Mojiko Retro Beer Co., Ltd.

When I found out I was going to be moving to Kitakyushu city for my new job, I immediately began to scour the internet for good beer in the area. One of the first places I found was Mojiko Retro Beer Co., or Mojiko Ji-biru Kobo, in Japanese. It's a very nice place, set in the scenic ward of Mojiko, and the establishment has taken advantage of its picturesque setting very nicely. The first floor features large picture windows overlooking the Kanmon Strait, and the second floor provides elevated views, giving a slightly broader vantage point. It's a nice place to have a few during twilight, and I'd have given it a 5 for atmosphere if it weren't for the lack of a smoking section. From the first floor dining hall, you can see the kettles and tuns where the brewpub's four beers are brewed, accentuating their exceptionally fresh taste.

The selection is not at all broad - they offer three regular beers, an English pale ale, a Hefeweizen, and a German pilsener, plus a seasonally-brewed "special" beer (it was a Kölsch this summer; right now, I'm not sure). But each one is quite good, well crafted and envigoratingly fresh.

Service is quite good (as per usual in Japan), although beers are served slightly too cold and (gasp!) in chilled glasses. Besides that, my only other complaint are the prices; a 500 ml stein is 630¥, and 330 ml bottles (sold at the counter) are 1,680¥ for a three-pack! Pretty steep, if you ask me, even if it is Japan. Considering I can buy stubby bottles of Chimay and other superb imports for just 510¥ or less at DeLi, just a few train stops away, Mojiko Retro will probably not become a regular hangout of mine. Still, it's a nice place in a nice part of town, and I would definitely recommend a visit if you're in the greater Kitakyushu-Shimonoseki area.