Abashiri Beer

What kind of brewery is Abashiri Beer?

hop excitedHop Bro

Mugi-chan, did you know there’s a brewery on the first floor of the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel near Sapporo Station? It’s called NEIGHBOUR Roast & Brew, and it’s actually Abashiri Beer’s second brewery.

mugi surprisedMugi

Wait, a brewery inside a hotel!? And Abashiri Beer, as in the one that makes Ryuhyo Draft?

hop proudHop Bro

That’s right. It’s run by Yoichi Takahashi of the Takahashi Group. His father, Yasuhiro, took over Abashiri Beer in 1989 when it was struggling, and the family turned it around with hits like Ryuhyo Draft and Kankyoku no Kuro.

mugi surprisedMugi

A father-and-son team putting everything into beer...!

hop excitedHop Bro

And the head brewer is Masayuki Hatakeyama. He sharpened his skills at Abashiri Beer, and here he’s brewing originals you can only drink at this location using four 250-liter fermentation tanks. Things like a blue hazy IPA inspired by drifting ice, and a Double IPA made with Abashiri-grown malt at 8% ABV.

mugi surprisedMugi

What is that, a blue hazy!? It sounds amazing to look at too...!

hop normalHop Bro

More recently, they also released "Shirogane Yuzu White," a saison made with Abashiri-grown wheat and combined with yuzu from Kyushu. Their beer lineup is divided into three categories: HOME, JOURNEY, and PLAY. HOME is Abashiri Beer draft, available only here; JOURNEY is guest beer like Hitachino Nest and Ise Kadoya; and PLAY is Hatakeyama’s experimental lane.

mugi happyMugi

Oh wow! PLAY sounds exciting just from the name. They have coffee too, right?

hop normalHop Bro

Yep, they also serve serious specialty coffee, so it works as a cafe by day and a beer bar at night. With about 60 seats and a library space lined with books on food, travel, and art, it really lets you feel the concept: 'Whether you live in the city or are just passing through, everyone here is a neighbor.'

mugi excitedMugi

If it’s right near Sapporo Station, it’s easy to stop by between sightseeing spots. That blue hazy one is definitely going on my must-drink list!

Signature beers: Blue Hazy IPAShirogane Yuzu WhiteDouble IPA with Abashiri-Grown MaltRyuhyo Draft

Sapporo craft beer spots in