Koenji Bakushu Kobo

Youthful brewmaster Kakyu Nomura quit his job as an advertising executive to open this brewpub in 2009, serving his ‘tezukuri’ (‘hand-made’) beer in a cosy, wood-decked interior that he also made himself. Tucked away on a residential street, Koenji Bakushu Kobo (the name literally translates as ‘beer workshop’) bears little resemblance to the other bars on Tokyo's increasingly vibrant craft beer scene. Nomura has compared the place to a neighbourhood tofu shop, and locals frequently stop by to sample a glass or two of his latest concoctions on their way home. There are usually four or five ales on tap, starting from as little as ¥390 for a glass tankard, and you're unlikely to have the same drink twice – the recipes are constantly being tweaked, with a batch number to indicate which one you're getting. While you're at it, make sure you order one of the food specialities: a plate of bacon chunks that you can cook right at your table.