I visited the newly opened Nishijin Beer Kyoto Townhouse Taproom on the day after it opened, on a Saturday, with a friend's recommendation. The owner used to support children with autism, and at this brewery, they employ individuals with autism to do tasks like labeling bottles and tagging beer with strings, working together. Next to the taproom, you could see the brewery itself. When I visited in the afternoon, the place was bustling, with the standing area quickly filling up, so I ended up sharing a table. The opening of this place was featured in the local newspaper, Kyoto Shimbun, so there was a diverse range of customers, from all walks of life - young and old, men and women, foreigners, even a pair of men conversing in sign language. It's a borderless place where everyone can come together and interact, which I thought was great. There were 4 types of draft beer on tap. You order and pay at the counter, then carry your drink to your seat. This time, I tried the IPA Yuzu Mugai and the Muromachi Saison! The Yuzu Mugai had a distinctive yuzu aroma after it was poured. Quoting from their website, the Yuzu Mugai aims for a perfect balance of bitterness and aroma with a refreshing bitterness, citrus and floral aromas as its base, and the addition of yuzu. The Muromachi Saison, on the other hand, uses Kyoto-grown rice koji during saccharification to create umami compounds, activate beer yeast fermentation, maximize hop aroma, and deepen the flavor. It's a fruity, vibrant, juicy Belgian wheat saison. Both were delicious and satisfying. I also had a fun chat with the people at the nearby table.

Today, I went to Kyoto after a long time♪ When it comes to sightseeing in Kyoto, visiting temples and enjoying local food are popular options, but how about enjoying freshly brewed craft beer in a stylish space converted from a traditional townhouse? (*ﾟ∀ﾟ*) "Nishijin Beer" is a brewery located just a few minutes by bus from Imadegawa Station in Kyoto's Kita Ward. Established in 2017 with the concept of "Blissful Pint / WELL-BEER," this trendy brewery offers a variety of craft beers. I had tried their craft beer at a friend's house before and it was really delicious! I heard that they recently relocated their brewery and opened a new taproom, so I decided to visit. The interior of the shop, converted from a traditional townhouse, is stylish yet cozy. The lighting, designed to resemble hops, adds a nice touch to the ambiance. They usually have about 5 types of craft beers available, and this time I tried the Kyoto Saison and the Muromachi Saison. Each glass costs ¥600. As soon as I took a sip, a rich aroma filled my nose, followed by the natural sweetness of malt and a subtle acidity. Wow, this beer is really delicious! It has a good balance of typical beer flavor and a satisfying taste. According to the staff, they experimented with yeast fermentation temperatures to achieve this balance. The beer selection may change over time, with new varieties appearing, so you can enjoy a variety of options depending on your mood. I look forward to visiting again when I'm back in Kyoto! Thank you for the wonderful experience!