

First of all, Otaru itself is a beautiful little town. The 30 minute train ride from Sapporo is scenic, cheap, easy, and all the reason you need to go. Do it. The brewery & pub enjoy an idyllic location on bank of a charming picturesque canal, and they certainly made a big attempt to match that beauty on the inside. Looking for Munich in Japan? Found it. The feel is supposed to be Bavaria I think, but there is an undercurrent of costumey kitch that is unintended (lost in the translation of style I would guess). Still, I found those shortcomings charming. The food was great and the menu vast, almost too westerny for what I was seeking, but good nonetheless. Lots of cheesy items. The pils & dunkel were both excellent. Probably the best lagers I had in Japan. The weiss was less impressive, but still good. While more for the visuals & overall experience versus the beer, I would go back here in a heart beat. Thanks for the tour TimE!

Boxy and big, it is unusual for Japan. Interesting decorations, which make it despite its size feel very comfortable. Well attended by tourists. Prices are a bit higher than I expected, but beer quality is great. Three regulars, plus one seasonal, usually. food is fairly good too (try the baked potato in salt). Given the quality of beer (bottles are a shadow of the draft at the brewery), this is pretty much a must stop in Otaru.

Check out my article for information about this delightful restaurant owned by Otaru Beer: http://www.ratebeer.com/Beer-News/Article-700.htm