Beering around the Christmas Tree (at Cat & Cask)

‘Tis the season to be jolly, la la la….

Pangaea in Senzoku with have its “Annual Roast Turkey” Christmas event on Dec 20th. From 4pm to 8pm, 5000 yen gets you roast turkey and all you can drink. There’s also a raffle – I think you get one free raffle ticket and a second ticket if you also donate a prize, but the Japanese isn’t entirely clear. Good place for craft beer is Pangaea – on Friday and Saturday nights they have a 3 hour all you can drink deal for 3000 yen. They will also have events on 30th and 31st Dec – details to be announced on the Pangaea website. Pangaea is a few stops from Meguro on the Meguro line (which joins the end of the Namboku line). BIJ listing here.

Cheers in Yokohama will also have an event on Dec 20th, 2-6pm. 6000yen in advance, 6500 yen on the day. All you can eat and drink, and a yodelling performance (!) I’ve been to Cheers though I’ve not written a review yet for BIJ (I was there at the end of a pub crawl!) Visit Cheers website for location, contact details, etc.

Cat and Cask in Kanamecho will be serving roast turkey and Christmas pud on 24th, 25th, 26th of Decemeber. Details to be posted on their website nearer the time. Cat and Cask is a great little homely pub run by Wayne and Yuko serving Japanese craft beers. Yuko makes good food so I’m hoping to get to C&C myself and try the turkey. Kanamecho is on the Fukutoshin and Yurakucho lines making it just a short train journey from Shibuya, Ikebukuro, or Iidabashi. BIJ listing here.

Ushi Tora in Shimokitazawa will have a “finish all the beers” event on Dec 27th (new bar) and 29th (original bar), their last opening day of the year. Like C&C, Ushi Tora is one of my favourite bars in Tokyo. Beers will be at discounted prices to say thanks to customers who have visited the bar throughout the year and to make sure all the beers go! Beers and prices still to be announced but from previous experience, I’m expecting about 500 yen for a half pint – check the Ushi Tora website nearer the time. Ushi Tora’s events are always fun and full of local beer loving Japanese so it’s worth making your way to Shimokitazawa for this (it’s just a few stops from Shibuya on the Keio-Inokashira line) . BIJ listing here.

Gambrinus in Kokubunji will also have a “finish all the beers” event on Dec 29th. Price of beers depends on the number of taps left: 13 to 10 taps – normal price; 9 taps – 50 yen discount; 8 taps – 100 yen discount; 7 taps – 150 yen discount; and so on down to a 450 yen discount when there’s one tap left. Kokubunji is a bit out the way and I have to confess I have not been to Gambrinus yet, but I have heard good things about the bar. This may be my first trip! “Drink Up The Gumbrinus! 2009″ (that’s the way they write it) details on their website here. Kokubunji is 21 minutes from Shinjuku on the Chuo line – not that far for a good event, right?

Delirium in Toranomon will have a year end event on Dec 29th. 5000 yen for buffet and all you can drink until the beers run out. Limited to 50 people, booking on 03-3501-3181 is essential. Website here.

Beer Rock in Shimokitazawa will have a “Rock in Casino” event on Dec 30th. Chips are 500 yen for $50. The price of a pint reduces in price every hour from 11pm by 100 yen per hour until all the beer runs out – ie, 100 yen discount from 11pm, 200 yen discount from 12, 300 yen discount from 1, etc. Normal pint price is around 1000 yen. The bar is also open every Sunday in December (usually it is closed on Sundays). BIJ listing here.

The infamous The Aldgate will have a 31st Countdown Party with 200 yen off all drinks after midnight, free food, a raffle, and most likely some special beers for the night. Is there anyone who doesn’t know The Aldgate? The events are always packed and lively. BIJ listing here.