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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
I like the sound of this sake—spicy sweetness and citrus, yum. I find appealing anything that pairs with blue cheese and chocolate!
Dera Jen!
This often happens with old sake!
Cheers,
Robert-Gilles
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
Dear Tim!
Greetings!
Melinda is going to introduce one of their sake in Tokyo on March 7th!
Cheers,
Robert-Gilles
Cheers, Et-chan!
Nice warm and modest people they are!
I’m always keeping an eye on them!
Cheers,
Robert-Gilles
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.