A heavenly beer experience at Beer Club Popeye, a pub that is legendary in the Japanese craft beer industry
There is a town called Ryogoku, a town with a lovely old town charm, a little bit removed from the bustle of the busier parts of Tokyo. In this town, there is a legendary beer pub loved by craft beer enthusiasts.
Known as the mecca of sumo wrestling, Ryogoku has another mecca—Beer Club Popeye. Established in 1985, it is truly a heavenly place for beer lovers as it offers 70 kinds of beers at all times. Even Michael Jackson, a famous beer critic known as the “king of hop,” visited there.
The 70 kinds of beers range from classic ones to unusual ones.
The pub goes beyond just carrying many kinds of beers. Under its philosophy of, “Our pursuit of perfection never ends,” it serves all the craft beers directly from barrels that are specially made to keep the beers fresh. It also has its own brewery and treats beer not only as a mere beverage, but also as a piece of art infused with passion and craftsmanship.
It brews high-quality beers such as Ryogoku Ale and Ryogoku IPA.
At the pub, specialized staff members called “cellarmen” serve the craft beers at their best condition. They are not your ordinary servers. These beer professionals are striving every day to draw out the potential of beer to the maximum by paying scrupulous attention and minutely tracking the condition of each barrel.
They take into account various elements when serving beer. They thoroughly control the amount and strength of carbon dioxide gas, the turbidity of the beer, and even the shape and temperature of the beer glass. They take pride in serving beers with the best taste possible by combining these elements in a masterfully controlled balance.
For some beers, higher amounts of carbon dioxide and lower temperatures draw out more aroma. For some other beers, slightly higher temperatures make their complex flavors stand out. With the understanding of these minute differences, the cellarmen unravel the most suitable combination for each beer. Their passion and skills are what makes this place so special.
The image on the right is the list of some of the menu items. Enjoy a memorable glass of beer at Beer Club Popeye.
When you order a drink with the crown symbol on the menu during the happy hour between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., you can get one of the tasty food items such as French fries and fried chicken for free. Enjoy both beer and food to your heart’s content.
The counter speaks of the 40 years of history.
The pub also serves a variety of tasty food items.
Beer Club Popeye is a special place that is worth visiting not only for beer lovers, but also for those who are interested in Japanese craftsmanship. It would be a great idea to go there early during the happy hour, and then go to the Sumida River to enjoy the nice and relaxing night breeze.
Have a heavenly time in the exquisite atmosphere that impresses even savvy beer enthusiasts!
■DATA Beer Club Popeye Address: 2-18-7 Ryogoku, Sumida-ku, Tokyo TEL: 03-3633-2120 Business hours: Mon. - Sat. 3 to 11 p.m. (Last orders: Food 10:30 p.m. / Drink 10:45 p.m.） Happy hour 3 to 8 p.m. Closed: Sundays Official website: https://www.70beersontap.com/en (Information as of August 2024)
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