Brooklyn Brewery Opens New Taproom In Tokyo

Brooklyn Brewery was one of the first American craft brewers to export its brand internationally and now they’ve expanded their reach in Japan with a new designer taproom in Tokyo.

Here’s the deal…

The Brooklyn Brewery, which was founded by Steve Hindy along with Tom Potter in 1988, has long been interested in its international opportunities. Which is not so surprising since Hindy learned to brew beer during a six-year stay as a war correspondent in various Middle Eastern nations such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

And over the years Brooklyn Brewery has set up several international alliances to help it grow and prosper around the world.

In 2013 the Brooklyn Brewery partnered with Carlsberg Sweden and D. Carnegie & Co. to build a cutting-edge experimental brewery in Stockholm, Sweden.

In October 2016, the Japanese corporation Kirin acquired a 24.5% stake in the brewery allowing them to keep their craft beer status according to the Brewers Association’s widely accepted definition…

But that was just the beginning of the brewery’s international partnerships…

Since December 30, 2016, the Carlsberg Group has been distributing Brooklyn Brewery beers in Europe, the UK, and Hong Kong and Carlsberg has opened a craft brewery in Lithuania to produce Brooklyn Lager for that region… In 2017, Brooklyn Brewery acquired London Fields Brewery in a joint venture with the Copenhagen-headquartered global brewer.

And now Brooklyn Brewery is furthering its reach into Asia with the opening of B at K5, a tasting room in Tokyo, Japan.

Located on the basement level of the K5 complex in a building that was once a bank and home to the Japan Stock Exchange, B at K5 bleeds Asian cool in a dimly lit underground setting built for serious beer, music and late night outings with friends…

This from the Brooklyn Brewery…

“Japan has been one of our homes-away-from-home for decades. In 1989, an enterprising local imported a container of Brooklyn Lager, making Tokyo our first international market.”

“Two years ago, we teamed up with our friends at Media Surf, Backpackers Japan, and a few other tasteful types and set out to find a spot to make our own and connect with the community. After a lot of looking, it’s finally here.”

Brooklyn Brewery has called Tokyo its “first international market,” dating back to 1989 when an enterprising entrepreneur muled some beer in. And its new taproom’s opening is perfectly timed with the 2020 Summer Olympic Games coming to town soon

Kanpai!