Finding Craft Beer in Nagoya
While I don’t drink as much as I did when I was younger, I still enjoy exploring craft beer. There are so many flavors to enjoy and nuances and styles to learn. When I first moved to Japan, Nagoya didn’t offer many options for craft beer, and at the time, online retail shops were quite rare or had complex ordering procedures. Antenna America, now one of the largest craft beer retailers in Japan, sold beers at their shop or via fax-in order forms. Currently, they not only have a number of storefronts/pubs, but they also have a major online presence.
At the time, Nagoya had a few small craft beer bars that mostly offered Japanese craft beers. Finding even the larger American brands like Stone or Avery proved to be difficult. Over the last decade, Nagoya—as well as the rest of Japan—has jumped into the craft beer world. Not only does Nagoya and its surrounding areas have several craft beer bars, but there are also a few breweries. While this is in no way a comprehensive list of places that offer craft beer in Nagoya, these are six craft beer locations in Nagoya for you to check out.
1. Y. Market Brewing (Multiple Locations)
Y. Market opened in Nagoya in 2014 and has grown to include several taprooms/restaurants. The name comes from the Yanagibashi Market near Nagoya Station where the first brewpub and brewery are located. While some beers have a distinctly Japanese taste, many are reminiscent of American craft beers. The brewers are not afraid to take risks and experiment with flavors. You can visit the original brewpub near Nagoya Station. However, my favorite location is Nagoroba in Hisaya-Odori Park. This location has a relaxed but trendy atmosphere and a delicious menu of creative Japanese foods, including yakitori, karaage, and others. They also have a selection of lunch sets that they offer every day. My favorite is the tuna set. Near Nagoroba, you’ll also find Craft Beer Keg. This shop was one of the first craft beer bars in Nagoya and was acquired by Y. Market. It’s the perfect location to sit on a summer evening. While they sell Y. Market brews, they also have a selection of other Japanese craft beer as well.
2. Binge
Binge entered the Nagoya craft beer scene in 2020 with a location near Nagoya Station. It always has a large selection of imported beers and ciders in addition to a few local brews. While they have many popular beers, they also try to source some that aren’t as readily available in Japan. In addition to the coolers, they have several taps. All the staff are friendly and quite knowledgeable about beer. Furthermore, the shop has an incredible rooftop patio, which is rare in Nagoya. As if the beers and patio aren’t enough, they often have events with DJs or artists. Recently, Shenanigans, a restaurant with an interesting twist on izakaya fare, opened across the patio. This made the experience even better. If you grab a beer at Binge, try a delicious yakitori sandwich from Shenanigans too!
Tall Boys just opened a taproom in Kasadera. At the end of 2022, they set up the equipment and began brewing on the premises. As they have expanded, they’ve also tried a few unique brews and are continuing to grow. The brewpub offers grilled sandwiches, soups, and a few other snacks as well. There are always several different choices of their beers on the menu, and often, they also offer a guest beer. Both Colin and Alex, two of the owners, offer interesting conversation to go with the beer and food. The taproom is well-designed and very clean. It’s a great place to relax and have a pint.
4. Hopbuds
For many years, Hopbuds ruled the Nagoya craft beer scene with international brews. In 2021, they opened a new location in Kasadera. The new location has the same great selection but also offers a select food menu on certain days. This is a great place to find beers that are limited in Japan. The staff and atmosphere provide a good experience. This is a great place to hang out with friends and have a couple beers.
When Brick Lane opened around 2015, I frequented it regularly because they had a delicious burger menu and a pub menu with items that rotated between Japanese izakaya fare and American/British food. They also were one of the few craft beer bars to offer craft ciders. While they were different than craft beer, it allowed me to try something new. The beer menu was outstanding in the beginning. Slowly, it shifted more towards sours and specific breweries rather than a rotating selection. Because of these changes (and a few others), I don’t tend to stop at this location as often.
A few years ago, the owners opened Used Like New Beer not too far from Nagoya Station. It offers an interesting selection of bottles and cans from around Japan as well as sandwiches. In 2022, they also opened Totopia Brewery in Nagakute. I’ve yet to visit the brewery, but it’s on my list of places to visit this year. I did have the opportunity to try one of their beers at Japan Brewers Cup in Yokohama and greatly enjoyed it.
6. Buku Beer
Buku Beer opened in February 2023 and is the newest bar on the craft beer scene in Nagoya. The owners, Aya and Akito, have been into craft beer for years. Akito previously worked at 7 Days Craft Kitchen is incredibly knowledgable about beer. He’s a member of the Yuya Boys, a group of craft beer guys led by Yuya who manages the Watering Hole in Tokyo. Aya is also knowledgable about beer (which she shares on her Instagram page) and can cook quite well too. This combination allowed her to plan a delicious food menu to go along with the awesome beers that they offer. The location is very close to Nagoya Station and offers comfortable seating in a stylish venue. They have ten taps that change regularly, so be sure to check out their Instagram to see what’s going on. If you visit Buku, you must try the chicken nanban and curried pumpkin salad.
Besides these locations, there are others that I don’t visit often or haven’t had the opportunity to visit yet. Even some small shops sell a few craft beers either on tap or in cans and bottles. Here’s a quick list of a few that are popular:
Trunk Coffee and Craft Beer
Grillman
Midtown BBQ
Ghent
Butterfly Brewery
Sakurayama Beer
Whether you live in Nagoya or are planning to visit, if you are interested in craft beer, be sure to check out a few (or ALL) of these locations or some of the others. You’ll definitely find a beer that you enjoy as well as food or a good vibe.
