Heresy!

Sorry, I meant to write Ginga Kogen with the reindeer. The Pale Ale is quite bad with bubblegum notes and there is the not very special komugi (wheat) beer, which is the one that is typically found in places like Maruetsu Petit.

Shiga Kogen is more of a specialty microbrew.

I have seen Yona Yona in konbini, but not often. Agreed that it hits the spot pretty consistently. Ginga Kogen wheat beer is better on tap than out of the can, if you can find it on tap. The only place I've seen it is at Sekai no Yamachan (good chicken wings there btw).

As far as the mass market beers go, I like Premium Malt's. Ebisu is ok in a pinch, and their seasonal beers tend to be pretty good (you can often find these in the konbini). Ebisu also makes pretty good stout (black cans). On the other hand, Grand Kirin is terrible despite pretentious marketing, and some of Asahi's limited-time offerings have been gag-worthy.

Back to the original topic, I am also not a Super Dry fan. The canned variety gives me headaches unlike any other beer I've tried. Not sure why. I can bear it on tap but would rather not have to.

I've seen Yona Yona and Aooni (the same brewery's IPA) in more and more combini recently.

If you happen to be taking the NeX from Tokyo Station, there's an excellent newish shop right upstairs from the NeX tracks, called Le Collier, that sells 130 kinds of Japanese craft beer.

That must be a recent development like in the last 6 months. 7-11, Famima, Lawson would never offer anything except conventional beer and the odd mass market import (maybe?). I have to say that I dislike konbini and did not frequent them. The exception used to be Natural Lawson, which had that Belgian wheat beer with the upside down label.

One step in the right direction is that Donki Shibuya started selling Yona-Yona and other better Japanese micros after the latest renovation maybe late 2012 or early 2013. But Donki-honten (huge store) nearby in Aobadai has none but instead extensive import beer.

BTW, I am not a big fan of Ao-oni to be quite honest.

Yona Yona and other Yahoo Brewing beers have been in convenience stores for the last 2 years or so at least, but not every store carries them. I've also noticed more supermarkets carrying Japanese (and some foreign) craft beer, though it tends not to be the more interesting kinds.

If you're at Tokyo station, in addition to Le Collier, there are two good liquor stores in the Yaesu Chikagai to the east -- both called "Liquors Hasegawa". They usually have a good range of Japanese craft in bottles and cans, including some harder-to-find seasonal varieties.

How about mixing Hoppy (a non-alc malt beverage) and shochu? Tastes like beer somewhat.

It doesn't taste like any beer that I would want to taste. It does get you drunk, though.

Liquors Hasegawa is great. Prices are a little higher but being able to try the ones marked for such small amounts, golden. Picked up a 18 year old Kirin. The Hibiki prices were high but the selection is fantastic. ...try the whiskey that is.

I was unable to find le collier...I must admit, I was perhaps not expecting tokyo station to be as nice as it was. Boy has it improved in the last 10 years. A steady improvement.

I had a lot of trouble finding it a couple of days ago, and I've been there several times already. If you're in the south end of the station's 1F, you have to walk north to the central area, on the Marunouchi side, where there are stairs and escalators down to the NeX tracks. Once you're down on B1F level Le Collier is right there, although it's at the back of another shop, next to a take-out bakery.

Is it at that almost middle level that you take this odd, two stage escalator too...I was grabbing some food at the ecute and as I was walking towards where the NEX goes down on your left, I,turned right and then took a weird escalator that goes down, then levels and goes down again. But roamed around and could not find it. Oh well, next time.

There's also a beer area on the basement floor of Daimaru near the Tokyo Character Street as well as a shop within the ticketed area in the basement corridor leading from Gransta to the Sobu/Yokosuka platforms (before you reach Le Collier). I still prefer either Liquors Hasegawa or Le Collier to these other places, though.

Nissin World Delicatesen in Azabu Juban probably has the best selection and the best prices for both Japanese and import beer. I miss being able to pick up my favorite real Lambics (not the sweet crap) in Tokyo like Boon and Cantillon. In the States it is special order....

Yamaya is good too.

Among supermarkets Life was the only one that had Yona-Yona and this goes back to late 2010 when I first found it there. I am still incredulous about claims of finding it in konbini. But I hate konbini...... Life also has the best milk selection.

crap.

turns out i was SOOO close to le collier.

i could have sworn last month it was most certainly not located on google...[it's possible i screwed up when clicking on the floor]

now it is, I was just above it on 1 (B1 on top and 1 below) and the escalator I took brought me to the wrong end...

http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/...ps23b8fb1f.jpg

like i said, the quality of Tokyo station threw me for a loop.

last time i was there is was under lots of construction - may 2012.

compared with the time i was there in 2007, it's night and day...

They seem to be opening new mini-malls within Tokyo Station once every three or four months, and they're still crowded.