Umami Mart

Last year, we were very sad to learn that Hitachino Nest Anbai Ale was only available to purchase on tap. We got a taste of this sour, fruity, and savory beer next door at The Trappist. We knew upon tasting it that we had to get bottles as soon as they were available. So, guess what? We got […]

One of the first craft beer brewers in Japan is Kizakura Co, a Kyoto-based brewery that’s one of Japan’s top sake producers. Kizakura started making beer back in 1995, using the same clear, pure water they’ve been using to make their sake. And in some cases, the water is not the only overlapping ingredient between their […]

Japanese craft beer makers, Yo-Ho Brewing Company in Nagano, makes a beer called Sorry, which is actually an umbrella name for a series of unique brews that share one thing in common – they’re beers that the brewmasters wanted to drink. The series’ full name is “I’m Sorry! I Didn’t Ask You What You Like.” All […]

Oakland just got a little bit hipper (if that was at all possible) – we now have our very own Mikkeller bar! Opened in the former Trappist Provisions space, the tasting room and bottle shop is a charming ode to all things Mikkeller. Mikkeller launched as a beer brewery in Copenhagen in 2006. They are an innovative company […]

Ah, Mexico. We went to Cabo San Lucas over New Year’s and had a magical time. We were captivated by the sea breeze… … the abundantly fresh seafood… … tremendous tacos… … pristine blue skies… … the spirit of adventure… And… … the Michelada! Yes, I had a love affair with the Michelada for the first time on […]

Yoko and I were so excited to find that one of Yoho Brewery’s tap rooms in Tokyo was right in our hotel! We waited until our very last night in the city to go in for a beer, and looking back, I wish we wouldn’t have. Yona Yona Beer Works was so great — we […]

Happy New Year! We hope that everyone had a cozy, relaxing holiday season with your loved ones and are ready to rock 2016. It’s going to be a good one — it’s the year of the Monkey! Strap in. We are kicking the year off right with JAPAN BEER FEST, our beloved yearly soiree presented with […]

Our Japan trip last month was a jam-packed, 5-city tour with barware factory tours, sake brewery pit-stops and a visit to a craft brewery! Niigata Beer has been around for 17 years now, brewing beers for the local market, and also making beers for other companies looking to outsource production. They do this quite often […]

People in Japan are cuckoo for beer. It remains the most popular alcoholic beverage in Japan, accounting for two thirds of all alcohol consumed overall (says Wikipedia). When going out with friends or coworkers after work, it is an ongoing tradition for the table to order a round of draft beers for the first kanpai […]

When people ask Yoko or myself if it was “always in the plan” to turn Umami Mart into a brick and mortar shop, the answer is always “no.” We do get this question quite often. But back in 2007 when we started our blog, I was living in Brooklyn and Yoko was in Tokyo, on […]