Dave's Beers of the World: Otaru Beer

Always fun times here at Otaru Beer

Prost – the German drinking word for cheers!

This is a handy phrase to know if you visit one of my favourite drinking establishments, Otaru Beer.

If you visit Japan I highly recommended you visit Hokkaido, the Tasmania of Japan and when there visit a small city called Otaru.

When you arrive at the train station walk down to the canal and go

right where you will find an old warehouse/ factory type building which has been converted into a German microbrewery.

Otaru Beer is one of the buildings on the right

I was fortunate enough to live in the Japanese city for two years and spent a lot of my down time at Otaru Beer, enjoying quality German beer.

They are brewing the beer right before your eyes

In addition to the three main lines of beer, Pilsner, Dunkel and Weiss, there is a seasonal beer which can range from a smokey bacon type to a rich dark beer for winter.

The three main beers in stubbies

The friendly Japanese staff are dressed as Germans and the building looks like you have stepped into a portal to beerfest in Germany.

The Beermaster himself!

The German beer master Johannes Braun brought beer vats from his small town in Germany and started up his business in the city that thrives on tourism.

They also have an awesome gift shop!

While you are there drinking they have a restaurant open all day every day serving popular German dishes from ham on the bone, German Pizza, sausage platters and steak and roast dishes.

Did I mention the massive pretzels?

Even though you can drink the beers in a range of glasses from a standard mug of about 10 ounces you can also have 1 litre steins and for the veteran beer drinker the 2 litre boot!!!

My favourite day of the month was the second Wednesday of the month, this is Beerclub at Otaru Beer from 6:30pm to 11:00pm where you pay 1,800 yen (about $20) and drink any item on the drink menu in your choice of glass size for the four and a half hours.

During Oktoberfest (which is actually in September I’ve learned) a German band come and perform each night for a week, drink and socialise with the guests.

I’ve been at this place and every seat downstairs and upstairs is being used, it is the place to be in Otaru.