Here's a pleasant way to spend a lazy weekend afternoon. Head down to Kyoto Brewing Company's Taproom and enjoy the very freshest craft beers in a super relaxed and casual space. If the weather is good you can sit outside, and if not, you can chat to the friendly brewery staff indoors as they pull your pints. In the colder months they will also set up a tent outside with … [Read more...]
Craft Beer in Japan: The Essential Guide by Mark Meli
This is an excellent little book, packed with useful information for beer lovers here in Japan and a handy portable size for carrying around to all those bars. Personally, I enjoy drinking craft beers, but I am very far away from being an expert, and far too lazy to study the variety of beers available in a systematic way. Fortunately, Mark Meli has done my homework for me. … [Read more...]
Craft Beer in Kyoto
Craft beer is trending in Kyoto with craft beer festivals twice a year, many bars stocking varieties and some bars dedicating their business completely to promoting craft beer culture. There are two craft beer breweries in Kyoto, and another starting next year. Here I talk to Tadg McLoughlin who runs the eponymous Tadg's: a craft beer specialty bar in Kyoto, about being on the … [Read more...]
Kyoto Craft Beer Festa – Saturday March 2nd in Zest
From the Japan Beer Times' Facebook page (via Robert Yellin): This Saturday, 11am-6pm, Kyoto kicks off its bi-annual craft beer festival in the Zest underground shopping arcade. The mini festival features all four Kyoto craft breweries and a few guests from the region (Minoh, Zig-Zag), as well as local food vendors, live music, and the Japan Beer Times (hawking our shirts, … [Read more...]
Baird Beer & Oysters at Dining Room You
Many thanks to Robert Yellin for introducing us to Dining Room You, earlier this month. Hearing that they had both oysters and Baird beer there I was eager to give the place a try. We found it casual, and relaxed with a tiny garden at the back. Snow was gently falling to set the mood. Here's Robert in his element with a bottle of Angry Boy Brown Ale. Realizing that … [Read more...]
Reggae & Craft Beer Event @ Tadg’s
It's free entry to this Dub Reggae/Craft Beer Party at Tadg's Irish Bar & Restaurant on Sunday August 28th. Tadg says, Isekadoya Great Beer Event! Lunch starts 1 pm. Event starts 2 pm. 6 special kegs from one of Japans top Micro Brewers. All 1/2 pints ¥600! Lunch course menu ¥1,200. Chilled summer vegetable soup with organic bread, tossed green salad, roast pork … [Read more...]
Hitachino Nest Beer Festival
A word from our sponsor! These beers are on tap at Tadg's Bar for the first time in Kyoto. Hitachino Nest Brewery has won numerous awards at Beer festivals around the world. This Sunday from 2:00 pm we offer you the unique experience of tasting all these extraordinary beers, only at Tadg's Bar. Chill out with great Beer, great Food and live Music! Also (!) coming soon to … [Read more...]
Deep Kyoto & Tadg’s
Right then! I'm off to Bali for a week and will be resolutely offline during the interval so there'll be no more posts for a wee while, but before I go a short word of explanation. The astute among you may have noticed the appearance of a black box on the upper right of this page which proudly bears the name "Tadg's". It looks like this (only smaller): I'm pleased to … [Read more...]
Tadg’s Irish Bar and Restaurant
The Home of Craft Beer in Kyoto Four years since it first opened, the Irish pub formerly known as Mc Loughlin's has been renamed as Tadg's. Not a big change really, as I think everyone was calling it that anyway. I've written previously about this pub; its friendly hospitality and the fantastic views over the river and city. And Tadg's cooking is also justifiably renowned; … [Read more...]
Omuraya
Omuraya is a cheerful izakaya style restaurant in an old wooden machiya house just off Hyakumanben. I love it! Cooks and waiting staff bustle about behind counters piled with colourful seasonal vegetables to the background sound of the Blues. The food is simple, healthy and rustic. I recommend the “nama fu dengaku”: moist, lightly fried strips of gluten in a smoky miso sauce. I … [Read more...]
In Search of… the Craic
In December 2008 my friend David Ewen and I (that's us on the left) decided to go on an Irish pub crawl and see exactly what each place had to offer in terms of food, drink, music and the elusive craic. What follows is a list of the five pubs we visited, a summary of what we found there and a map to each location. For a fuller article, more pictures and directions click on … [Read more...]
