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- Brewpub: LIBUSHI Bashamichi (Yokohama, Kanagawa)
- Shop Information
- Craft Beers I Tried at LIBUSHI Bashamichi
- Overall Impressions of LIBUSHI Bashamichi
- More Brewpub Visit Reports
- Exploring American Craft Beer
- Exploring Japanese Breweries
- Recommended Beer Articles
- Overall Rating
- Where to Buy
- Instagram Post
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Brewpub: LIBUSHI Bashamichi (Yokohama, Kanagawa)
This article is based on a past tasting experience and was updated in June 2025.
What You’ll Learn in This Article
- Basic info and business hours for LIBUSHI Bashamichi (Yokohama)
- AJB Brewery’s brewing style and characteristics
- Detailed reviews of beers I actually tried (COLD IPA, Kolsch, Ichibou Senri)
AJB’s COLD IPA was born in Nozawa Onsen Village in Nagano, and despite being 9% ABV, it goes down incredibly smooth! It features gorgeous hop aromas like white grapes, and it’s brewed by Thomas, who’s from England and brought authentic techniques to Japan! Their foudre (5,000-liter large oak barrel) aged beers are also a groundbreaking first in Japan!
The COLD IPA I had at Bashamichi (Yokohama) was genuinely amazing! Despite being 9% ABV, it wasn’t heavy at all, and it left these subtle peach nuances in the aftertaste. The collab beer “Ichibou Senri” with Oud Beersel was also incredible — the blend of Imperial Stout and Lambic was perfectly balanced and went down so easily! I definitely want to go back!
You can also get LIBUSHI’s beers through Nozawa Onsen’s Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) program! A 6-bottle set starts from 10,000 yen. It’s just a 4-minute walk from Bashamichi Station, housed in a stylish historic building in Kitanaka-dori, and the atmosphere is fantastic! This taproom opened in spring 2022!
AJB LIBUSHI Bashamichi Complete Guide – Enjoy Nagano-Born Craft IPAs in Yokohama!
AJB, a craft beer brewery based in Nagano, has opened their brewpub LIBUSHI in Yokohama’s Bashamichi district! The IPAs and foudre-aged craft beers were truly outstanding! Here are my impressions from my second visit, along with shop details and detailed beer reviews.
I’ve never heard of AJB before — what kind of brewery is it?
It’s a craft brewery based in Nozawa Onsen Village, Nagano Prefecture, headed by English-born brewer Thomas Livsey. They’ve been getting attention for their distinctive beers that fuse authentic British styles with Japanese elements.
What You’ll Learn in This Article
- Basic info and business hours for LIBUSHI Bashamichi
- AJB Brewery’s background and characteristics
- Detailed reviews of the craft beers I tried
- Nearby craft beer spots in the Yokohama area
- How to get AJB beers through Furusato Nozei (hometown tax)
Shop Information
About AJB
This is a brewery based in Nozawa Onsen Village, Nagano Prefecture, with English-born Thomas Livsey as head brewer. They opened a taproom in Bashamichi. As of October 2022, I heard directly from AJB at MBCT that they had also started brewing in Bashamichi!
What is MBCT?
It stands for “Mikkeller Beer Celebration Tokyo.” It’s an international beer event organized by the Danish craft brewery Mikkeller, and one of Japan’s largest craft beer festivals where breweries from around the world gather.
For a more detailed explanation, here’s an article from Beer Cruise.
Beginner’s Guide: What is a Craft Brewery?
A craft brewery is a small-scale brewing facility that produces unique beers in small batches, as opposed to mass-produced industrial beer. In Japan, they’re also called “ji-beer” (local beer), but the emphasis on creativity and quality sets them apart. Think of it like the difference between a home oven and a commercial one — craft breweries differ from major beer manufacturers in both scale and approach, pursuing distinctive flavors.
LIBUSHI Bashamichi Business Hours
| Weekdays | 15:00 – 23:00 |
| Weekends & Holidays | 11:30 – 23:00 |
| Closed | Open every day (no regular holidays) |
| Address | 〒231-0003 神奈川県横浜市中区北仲通５丁目57−２ KITANAKA BRICK&WHITE South 1F |
| Access | 4-minute walk from Bashamichi Station (Tokyu Toyoko / Minatomirai Line) |
Please check their SNS for the latest information.
LIBUSHI Bashamichi Official Website & SNS
Map & Nearby Craft Beer Spots
What are some recommended beer spots nearby?
The Noge (Yokohama) bar district is just a 13-minute walk away, where you can enjoy delicious grilled meat and beer at “Noge Horumon Center.” The famous craft beer bar “Thrash Zone” is also just 15 minutes away by train — on my second visit, I went from Thrash Zone to LIBUSHI. The Yokohama area has plenty of craft beer spots, so bar-hopping is a great option!
The Noge bar district is just a 13-minute walk away. Noge Horumon Center is highly recommended — their food pairs perfectly with beer.
TK Brewing is about 40 minutes by train, and Thrash Zone is just 15 minutes. On my second visit, I came to LIBUSHI from Thrash Zone.
Craft Beers I Tried at LIBUSHI Bashamichi
Since I visited twice, I have tap list photos from both trips. The beer lineup was completely different each time — which is great. They also had guest beers from Yokohama Bay Brewing and DEEDS.
Beginner’s Guide: What is a Tap List?
A tap list is a menu showing the beers currently on offer at a brewery or beer bar. It typically includes the beer name, style, ABV (alcohol by volume), and price. The lineup often changes with each visit, and part of the fun is discovering seasonal and limited-edition offerings. If it’s your first time, asking the staff for recommendations or trying multiple styles in smaller sizes is a great approach.
AJB Craft Beer Tasting Notes
COLD IPA (9% ABV)
Despite being 9% ABV, this was a refreshing, easy-drinking beer. It was also incredibly fruity, and drinking it felt absolutely wonderful. It had a subtle yet rich white grape nuance that was distinctive. True to the COLD IPA style, the malt was very subdued, letting the hops take center stage — which was great. A subtle peach-like nuance lingered refreshingly in the aftertaste. It was truly delicious.
| Tasting Element | Intensity (1-5) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Bitterness | 3/5 | Refreshing, pleasant bitterness that doesn’t linger |
| Sweetness | 2/5 | Subdued malt sweetness, natural fruit sweetness |
| Acidity | 1/5 | Barely perceptible, supporting the refreshing character |
| Body | 3/5 | Surprisingly light and rich for 9% |
| Aroma Intensity | 4/5 | Gorgeous white grape and citrus aromas |
What makes a COLD IPA different from a regular IPA?
COLD IPA is a derivative IPA style fermented at lower temperatures, often using lager yeast. Compared to regular IPAs, it’s characterized by a clearer, crisper flavor profile, emphasizing refreshment. The appeal is that even high-ABV versions drink cleanly, and it’s been rapidly rising in popularity in recent years.
Kolsch (5% ABV)
This was a Kolsch with a slightly more pronounced malt character, giving it a touch of body. Perfect for guzzling to beat the summer heat.
| Tasting Element | Intensity (1-5) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Bitterness | 2/5 | Restrained, well-balanced bitterness |
| Sweetness | 3/5 | Solid malt sweetness |
| Acidity | 1/5 | Nearly imperceptible |
| Body | 3/5 | Slightly heavier than typical Kolsch |
| Aroma Intensity | 2/5 | Gentle malt aromas |
Ichibou Senri (Lambic & Imperial Stout Blend, 9.5% ABV)
This much-talked-about collaboration with Oud Beersel was also available! At 800 yen for a half pint and 1,400 yen for a pint, it was great value. If I didn’t have plans afterward, I would have gone for the full pint!
Given it’s a collaboration between King Knee Drop (an Imperial Stout) and a Lambic, I expected a very heavy beer. However, once I tasted it, it turned out to be incredibly easy to drink. Within that drinkability, the complexities of both the Imperial Stout and Lambic, along with the yeast character, blended together into something wonderfully strange and delicious. I really want to try this again.
| Tasting Element | Intensity (1-5) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Bitterness | 3/5 | Roasty character from the stout with pleasant bitterness |
| Sweetness | 3/5 | Complex sweetness in layers |
| Acidity | 2/5 | Subtle acidity from the Lambic |
| Body | 4/5 | Full-bodied yet smooth |
| Aroma Intensity | 4/5 | Roast aromas and complex yeast-derived notes |
Beginner’s Guide: What is Lambic?
Lambic is a type of spontaneously fermented beer originating from Belgium, made using wild yeast. Unlike regular beers that use cultivated yeast, Lambic relies on wild yeast and bacteria in the air, resulting in complex sourness and distinctive funky flavors. It’s sometimes compared to naturally fermented foods like yogurt or sourdough bread. While the taste may surprise first-time drinkers, it’s a deeply rewarding style that every beer lover should try at least once.
Overall Impressions of LIBUSHI Bashamichi
Everything was delicious, and the access is great. I had always wanted to visit their Nagano location, but it was quite far — even a bit distant from Shiga Kogen. With this Bashamichi location, I can easily pop in whenever I have business in Yokohama. The abundance of nearby shops is also a big plus.
Overall Rating
How to Order at LIBUSHI Bashamichi
| Step 1: | Order directly at the counter (by beer name or number) |
| Step 2: | Choose your size (half pint or pint) |
| Step 3: | Choose payment method (cash, credit card, or e-money accepted) |
| Step 4: | Take any seat you like inside |
| Step 5: | Wait for your beer to be poured, or they’ll call you when it’s ready |
Don’t hesitate to ask the staff questions like “What do you recommend?” or “Do you have any fruity beers?” They’ll happily explain the options.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Q: Is there a food menu? |
| A: Yes, they have a light food menu with beer-friendly snacks as well as more substantial dishes. |
| Q: Do I need a reservation? |
| A: Generally no reservation is needed. However, it can get crowded on weekend evenings, so it’s recommended to contact them in advance for larger groups. |
| Q: Is takeout (cans, bottles, growlers) available? |
| A: Yes, some beers are available for takeout. Please ask the staff about availability and which beers can be taken away. |
More Brewpub Visit Reports
Check out our other brewpub visit reports too!
Our collection of brewpub visit reports.
Get AJB Craft Beer Through Furusato Nozei
You can get AJB craft beers through the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) program for Nozawa Onsen Village. Here are the available sets:
| Gift Name | Contents | Donation Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NOZAWA ONSEN クラフトビール 6本セット | 350ml缶×6本 | 10,000円 |
| NOZAWA ONSEN クラフトビール 12本セット | 350ml缶×12本 | 20,000円 |
| NOZAWA ONSEN クラフトビール 24本セット | 350ml缶×24本 | 40,000円 |
I’ve written a roundup article about craft beer Furusato Nozei options! Check it out.
Exploring American Craft Beer
As a Seattle-based craft beer enthusiast, I’ve been documenting my journey through the American and Canadian craft beer scenes. From popular breweries in Los Angeles to hidden gems in Portland and unique taprooms in Vancouver, I share brewery visit reports from across North America. Content exploring North American beer culture, including local-only limited releases and conversations with brewers, can be found on this category page.
Exploring Japanese Breweries
Having lived in Japan until 2024, I’ve been sharing my brewery visits across the country — from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south. From brewery-owned taprooms to community beer pubs, these reports capture the Japanese craft beer experience. Content exploring Japan’s craft beer culture, including seasonal brews, beers made with local ingredients, and conversations with brewers, can be found on this tag page.
Recommended Beer Articles
I’ve written articles recommending great beers — check them out! They’re regularly updated.
Have you ever visited LIBUSHI?
Please share your thoughts in the comments! Tell us about the beers you tried, the atmosphere, and your recommendations. We’d love this to be a place where craft beer fans can exchange information.
Overall Rating
Overall Rating
★★★★☆
4.8/5
AJB from Nozawa Onsen in Nagano expands to Yokohama! A must-visit taproom in the Yokohama area where you can enjoy distinctive, high-quality beers including COLD IPA, foudre-aged beers, and collaboration brews.
Where to Buy
Find AJB Craft Beer on Rakuten
You can also purchase NOZAWA ONSEN craft beer online.
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