Susukino Ji-Beer (Shimijimi Sapporo Restaurant/Brewpub)

 

Update on previous reports, which I whole-heartedly agree with. Dont be put off when outside - there is no indication at all it is a brew-pub. Even inside, my partner still thought we were in the wrong place. Then I saw the lit-up beer sign in a tiny bar area well inside. The brewery is downstairs - you can see through the windows when you go pee.

They now have a web-site: http://www.susukino-jibeer.com/beer.html so you can print it off and use to locate, or give to a taxi driver if travelling from afar. Also, a card, and leaflet (in Japanese). We both preferred the pilsner, but noted that the Marzen has won prizes.

They now have a third beer - a black beer, which is only mentioned in the Japanese menu - the english one is out of date showing just 2 beers (with old prices too!). It tastes much like other Japanese "stouts" - i.e. sweet, but with a slight liquorice after-taste. Mugs (about 400ml) were 590 yen (Sept 2008). Didnt see any "all you can drink in 90 min" deal. You switch a red button under the side of your table to get service.

Didnt eat, but well worth a visit for something different.

This place is cool. Before we even entered the brewpub, the waiter offered to take a picture of us. Excellent service: very fast and professional. You sit in nice isolated wooden boxes, where you can only guess who your nieghbors are. That's exciting. There's a nice barbecue on every table, where you can grill your own food. They have two beers, a marzen and a pilsener, that are pretty tasty and well adapted to the 90 minutes all you can drink for $13. I thought the food was good too: the meat was incredibly tender, and I really liked how you can cook it yourself, and have it as you want to have it. I wasn't too crazy about the fish we had, but I'm never too crazy about fish.

The atmosphere of the place is really great. It looks sketchy from outside, no sign, no name, a lost place in downtown sapporo, usually inundated by lights, but once inside, you discover a really cozy and well designed place, with a great emphasis on intimacy. A great place for a date. There's a window from the bathroom on the brewing facility, which is quite distracting, although they weren't doing anything when I went to the bathroom. This is only for males' bathroom though.
A great place!

To start off, this place looks from the outside like some type of secret military bunker from the future. It's free-standing and squished in-between much taller buildings in downtown Sapporo. The exterior is some sort of grey siding--and there are NO windows in either of the two floors, just a sliding wooden door and a small sign announcing "Shimijimi", with not even a mention of Susukino Ji-Beer. Really, it's a bit scary, and my friends were hesitant to step inside.

Once in, you're looking up at a large glass case of flaming logs. Later, I realized these were for the mini-bbq's on each table, but initially it added to my already growing trepidation. The atmosphere is excellent. The complex is a maze of semi-private dining spaces, most not suitable for more than 2 to 6 people, but the second floor seemed to accomodate larger parties. The lighting is dark, with alot of dark wood with lights shining through. Probably a great date location ;)

Service is excellent, of course. We're in Japan folks.

Food was pretty good, although not much better than typical izakaya (traditional japanese-style bar/restaurant) fare. Alot of typical Japanese bar foods available, with a focus on those that can be grilled on the beatiful bbq, the centerpiece of the table. There are also a number of "course" options, all of which seemed to include an all-you-can-drink--which includes the Susukino Ji-Beer. There are 2 beers available, which seem to be year-round options, the Pilsener and the Marzen. Without ordering any food, it's possible to do an hour and a half all-you-can-drink for about $13, which I found perfect. There was also a longer option.

All brewing is done on the premises, and there are several large vats on the first floor, and a mini-factory in the basement, where they can their pilsener for distribution. The bathrooms are also down there, and they have glass in the men's room facing the work area, so you can check out the factory while you take a piss. I liked that.

Susukino Ji-Beer is owned apparently by the same people that own Rusutsu Resort (amusement park, winter sports resort) and a number of other Hokkaido-only business ventures.

This restaurant/brewpub is done quite well--I highly recommend it.