Category Archives: Sake Brewery

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Takashima Brewery-Hakuin Masamune Yamahai Junmai Hiyaoroshi Genshu

September 12, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I finally had the chance to taste an old favorite of mine by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City.
Owner/Master Brewer Kazutaka Takashima uses this label to advertise the fact that Shizuoka Prefecture produces the greatest number of natural edible seaweed in Japan!

This time I conducted this tasting at A Votre Sante Wine, Sake and multi store shop in Aoi Ku, Shozuoka City!

As it is a standing bar it is the perfect place for a tasting!
The brew made for another long name!
Hakuin Masamune Yamahai Junmai (No pure alcohol blended in) Hiyaoroshi (pasteurized only once) Genshu (No water blended in)!

Rice: Ginfubuki
Rice milled down to 65%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Dryness: +6
Acidity: 1.5
Bottled in Septmebr 2014

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: Fruity and assertive. Pears, custard
Body: fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: very assertive and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant and beautiful alcohol.
Deep and complex.
Coffee beans, dark chocolate.
Lingers on for a while warming up the palate before leaving on a drier and even deeper note with strong hints of roasted coffee beans.
Tends to show more facets with following sips.

Overall: I didn’t taste this sake with any food, and it is probably for the best.
A great sake with a character rarely found in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Makes for the perfect aperitif, but I suspect it would really enjoyable with cheese or pork meats!
Would definitely perform better than many vaunted wines.
A discovery!

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-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sugii Brewery-Suginishiki Yamahai Junmai Akiagari Homarefuji

September 12, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

These days I try conduct my tastings inside specialized establishments!

I sampled this brew by Sugii brewery at La Sommeliere Wine & sake Bar in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Once again a long name for a Sugii Brewery sake in Fujieda City!
Suginishiki Yamahai Junmai Akiagari (first Autumn) Homarefuji!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka-grown)
Rice milled down to 70%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: ;8
Acidity: 1.6
Yeast: Association No 701
Pasteurized only once
Bottled in August 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and assertive. Fruity. Custard, chestnuts
Body: fluid
Taste: Very dry and fruity attack backed up by puissant junmai petillant.
Complex. Custard, chestnuts, almonds, dark chocolate.
Lingers in the palate for a little while before departing on an even drier note.
Will become even drier with food with a late appearance by greens and welcome acidity.
Dark chocolate will become more insistent once away again from food with appearance of coffee beans.

Overall: Thanks to its dryness and complexity, a sake perfect for a happy marriage with food!
Will surely take the place of a more vaunted wine!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Junmai Ginjo Hiyaoroshi Genshu

September 1, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, has produced this famous brand for some time.
The word “Garyubai” actually for the name of celebrated garden inside a temple in Okitsu, Shimizu Ku!

Sanwa Brewery is arguably the first brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture to put its “Hiyaoroshi/pasteurized only once” on the market in August!
At 16~17 degrees of alcohol, it can considered a “genshu/no water added”, making it an unaltered sake since it is also a junmai/no pure rice alcohol added!

Incidentally, the tasting was conducted at la Sommeliere Wine & Sake Bar in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Dryness: + 1
Acidity: 1.4
Bottled in August 2014

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Pleasant alcohol. Pears, banana, hints of melon
Body: fluid
Taste: Dry, fruity and well-rounded attack backed by puissant junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol
Drier than expected.
Custard, macadamia nuts.
Lingers for a while ending with pleasant acidity.
Becomes slightly sweeter with food with dark chocolate and coffee beans making an appearance.
Marries beautifully with any food.

Overall: Elegant for such a strong alcohol sake. Surprisingly drier than expected.
Beautiful on its own although at its best with food. I tasted it with a French Croque-Monsieur for a great marriage.
It just proves that great sake holds its own to any great wine!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sugii Brewery-Suginishiki Junmai Daiginjo Kimoto

August 29, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Sugii Brewery in Fujieda City has always been an innovator closely looked by connoisseurs all over Japan.
They are not afraid to innovate or trying old methods again as with this kimoto, a natural fermentation process difficult to control and bring to success!

This particular tastings like so many was conducted in another “secret lair” of mine.
Sorry, but I’m not allowed to divulge its name in articles! LOL

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40% for the kooji rice and 50% for the kake rice
Yeast: Shizuoka HD-1
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 6
Acidity: 1.3
Bottled in July 2014

Clarity: very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Fruity and dry. Pears
Body: Fluid
Taste: very fruity and slightly dry attack backed up by a little junmai petillant.
Both complex and straightforward.
Pears, apricots, chestnuts.
Drinks very easily.
Lingers on the palate longer than usual to end up on a drier note.
Dark chocolate appears with other cups.
Changes little with food.
Becomes sweeter and acquires a more pronounced well-rounded attack with rise in temperature.

Overall: A beauty when you consider the difficulty!
Very mysterious for a kimoto.
Best appreciated with food in spite of its elevated status.
Its dryness makes it a superb aperitif although thoroughly enjoyable for the whole meal whatever the gastronomy!
A discovery!

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Shizuoka sake tasting: Eikun Brewery-Tokubetsu Junmai Homarefuji

August 14, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

This is the second tasting of a nectar brewed by Eikun Brewery in the mountains of Yui in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, and I conducted it in the same place as before!

At la Sommeliere in Myuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Note that this particular sake was exclusively made with Shizuoka products including Shizuoka-grown Homarefuji rice and Shizuoka NEW-5 yeast!

Rice: Homarefuji
Rice milled down to 60%
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW5
Dryness: 2
Acidity: 1.6
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in July 2014

Clarity: very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: fruity. Banana, dark chocolate, custard.
Body: fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Very fruity and dry attack backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex. Pears, banana, custard. Late appearance of dry coffee beans and dark chocolate.
Disappears fairly quickly.
Drinks very easily. Really elegant and mysterious at times. Facets just keep appearing.

Overall: Superb sake despite the modest status of the rice grown in Shizuoka, which shows that not only if you have the skills to take it to a higher level Homarefuji is fast proving its value.
Beautiful aperitif when enjoyed slightly chilled.
At first I didn’t want to drink it with food but I couldn’t resist the quiche Lorraine on the menu, and discovered that it would do better than many a vaunted white wine with French gastronomy!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Hagoromo no Mai Junmai

August 13, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Hagoromo no Mai is an old regular brand by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, to commemorate the legend of Hagoromo/Veil lost by a deity to a fisherman had had to dance/Mai to regain it!

If you can read Japanese you will find the whole story on the label!

It is a junmai, meaning no pure rice alcohol was blended in!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku (Toyama Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 3
Acidity: 1.4
Bottled in July 2014

Clarity: very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive. Fruity. Banana.
Body: fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed by puisasnt junmai petillant.
Complex. Banana, pears, apricots, nuts.
Quickly disappears on a very dry note with hints of greens.
Late appearance of faint coffee beans.
More coffee beans backed with pears and hints of dark chocolate surging out with further cups.
Varies little with food but for more pronounced dryness and acidity.
Marries well with any food.

Overall: Eminently enjoyable sake on its own or with food, although obviously conceived to accompany food, especially heavy izakaya fare.
Slightly chilled it becomes a delicate aperitif.
Its dryness and acidity make it a great accompaniment to cheese or chocolate!

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Shizuoka sake Tasting: Eikun Brewery-Junmai Ginjo “Daidai no Eikun”

July 18, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

It’s been some time since I tasted a bottle by Eikun Brewery in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
But this once I had the opportunity to conduct my tasting away from Home!

A new wine and sake bar opened in Shizuoka City, namely La Sommeliere, and since they serve the sake in wine glasses, the tasting is easy to conduct!

An orange (“daidai”) label is a bit unusual in our region, but this the official color of Shizuoka Prefecture!

Rice: Bizen Omachi (Okayama Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: + 5
Acidity: 1.4
Bottled in July 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive and fruity. Dry. Pears
Body: Fluid
Tasting: Dry and fruity attack backed with pleasant jumai petillant.
Complex and elegant.
Pears, green apples, hints of apricots.
Lingers for a while with more hints of dry almonds, dark chocolate and milk coffee.

Overall: I drank this particular sake without food. It is just too elegant to let it be influenced by food.
A superb sake for tasting parties, although frankly speaking I will keep my own company when savoring it!
Would make for a splendid aperitif.
Start it chilled and let the sake warm up inside your glass to discover new facets!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery- Wakatake Onigoroshi Tokubetsu Honjozo Genshu Nama

July 6, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Every year I make a point of tasting this famous brand by Oumuraya Brewery in Shimada City: Onigoroshi!

There are many Onigorshi/”Kill a Goblin” in Japan, but this is arguably the most celebrated!

When you consider the alcohol content, the dryness and the lack of pasteurization, you need this to kill one!

Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: + 9
Acidity: 1.３
Alcohol: 17-18 degrees
Bottle in May 2014

Clarity: very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry. Greens
Body: Fluid
Taste: Aggressive approach backed up by pleaaant alcohol.
Dry, Fruity.
Lingers on for a while, warming up the back of the palate.
Apricots, almonds, macadamia nuts.
Takes on an even drier turn with food.
Stays strong all the way.

Overall: Solid and straightforward, this is a very dry and strong sake for the “Macho sake” lovers!
The perfect complement to a BBQ or heavy izakaya gastronomy!
Designed to accompany food!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Suruga Brewery- Tenko Junmai Nama Genshu Muroka

July 4, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

It’s been some time since I tasted a sake brewed by Suruga Brewery in Shizuoka City!
Although still a very new brewery, at least in name, it is already getting recognition nationally!

It goes for one of its long name as it describes the brewing process:
Junmai: no pure rice alcohol added/blended.
Genshu: no pure water added
Nama: unpasteurized
Muroka: unfiltered

Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: + 5
Acidity: 1.6
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Shizuoka yeast
Bottled in June 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Pears
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol.
Complex. Apricots, dark chocolate and milk coffee appearing late with a sweeter note.
Disappears quickly.
Changes little with but for a slightly drier note.

Overall: A sake for strong sake lovers!
Perfect with izakaya food or BBQ.
Easy to drink in spite of its high alcohol contents.
Gains to be drunk slowly and carefully as it can suddenly reveal fleeting facets!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Kanzawagawa Brewery: Shosetsu Yamakoge Junetsu Junmai Ginjo Nama

June 24, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Kanzawagawa Brewery in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City does sometimes come with some interestingly named limited brews!

It is a Junmai Ginjo Nama.

As for its name “Yamakage Jyunetsu” it is related to a famous military scholar of the Edo Period!

Rice milled down 50%
Dryness: +2~ +4
Acidity: 1.2~1.4
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in March 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity: Cherries, apricots, pears.
Body:: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Dry and fruity attack.
Complex. Little junmai petillant.
Pears, milk coffee, dark chocolate.
Turns sweeter with food with coffee beans taking a bigger role.
Very elegant and easy to drink.

Overall: Beautiful sake fit for tasting sessions.
Superb slightly chilled
Great balance in dryness and acidity.
No wonder it is limited to one single tank!
Makes for a superb reasonably-priced present!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Doi Brewery–Kaiun Ginjo Nama Genshu

June 20, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Still continuing the 300 ml bottle series!

This time I acquired a bottle from Doi Brewery in Kakegawa City where the brew master comes from the noto peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture!

A ginjo does not come reaaly cheap!

Pretty heady stuff as it is a not only a ginjo but also a nama and genshu!

Rice milled down to 50%
Dryness: + 10
Alcohol: 16=17 degrees
Bottled in April 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: Fruity: banana, melon, dark chocolate
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Very dry and fruity attack backed with strong and pleasant alcohol.
Deceptively dry in spite of its great fruitiness.
Elegant in spite of its high alcohol contents.
Complex: custard, melon, banana, almonds, with late appearance of milk coffee.
Disappears fairly quickly.
Dark chocolate making a strong appearance with later sips.
marries well with food with little variation.

Overall: Heady, complex, elegant sake for the strong sake lovers.
Can be thoroughly enjoyed at any temperatures although I would recommend to start it chilled and let it warm up to discover more facets on the way.
A dangerous sake as its alcohol contents are pretty high but will hit you after a while!
Probably best enjoyed chilled as a night cap but I won’t take any responsibility! LOL

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Hagoromo no Mai Junmai Ginjyo

June 15, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, has been producing this particular brand for quite a long time!

It commemorates an old legend in Shimizu Ku, Hagoromo or Hagoromo no Mai, The Dance of the Sky Spirit Veil!

Mentioning “Junmai Ginjyo” on a cap is a bit unusual in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Even for a 300 ml bottle a Junmai Ginjyo is not that cheap!

Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: + 5
Alcohol: 15.5 degrees
Bottled in March 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive. Banana, pineapple, nuts
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Dry and fruity attack back up by puissant junmai petiillant.
Complex.Milk coffee, nuts, almonds, oranges with hints of dark chocolate
Disappears fairly quickly with strong hints of banana and nuts.
Very easy to drink in spite of its dryness.
Takes a lighter turn with food with stronger hints of milk coffee and later of bananas.
Even chilled shows many facets.

Overall: A very dry and fruity delicious sake one may enjoy chilled or at room temperature on its own or with food.
Very eclectic in the sense that you can choose the occasion to savor it!
Mind you, I would drink it on my own with some beautiful finger food!

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Sake Brewing Museum at Kizakura Brewery in Kyoto!

June 13, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Fushimi/伏見 District in the southern mountains of Kyoto City accounts for no less than 26 sake breweries in all Kyoto Fu/Kyoto Prefecture. Among them Kizakukura Brewery is especially attractive with their free entrance museums.
You ought to visit the sake brewing museum in particular.
It shows only the main process and in Japanese, but the models accompanying the explanations are a sight!

Rice milling/精米歩合

Washing/洗米

Steaming/蒸米

Cooling/放冷

Kouji making/麹作り

Fermenting Starter making/もとつくり

Fermenting starter making/もとつくり

The Mash/醪ずくり

Pressing/しぼり

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Kyoto Sake Tasting: Yamamoto Honkei Brewery-Jinsei Junmai Ginjyo

June 11, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I’m just spending a few days holiday in Kyoto and I have finally found a 300ml bottle produced by a Kyoto Brewery!

It is brewed by Yamamoto Honkei Brewery loaced in Fushimi, Kyoto City!
Its name, “Jinsei/神聖” means “God sanctity” Lucky I’m agnostic!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15 degrees

Clarity: very clear
Color: Golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Grapes, brandy sherry wine
Body: fluid
Taste: Fairly dry and fruity attack backed up by only some junmai petillant.
Grapes, sherry.
Disappears fairly quickly on a drier note with accentuated hints of a dry sherry.
Gets even drier with food, whatever its kind, but changes little in taste.

Overall: Simple, solid, reliable sake conceived to accompany food.
Would be best appreciated with heavy izakaya food, although its taste very reminiscent of a dry sherry could make it a good aperitif, especially if chilled

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Takashima Brewery-Hakuin Masamune Tokubetsu Junmai Homarefuji

June 9, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Back to one of my favorite sake breweries in Shizuoka Prefecture:
Takashima Brewery in Numazu City!

Actually I made a mistake on Facebook when I first announced I was preparing myself to drink it and Owner Brew Master Kazutaka Takashima was all around my neck. A figure of speech as he holds a judo 5th dan black belt!

Would you believe it obtained a top accolade in Japan as a sake one should enjoy in a wine glass?
Incredible!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka-grown)
Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: +3
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in April 2014

Clarity: Very c;ear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Bananas
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Sweetish and fruity attack backed by puissant junmai petillant.
Complex. banana, nuts.
Disappears fairly quickly on a drier notes with hints of coffee beans, almonds, dark chocolate, cherries and oranges.
Take a drier turn with food with the appearance of chestnuts and ranges.
Marries superbly with food.

Overall: A splendid sake to enjoy with meals. Very complex. Contributes facets to the dishes shared with it.
I personally enjoyed most at room temperature, although it would make for a splendid aperitif if chilled.
But being what I am I would drink it with cheese or chocolate!
bring it to a impress everyone!

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