fbpx
    • Spring
      • video

        Finding the Flow from Kansai to Kochi

        Shikoku’s many mountains, valleys and proximity to the ocean has made it a hidden gem for rafting, kayaking and canyoning enthusiasts willing to take a step or two further from the Golden Route of Kyoto and Osaka.

        Solace and Giant Salamanders in Akiota

        Just beyond Hiroshima City is a tranquil outdoor destination home to some of Japan's last remaining oosanshouo, the elusive giant salamander.
        Kyoto Oni Trail Outdoor Japanvideo

        The Oni Trail: Hiking Coastal Kyoto

        The mystical oni is prevalent in Japanese children’s stories, usually as a way to scare kids straight. Adventure Travel Kyoto is shedding a new light on this folklore and developing a new hiking route in the countryside of Kyoto.

        Spring Skiing in Japan 2022

        It may be spring in Japan but you can still ski in select ski resorts open all the way to Golden Week.
    • Summer
    • Autumn
      • Pow Bar Founder Megumi Scott

        Beyond the Brand: Pow Bar

        An interview with Megumi Scott, the founder of Niseko brand Pow Bar.
        Churamura Okinawa Sea Turtle Marine Conservation

        Churamura: Footprints in the Sand

        Churamura, an NPO in Okinawa, work to conserve marine life and protect endangered sea turtles in Japan's southernmost prefecture.
        Kawazu

        Fall in Love with Kawazu

        Enjoy waterfall hikes and hot springs, beautiful beaches and delicious seafood in Kawazu on the western coast of Izu Peninsula.
    • Winter
    • Near Tokyo
    • Near Kyoto
      • video

        Finding the Flow from Kansai to Kochi

        Shikoku’s many mountains, valleys and proximity to the ocean has made it a hidden gem for rafting, kayaking and canyoning enthusiasts willing to take a step or two further from the Golden Route of Kyoto and Osaka.
    • All Regions
    • Article Map
    • Ocean and Beach
    • River and Lake
    • Mountain and Land
    • Sky
    • Snow and Ice
    • Travel
    • Food and Drinks
    • Races and Events

The Fishmarket Taproom

The Izu Peninsula’s proximity to Tokyo makes it a prime destination for getaways, with the highway along the east side jammed most every weekend. Not so for the quieter west coast where Numazu, at the top, represents a pleasant, largely un-crowded alternative. It’s the gateway for cycling tours down the coast, and the town’s flat terrain and wide streets makes it attractive to casual cyclists. Add to this a local brewery making some of the best craft beer in Japan, and suddenly it seems like the perfect destination.

Bryan Baird from Ohio, USA, and his wife Sayuri, founded Baird Brewing in 2000, opening The Taproom across from the Port of Numazu, home to the city’s famous fish market and a string of sushi restaurants heavily patronized by locals and tourists alike.

The first batches of beer were brewed in tiny 30-liter batches, truly a “homebrew” scale, under the philosophy of Balance + Complexity = Character. This approach has served the Bairds well as they expand, adding a new bottling line. Specialty beer bars throughout Japan are ordering Baird Beer in kegs and bottles, and supply just cannot keep up with demand, but having purchased a large off-site brewery, they expect to ramp up production later this year.

Among aficionados of craft beer in Japan, Baird beers are considered to be consistently the best, with all six of the regular beers exceptional in their style. The pale ale is surprisingly light-bodied for its deep, rich layers of flavors, and has a quenching hop bitterness in the end that makes it particularly refreshing after an afternoon of cycling. Plus, seasonal specialties are invariably creative and delicious.

The best place to drink Baird beer is, of course, their Taproom right above the brewery. Grab a seat at the window counter and enjoy a view of Numazu Port. The beer just doesn’t get any fresher, and it is served with extreme care by the brewmaster himself. A pint is only 700, and the Taproom’s food is also reasonable. Chef Sayuri creates a good selection of American-style dishes, some with a novel Japanese home-cooking touch. Don’t miss the soft tacos, Parmesan chicken salad and their own chili. The 500 lunch special on weekends, though, is a mixed blessing because once you’ve enjoyed their food and great beer, you’ll have trouble getting back on your bike.

The Fishmarket Taproom
Address: 19-4 Senbonminato-cho, Numazu, Shizuoka.
Phone: (055) 963-2628
Web: www.bairdbeer.com
Hours: Open 18:00 to 25:00 Wed– Fri; 12:00 to 25:00 weekends and holidays; Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

[novo-map id=2 individual=”yes”]

Outdoor Japan logo tree

Related

Latest posts

Categories