One of the many pleasures of exploring Hakodate is the discovery of the hidden gems that the city has to offer. Postbar (or Post for short) is one such treasure to be found. Situated close to the central Honcho/Goryokaku district, and a five minute walk from the nearest street car stop, Post offers a great night out for the more discerning drinker.
Post is not the biggest of bars; fifteen people would put it at capacity, but it more than makes up for the lack of space with huge amounts of character and charm. Post is run by Hiro, who is genuinely welcoming and friendly to all who enter the cosy little bar. Hiro is a lively, affable guy who likes nothing more than chatting away about anything from 80s pop music to the many beers of Europe. The décor is random and quirky, with plenty of odds‘n’ends that reflect Hiro’s interest in and knowledge about all things beer. Post has a loyal group of regulars who are always friendly and chatty and non-Japanese are particularly welcomed and made to feel at home.
The beer on offer is as eclectic as the interior decorations, and it is the fantastic range of brews on offer that is Post’s main attraction. Unlike most of the other bars in Hakodate, Post offers a wide range of unique beers supplied by microbreweries from around Japan, as opposed to the generic offerings from the big four Japanese beer companies. Post generally carries four or five kegs of craft beer, with as many as eight on special occasions and long weekends, and more often than not, Hoegaarden is on tap as the regular “house” beer. Hiro also regularly collaborates with the craft breweries and stocks beer brewed specially for Post.
The menu changes every week or so and is made up of pale ales, IPAs, stouts, wheat beers, blonde beers, lagers, and fruit beers. All inspired by traditional ales from European countries, and are expertly made by Japanese craft breweries such as Onuma Beer and Noboribetsu Brewery. They are all great quality and perfectly reflect Post’s status as the beer lover’s bar in Hakodate. If you aren’t particularly knowledgeable about beer don’t worry. Just let Hiro know what kind of brew you are partial to, bitter, light etc, and he will give you his recommendation from the selection he has on offer. The beer is relatively expensive at￥700 –￥900 for a half and￥1,300 –￥1,500 for a pint. But this reflects the quality of the beer on offer and is well worth it.
Post is not the cheapest night out, but if you want something special and have a taste for fine beer and good company, then mark Postbar on your map and enjoy one of Hakodate’s most original and friendly bars.
