Chuo Line Beer Works
- Address
- Koganei City, Tokyo, 5-3-45 Midoricho
- Area
- Tokyo Koganei City
What kind of brewery is Chuo Line Beer Works?
Hop BroChuo Line Beer Works is JR East Group's first directly operated craft brewery, but what's interesting is the people making it. They're former station staff.
MugiWhat? Station staff are making beer? How does that work?
Hop BroMiyuri Kimura and Tomoki Hirano. Both volunteered through an internal recruitment call. Kimura originally also worked on robotics programming and said she was interested in things no one else was doing. Hirano apparently liked beer and production processes ever since his days as a station attendant.
MugiFrom robotics to brewing? That's a huge leap! But can you really make beer right away?
Hop BroThey've been in intensive training for a year and a half. They spent six months living and working at Hideji Beer in Miyazaki, and also kept training at several other regional breweries.
MugiWow! They really honed their skills at regional breweries. So what kinds of beer do they make?
Hop BroThe Golden Ale is named as a nod to Koganei's 'kogane' (gold), and it finishes clear with a solid malt character. The American IPA uses three hops, Citra, Nugget, and Simcoe, delivering citrus up front with a pleasantly approachable bitterness. They also make a Weizen.
MugiI've heard of 'Poppoya Ale' too! Is that also from Chuo Line Beer Works?
Hop BroYes! It's an ale brewed from hops grown by station staff at 15 locations along the Chuo Line. They grew hops near stations, connected with local people, and the brewery was born from that circle.
MugiStation staff grew hops, became brewers, and are making beer under the elevated tracks... it's basically a story.
Hop BroWhat's more, they lined up three shipping containers under the elevated tracks between Higashi-Koganei and Musashi-Koganei: two for brewing and one for the taproom. A black line inspired by train tracks runs across the floor, so the railway love is full on. They also started selling cans at places like Ito-Yokado, so it's spreading along the line.
MugiThis is the kind of place that makes you curious every time you ride the Chuo Line! If they're open Thursday through Sunday, we can go on the weekend!
Chuo Line Beer Works says seasonal Poppoya Ale cans are nearing the end of sales
Chuo Line Beer Works to Make First Appearance at the TOYODA Beer Fest on May 23 and 24
Chuo Line Beer Works Launches Sales of Its Own Brew Ticket Books on JRE MALL Order
Chuo Line Beer Works Newly Taps "Hassaku White" with Futako Beer Brewery
Chuo Line Beer Works to Newly Tap Niiza Craft's 'NAKAJI’S HELLES' Starting April 23
Chuo Line Beer Works to Set Up at Moto-Hachi Marche on April 25 and 26, Serving a Limited Poppo-ya Ale
Chuo Line Beer Works to Hold Its First Mini Beer Marche in Front of Musashi-Koganei Station on May 2
Chuo Line Beer Works shares its can-filling process on Instagram, introducing the brewery under the elevated tracks
Chuo Line Beer Works to Set Up a Booth at the 100th Anniversary Festival for Kunitachi Station, Selling Limited Poppoya Ale
Chuo Line Beer Works' Four-Tap Event to Be Held at BEERNOVA URAWA on April 17
Chuo Line Beer Works starts pouring U.B.P Brewery's "Shadow #99" from April 4
Chuo Line Beer Works Newly Taps "Sakura Sparrow" from Fuchu's Three Arrows Brewing
Chuo Line Beer Works to Serve Shima Brewery's Limited Keg "Meyer Lemon Lager" Starting March 19
Chuo Line Beer Works to Serve And Beer’s Hazy IPA from Koenji Starting March 19
Chuo Line Beer Works Begins Staged Can Sales in Asagaya, Musashisakai, and Musashi-Koganei
Chuo Line Beer Works to Make Its First Appearance at the 72nd Koganei Sakura Festival, Selling on March 28 and 29
Chuo Line Beer Works Newly Taps Y.MARKET’s "Minamichita Bergamot IPA"
Chuo Line Beer Works Newly Taps KUNITACHI's "Rutsu Hazy" from February 26
articles about bars serving beers from Chuo Line Beer Works
BEER NOVA to Serve Three Alesong Brewing & Blending Beers, Opens at 16:00 on 4/30
BEER NOVA to Serve Three Alesong Brewing & Blending Beers Through 4/30
BEER NOVA is featuring Alesong Brewing & Blending through 4/30
BEER NOVA Newly Taps Tidal Cycles and Umemigachi on April 26
Urawa's BEER NOVA Taps Yorocco Beer's "Liberation Pils" on April 25, with Alesong Feature Continuing
BEER NOVA in Urawa is holding an Alesong Brewing & Blending feature through 4/30
BEER NOVA Urawa Spotlighting Alesong Brewing & Blending Through 4/30
Four Chuo Line Beer Works Beers Featured at Urawa BEER NOVA; Mr. Hirano Visits on 4/17
