Exploring Yokohama's Beer Heritage

Exploring Yokohama's Beer Heritage

YCAPS Walking Tour
Saturday, January 24th, 2026, 15:00 to approx 19:00 JST

Yokohama is home to modern Japanese beer. Japan’s first beer brewery, Spring Valley Brewing, was established on Yokohama’s Bluff in 1870 by Norwegian-American William Copeland. In more recent decades, the historic Kannai and Bashamichi neighborhoods have emerged as an epicenter for Japan’s craft beer revolution. This walking tour will explore Yokohama’s connection with beer and include plenty of tastings.

We will start at the Antenna America store in Kannai. While enjoying snacks and a selection of the American imports, we will learn about Yokohama’s beer history from local historian Glenn Scoggins and hear from Andrew Balmuth about Nagano Trading, the biggest importer of American craft beer to Japan. After a quick stop at Yokohama Bay Brewing, we will head to Libushi Bashamichi. Here we will sample Existing is Exhausting, a beer named Best American Style IPA at the World Beer Awards, while chatting with Chris Macomber, the brewer himself. Chris will give our group a short private tour of the brewery and talk about his process. The final stop will be Baird Brewing, where we will meet one of the owners and enjoy a flight of their beers. At the end of the official program, guests will be free to continue to eat and drink at Baird while receiving a 20% discount on all orders.

The event will start at 3PM on 24 Jan in the private room on the top (6^th) floor of Antenna America. Snacks and beer samples at Antenna America, Libushi and Baird will be provided.

At the start, we will collect JPY4500 from all participants (JPY1500 for those passing on the beer). Participants
will be free to purchase additional food and beverages on their own.

Date: Sat 24 Jan 2026
Time: 15:00 – Start at | 19:00 – Approx finish time.

Meeting Location: Antenna America Kannai, 6^th floor, Yoshida Building 6, 5-4 Yoshidacho, Naka-ku,Yokohama
Google Maps: here

Registration is required. To register, please send email to: magnus.ander@ycaps.org. *Space will be limited to 20 participants, so please RSVP early.

Cost: 4500 JPY per participant*, this covers the light food and flight of beer at Antenna America, round of Existing is Exhausting at Libushi, and light food and flight of beer at Baird Brewery and all tours and activities as listed above. Participants are free to pay for any additional drinks or food at the venues if they would like,with each individual paying separately.