Beer Garage 87 is the epitome of a neighborhood bar with its warm, welcoming feel. The place is predominantly standing room only with the exception of two comfy chairs in the back. Its rather dimly lit interior and jazzy background music complete the laid-back ambiance.
Many patrons, both male and female, regulars and first-timers, showed up alone on a Friday night and the atmosphere was immediately social. Exuberant owner, Ryo Shimizu, was always ready with light banter and a kind word. Rarely without a smile, he tirelessly runs the shop by himself seven days a week.
The beer selection is quite varied with a total of ten on tap. Standards like Kirin (¥450) and Guinness (¥450 half/¥850 pint) were mixed with five Japanese craft beers (all around ¥800) from mostly smaller breweries. The selection seemed well thought out and maximized the range of styles, running from lagers and pils to a black IPA and a rauch (smoked beer). Don’t let the bar’s name mislead you; the drink menu doesn’t end with beer by any means. A selection of about 20 whiskeys, some high quality sake and pretty much anything else you can think of round out a well stocked bar.
Food easily paired with the drinks. For example, the homemade smoked bacon (thick cut, ¥500) was a perfect match for Tazawako’s smoky rauch beer. Other recommended menu items include spicy garlic karaage (fried chicken) (¥500) and avocado with wasabi and soy sauce (¥300). With everything quite reasonably priced, one could escape the evening with some cash remaining in the wallet.