Yebisu Brewery

Yebisu Brewery Tokyo is a facility that opened inside Yebisu Garden Place in April 2024, and there’s a reason people want to talk about it in a 'craft' context.

Good question. In fact, the place name Ebisu itself comes from the Yebisu Beer factory that used to be here, and after the factory moved in 1988, beer wasn’t brewed here for 35 years. This facility brought brewing back. It uses a small German-made brewing system with an annual capacity of about 130 kiloliters, and makes beers you can only drink here.

The brewmaster is Ryota Aritomo, a true pro who earned his Brewmaster qualification in Germany. His title is 'Chief Experience Brewer,' and there’s even a 'Master Brewer's Room' where he can speak directly with visitors. In terms of being able to see the brewer’s face, that’s exactly the spirit of craft, isn’t it?

The flagship is 'Yebisu ∞ (Infinity).' It revives the 'Yebisu yeast' used back in the old Ebisu factory days, and it also uses some of the German fine aroma hop 'Tettnanger' that was used when the brand first launched in 1890. It feels more rustic and gentle than modern Yebisu, with a subtle acidity from the yeast.

Another year-round beer, 'Yebisu ∞ Black,' pairs dark malt with Mandarina Bavaria hops, balancing fruitiness and depth. There are also about four limited beers available at all times, so you can discover something different every time you visit.

Admission is free and no reservation is required. You can see 130 years of history in the museum, experience the brewing process with all five senses in the brewery, and drink in the taproom with 110 seats. There’s also a paid guided tour, 'YEBISU the JOURNEY,' for 1,800 yen. The deliberate decision to keep the food offering limited so visitors can move on to local restaurants also feels like it was designed with coexistence with the neighborhood in mind.