Beer House Ken celebrates 25 years of operation on March 25th with a collaboration beer brewed by Baird Beer. Outside the western Tokyo suburbs where this small bottle shop is located, few people besides beer geeks probably know about the establishment. It has played an understated role in the appreciation of imported premium beer and craft beer in Japan, though.

Run by Mr. and Mrs. Ômuro, a friendly older couple with sly humor, Beer House Ken offers a decent selection of world beer, mostly German and Belgian imports, as well as some limited Japanese craft beer. Some of the imports are difficult to find elsewhere in the greater Tokyo region. The bottle shop was a pioneer when the craft beer movement started in Japan, becoming one of the first small retailers to sell and distribute it (they’ve also been distributing Japan Beer Times since issue #1!). Beer House Ken also sells beer online and ships from its small store within a day or so. In the days when craft beer, or any kind of luxury import, was hard to find, this was an invaluable service. Like most old-school bottle shops, the Ômuros don’t mind if you crack open a bottle in the shop, and it occasionally hosts tastings as well (serving from a small draft machine when appropriate).

As for the anniversary beer, we reached out to Baird brewer Chris Poel for more information. Unsurprisingly, given Beer House Ken’s penchant for these kinds of beers, it’s a Belgian golden ale using pilsner malt with candied sugar. The hops are an interesting blend of Taurus, Styrian Goldings, and Saaz. It weighs in at a heavy-ish 7.5% abv, with respectable bitterness (30IBUs). We’re eager to try it and also toast the Ômuros for their 25 years of service to the industry.

Beer House Ken
http://www.bhken.com/
2-3-8 Miyamachi
Fuchu, Tokyo 183-0023
weekdays & Saturdays: 10:00-22:30
Sundays & holidays: 12:00-21:00
closed Wednesday
042-369-7710