Distant Shores Brewing

About

Founded October 2017 at the far northern edge of Higashimurayama in Akitsucho, next door to a driving school, a twenty-minute walk from Tokorozawa, Shin-Akitsu, Akitsu, or Higashimurayama stations. The project is a three-company partnership between Ashikawa Brewery Systems, Asakusa's Campion Ale (now Asakusa Brewing Studio), and Shinjuku's YYG Brewery. Owner-brewer Michael Ashikawa is a Northern Englishman, ex-system engineer, who trained at North England breweries and writes the brewery's custom temperature-control software himself. Six fermenters total (three at 1,200L, three at 2,400L). British-style ales with American hop additions: flagship IPA Konnichiwa Michael Desu (a self-deprecating nod to the brewmaster's love of Japan and weak Japanese), British Pale Ale, American Wheat, British Imperial Stout. The tasting room runs Sundays only, noon to six, currently as a tented outdoor counter on the brewery lot with a BBQ facility, locals routinely walk over with food and grill while the kegs flow. BYO food, take your trash. Cards, e-money, QR all fine.