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Please check Shizuoka Gourmet Blog for all the gastronomy in Shizuoka Prefecture!
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Kumpai Brewery is a minuscule kura run by father and son that nonetheless produces incredibly good sake for such a little volume. Melinda, Etsuko and Tim, who recently visited it will be reminded of a good time she shared together!
Kumpai Brewery: « Abe no Shizuku », Junmai Ginjo Nama
Rice: Yamada Nishiki 11%, Biyama Nishiki 88%
Rice milled down to 50%
Dryness: -2 (very sweet for Shizuoka)
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in January 2009
Clarity: Very clear
Colour: Golden tinge
Aroma: Fresh and strong. Sweetish. Fruity: licorice, star anise, oranges
Body: Velvety
Taste: Soft attack backed up by pｌeasant alcohol.
Disappears quickly. Soft junmai tingle. Nama characteristics weaker than expected.
Fruity: Star anise, oranges, gum.
Very pleasant and easy to drink. Feminine.
Coffee beans making a late appearance with second sip.
Overall: Comparatively sweet for a Shizuoka sake, although very light, pleasant and fleeting.
Stands up very well to food.
Could definitely be appreciated chilled as an aperitif. or as a digestif at room temperature on its own.
Great with chocolate or blue cheese!
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
Jen
I like the sound of this sake—spicy sweetness and citrus, yum. I find appealing anything that pairs with blue cheese and chocolate!
dragonlife
Dera Jen!
This often happens with old sake!
Cheers,
Robert-Gilles
Timothy
I also have such happy memories of Kumpai brewery! I can still taste those yummy roasted ginko nuts! I can’t wait to visit shizuoka again. wishing you all the best,
Tim
dragonlife
Dear Tim!
Greetings!
Melinda is going to introduce one of their sake in Tokyo on March 7th!
Cheers,
Robert-Gilles
dragonlife
Cheers, Et-chan!
Nice warm and modest people they are!
I’m always keeping an eye on them!
Cheers,
Robert-Gilles
Etsuko
They are such nice people and their sake is really like them – warm, nice, and very easy going. I have such good memory from Kunpai.