Scenes from 2018 Japantown Beerwalk Christmas Edition, Plus a First Look at Soon-to-Open JTown Pizza

Andrea and I made it to the last Beerwalk of the year, held earlier this month in San Jose’s Japantown. Check-in once again took place at Jack’s Bar & Lounge.

Japantown remains our favorite Beerwalk location, and we make an extra effort to attend a Beerwalk whenever it’s held there.

We started off with Wildcide Hard Cider and Wildcide WildMule.

A view of the Gordon Biersch Brewing Company brewery and bottling facility. The brewery, in fact, makes the Wildcide offerings.

Bruery Terreux Bouffon Sour Wit Ale with Spices and Aged in an Oak Foeder (Collaboration with Jester King) and The Bruery Wether Weizenbock Aged in Whiskey Barrels.

Andrea with Charlie Mann – Beerwalk co-founder and partner at restaurant group Dipsomania, Inc. – standing in front of the soon-to-open JTown Pizza Co., located at 625 N. 6th St.

The Beerwalk offered the first opportunity for the public to check out the renovated space.

JTown Pizza hosted Hapa’s Brewing Company.

Hapa’s Brewing Amish Rifle Red Ale and Counter Clockwise New England IPA. With Virginia Vaughn of Hapa’s Brewing.

Jordan Trigg – Beerwalk co-founder and Dipsomania founder – graciously gave us a tour of the building.

When I asked him how Jtown Pizza came about, he let us know that opening JTown Pizza was a project that he had not pursued.

He was already extremely busy with his other establishments, and he had just opened a second Spread Deli & Bottles in downtown San Jose. Considering a new project was the furthest thing from his mind.

But his strong ties to Japantown, and envisioning the opportunity to help preserve the historic building, won out and compelled him to make the commitment.

And with a few items left to be taken care of, Jordan hopes for an opening date some time early next year.

Charlie joined by Jason Endert and Mariya Crisler.

Jason and Mariya will help open JTown Pizza, with Jason serving as assistant manager and Mariya as general manager.

Woodchuck Hard Cider Amber.

Funkwerks Saison Belgian-Style Ale and Raspberry Provincial Sour Ale.

A quick break at Roy’s Station.

Hermitage Brewing Company Spiced Apple American Sour.

Camino Brewing Company Cafe Con Leche Coffee Milk Stout and Northeast by South 1st Northeast IPA.

Alex (right) of Camino Brewing Company.

Unfortunately, our time was limited, and we missed out on visiting additional stores and tasting more beers from other breweries.

But it was another excellent Beerwalk as usual.

And you won’t have to wait too long for the next one; it’s already scheduled for early February in downtown San Jose.

Hopefully, JTown Pizza will be open by then. I can’t wait!

Cheers! Prost! Gunbae!

~Andy