Uchida-Biyori is one of those rare establishments that satisfies customers through a focus on both craft beer and premium sake. As the two beverages are different, from their flavor and origin to how they are prepared and served, most bars aim to be proficient at one of them while offering the other as a minor alternative. Here, customers can sample the high end of both beverages.
Owner Meishu Uchida opened the bar in May of this year after working in the beer industry at Yokohama Brewery and a pub in Tokyo. At Uchida-Biyori, you can enjoy craft beer from three revolving taps chosen to match the season by Uchida himself. Aka-budou (red grape) Ale from Harvestmoon, Brillante ESB from Outsider Brewing, and Yokohama Lager from Yokohama Beer were on the menu the day I visited (¥750/330ml). Those indifferent to craft beer can get the old reliable Asahi Super Dry (¥600/390ml).
The sake menu on the blackboard at Uchida-Biyori is unique–the names of sake are not listed, only descriptions of taste and aroma profiles. You can pick your sake directly from the refrigerator behind the bar, or have the staff make a recommendation based on your profile preferences (¥500~¥700/90ml).
Many of the side dishes to complement sake are Japanese-style, but Uchida-Biyori also offers variety, such as cream cheese topped with Korean-style Chanja (spicy cod innards, ¥500), the often changing Potato Salad of the Day (¥550), as well as flavorful Seasoned Pork Kakuni (thick cuts of simmered pork, ¥600). The selection of tasty sides includes many that pair well with beer, too.
The interior is pristine and it’s a non-smoking environment. The soft tones of white, brown, and indigo create a relaxing, welcoming atmosphere. There are two tables with four seats each, and the counter is spacious enough for eight to ten customers to kick back, enjoy delicious food and drink, and make new friends. Uchida-Biyori is conveniently located a few minutes away from Hinodecho Station alongside the Ookagawa River.