Gambrinus in Kokubunji Opens 13 Taps Including Shiga Kogen and Ushi Tora on Showa Day
Beer Cafe Gambrinus / BEER CAFE GAMBRINUS, a beer pub in Tokyo's Kokubunji, opened at 3:00 p.m. on Showa Day, April 29, 2026. It was a one-day lineup of 13 draft beers in total, including Shiga Kogen Beer and Ushi Tora, along with food items with a Showa-era vibe.
Hop BroKokubunji's Gambrinus really delivered on Showa Day, April 29, 2026. Opening at 3:00 p.m. and lining up 13 draft beers is the kind of serious effort you'd expect from a local beer pub in top form.
MugiWait, 13 taps at once!? Just seeing a menu like that would make my brain scream with joy!
Hop BroThe headliners were Shiga Kogen Beer's Kind of Gold, plus Ushi Tora's "Adult Can Beer." The former is an Imperial IPA, and the latter is an American IPA, so both are the kind of beers where hop character comes through clearly.
MugiI get that Imperial IPA sounds like a powerful name, but what exactly makes it "imperial"? Is it a beer for kings?
Hop BroSimply put, it's an IPA with higher alcohol content and a denser flavor profile, along with firm bitterness and aroma. Because it's so full-bodied, it's a style that's fun to explore gradually, following the aroma as you drink.
MugiOhh! So a hazy IPA like Nomcraft's Mystic Tiger is a different kind of pleasure, right?
Hop BroExactly. Hazy beers are known for their juicy, cloudy character. And U.B.P Brewery's "Step Over" is a West Coast IPA, so that one hits with crispness and bitterness. The contrast is what makes it interesting.
MugiWow, even the same IPA style is a whole different world! And they've got everything from Kakegawa Farm's bitter to Pilsner Urquell - what kind of range is that!?
Hop BroThat's the appeal of Gambrinus: they really keep a broad tap list in order. You can start light with Isekadoya Beer's session pale ale and settle down at the end with Pilsner Urquell. That's a strong setup.
MugiAnd the Showa-style food is amazing! Tulip fried chicken, ham cutlet, and octopus-shaped sausages - aren't they just too perfect as beer companions?
Hop BroThey even have Bon Curry and Oriental Mass Curry, so you can eat between drinks too, which is hard to resist. Finishing with a deep pour like the barrel-aged "Rinki Sakurabake" and ending with pudding sounds perfect.
MugiThis is totally a today we drink here kind of place! I want to get hyped with IPA, reset with pilsner, and finish with pudding too!
Hop BroExactly. This is what an honest tap list looks like. Not overly flashy, but highly satisfying - the kind of day that makes you want to spend time at Gambrinus.
The beer pub Beer Cafe Gambrinus / BEER CAFE GAMBRINUS in Minamicho, Kokubunji City, Tokyo, opened at 3:00 p.m. on Showa Day, April 29, 2026. True to a place on the sixth floor in the south exit area of Kokubunji Station, it had an everyday, easygoing atmosphere while still serving craft beer seriously.
Draft beers for the day
The beers announced as being tapped that day were Shiga Kogen Beer's "Kind of Gold [Imperial IPA]" and Ushi Tora's "Adult Can Beer [American IPA]." They were joined by Kakegawa Farm's "Milder Seven [Bitter]," U.B.P Brewery's "Step Over [West Coast IPA]" and "La Bomba [Imperial Stout]," and Nomcraft's "Mystic Tiger [Hazy IPA]."
In addition, Isekadoya Beer "Golden Dragon [Session Pale Ale]," Hansharo Beer "Pineapple Weizen [Fruit Weizen]," Daisen G Beer "Marihana Yasugo [Sake Rice Ale]," Hiroshima Neighborly "Rinki Sakurabake [Barrel-Aged Wheat Wine]," Yokohama Bay Brewing "Bay Pilsner [Bohemian Pilsner]," Kakegawa Farm "Forever Love [Hazy IPA]," and Pilsner Urquell were also on the board, offering a wide range of styles to compare all at once. As a future option, Nara Brewing's "Space Pocket [Double IPA]" was also mentioned.
With the food
The food menu included tulip-style fried chicken, ham cutlet, octopus-shaped sausages, meat sauce spaghetti, Bon Curry, Oriental Mass Curry, and homemade pudding. The lineup matched the Showa Day theme, with everything from light snacks to pair between beers to dishes substantial enough to make a full meal.
Starting with IPAs from Shiga Kogen and Ushi Tora, settling down with Pilsner Urquell, or finishing with a stout or barrel-aged pour. That kind of drinking is where Gambrinus really shines. Rather than a flashy event, it read like an honest tap list from a neighborhood beer pub that had carefully gathered the good kegs of the day.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroKokubunji's Gambrinus really delivered on Showa Day, April 29, 2026. Opening at 3:00 p.m. and lining up 13 draft beers is the kind of serious effort you'd expect from a local beer pub in top form.
MugiWait, 13 taps at once!? Just seeing a menu like that would make my brain scream with joy!
Hop BroThe headliners were Shiga Kogen Beer's Kind of Gold, plus Ushi Tora's "Adult Can Beer." The former is an Imperial IPA, and the latter is an American IPA, so both are the kind of beers where hop character comes through clearly.
MugiI get that Imperial IPA sounds like a powerful name, but what exactly makes it "imperial"? Is it a beer for kings?
Hop BroSimply put, it's an IPA with higher alcohol content and a denser flavor profile, along with firm bitterness and aroma. Because it's so full-bodied, it's a style that's fun to explore gradually, following the aroma as you drink.
MugiOhh! So a hazy IPA like Nomcraft's Mystic Tiger is a different kind of pleasure, right?
Hop BroExactly. Hazy beers are known for their juicy, cloudy character. And U.B.P Brewery's "Step Over" is a West Coast IPA, so that one hits with crispness and bitterness. The contrast is what makes it interesting.
MugiWow, even the same IPA style is a whole different world! And they've got everything from Kakegawa Farm's bitter to Pilsner Urquell - what kind of range is that!?
Hop BroThat's the appeal of Gambrinus: they really keep a broad tap list in order. You can start light with Isekadoya Beer's session pale ale and settle down at the end with Pilsner Urquell. That's a strong setup.
MugiAnd the Showa-style food is amazing! Tulip fried chicken, ham cutlet, and octopus-shaped sausages - aren't they just too perfect as beer companions?
Hop BroThey even have Bon Curry and Oriental Mass Curry, so you can eat between drinks too, which is hard to resist. Finishing with a deep pour like the barrel-aged "Rinki Sakurabake" and ending with pudding sounds perfect.
MugiThis is totally a today we drink here kind of place! I want to get hyped with IPA, reset with pilsner, and finish with pudding too!
Hop BroExactly. This is what an honest tap list looks like. Not overly flashy, but highly satisfying - the kind of day that makes you want to spend time at Gambrinus.
