Category Archives: sake

美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka Sake, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Kumpai Brewery-Kosha No Mori Tokubetsu Honjozo

November 4, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Kosha No Mori is another regular brand that Kumpai produces every year!
Kosha no Mori/木柘の森 means “Japanese Box Forest” as for the tree called Japanese Box!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Bottled in August 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Alcohol. Custard, macadamia nuts, persimmon.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very dry attack backed up by pleasant alcohol.
Complex.
Very dry fruits. Almonds, custard, with hints of banana and dark chocolate.
Disappears quickly.
Changes little with food except for an accentuated alcohol and a new surge of almonds.
Actually marries well with food, especially izakaya fare.

Overall: A sake obviously conceived to accompany food.
Very dry but fruity and complex making it eminently enjoyable on its own.
A sure value!
Most recommended for BBQ’s!

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Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Sake, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Kumpai Brewery-Tenryou no Taki Junmai

November 3, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Tenryou no Taki is one of the regular brand names brewed every year by Kumpai Brewery in Shizuoka City.
Tenryou no Taki/天領の瀧 means “Heavens World’s Waterfall”!

Rice: Biyama Nishiki (Shiga Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: 0
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bptt;ed in July 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Discreet, difficult to catch. Faint pears and custard
Body: Fluid
Taste: Well-rounded attack with puissant junmai petillant warming up back of the palate .
Very pleasant alcohol.
Very fruity and slightly sweetish.
Complex and rich.
Custard, macadamia nuts, pears, chestnuts.
Disappears fairly quickly on a very pleasant and smooth note with plenty of nuts.
Changes little with food but for a drier and almost spicy note.
Calls for the next cup in spite of its sweetness by Shizuoka standards.
At its best slightly chilled.
Actually takes on a much drier tone with sweet food.

Overall: Elegant and “kind” sake, typical of Kumpai brewery.
Extremely pleasant, especially chilled.
Beautiful on its own, although it marries lovingly with any food, even spicy.
Could be either enjoyed as a magnificent chilled aperitif or digestif!
Pefect with cheese!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Sake, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Kumpai Brewery: Oni Goroshi Honjozo

October 29, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Interestingly enough, the name “Kumpai/君盃” is not of Japanese origin but came from China where it means “A Drink In Great Friendship”.
The label above represents the crossing of the Abe River by the side of which is located Kumpai Brewery!

Rice milled down to 65%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in August 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Light golden hue
Aroma: Dry. Apples, greens, alcohol
Body: Fluid
Taste: Strong fruity attack backed up by very pleasant alcohol.
More complex and deeper than expected.
Disappears fairly quickly with plenty of nuts and almonds.
Changes little with food.
Stays very fruity all the time with appearance of very dry oranges and nuts.
Tends to become more and more complex with the next sip.

Overall: A surprising sake by Kumpai Brewery.
I understand now why a seemingly simple honjozo has been their trademark in spite of the beutiful premium sake they produce.
A sake for all seasons, all occasions, all temperatures!
A sure value I would recommend to beginners and veterans alike!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Suruga Brewery: Tenkou Tokubetsu Junmai

October 28, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

After acquiring the defunct Yoshiya Brewery (Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku) license and continuing their brands such as Chumasa, Oni Goroshi and Tokaido, Suruga Brewery in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City adopted the brand name of “Tenkou/天虹” meaning “heaven rainbow”!

It is a tokubetsu junmai!

Rice: Biyama Nishiki (Shiga Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 2
Acidity: 1.9
Bottled in October 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Strong. Pears, apples.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Strong attack backed up by assertive junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol and welcome acidity.
Complex and fruity. Pears, custard.
Disappears quickly on an even drier note with more custard and nuts and faint greens.
Takes a back step with food but reasserts itself quickly once away from it again.

Overall: A typical Shizuoka sake with all the usual facets, although stronger in approach than most.
The comparatively higher acidity makes it utterly enjoyable on its own.
Another sure value to keep in mind at all times of the year!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Junmai Ginjo

October 26, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City has this famous label for one of its Junmai Ginjo representing two drinkers of the Edo Period and I know a lot of people who like to collect it!

Most of their sake are called Garyubai these days, a name which can be traced back to a local temple!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku (Toyama Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 3
Acidity: 1.4
Bottled in August 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Pears, macadamia nuts, custard
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Very dry attack backed up by puissant junmai petillant.
Very nutty at first with hints of oranges and custard.
Lingers for a while warming up back of the palate and tongue.
Mellows somewhat with food.
Turns quickly back to strong dryness away from food.

Overall: Straight forward dry sake best suited for food, especially heavy izakaya food.
Sake concept very different from mainstream shizuoka brews. The toji/brewmaster is of the Nanbu School from Iwate Prefecture and never uses the Shizuoka yeasts.
can be enjoyed at all temperatures in spite of its elevated status. Would do well at a BBQ!

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レシピ, Beef, 牛肉, 美食, 酒, 野菜, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, 豚肉, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Pork, Recipes, Restaurants, sake, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, Wagyu Beef, 和牛

Wagyu Beef at Sumpu No Nikudokoro Restaurant (Lunch) in Shizuoka City!

October 23, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Friendly, attentive and smiling
Equipment & Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Beautiful and modern gender-separated washrooms
Prices: Reasonable (wayuu is not cheap anywhere!)
Strong points: Almost completely local ingredients. High class beef and pork. Great local sake and shochu list! Non-smoking at lunch time!

I had been curious for some time about a new restaurant which had been opened this year above a convenience store of all things this year when the far corner across Cenova Department Store in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, was reclaimed for development.

The name of the restaurant is “Sumpu No Nikudokoro/駿府の肉処”. Sunpu stands for the old name of Shizuoka City and Nikudokoro means “the place for Meat”!
Pity they don’t take the pains of at least writing the English pronunciation when you hear that Shizuoka Prefecture and City have recently declared to promote tourism more actively…

I had noticed this advert for a single donburi/bowl dish priced at 800 yen/8 US $/6 Euros for quite a while and I had thought that the place was maybe a very reasonable and simple restaurant subsidized by the Shizuoka Prefecture Government, the Agriculture Department in particular. I was proved slightly wrong!

Frankly speaking the lack of explanations and introductions on the ground floor was a bit frustrating and I was somewhat surprised to find out after climbing nondescript stairs to stand in front of small but elegant entrance!

An the surprises only continued after I had stepped inside!
Wow! Special Wagyu certified from Shizuoka Prefecture!
Actually no less than 12 breeders have been awarded the distinction in our Prefecture!

hey were not shy about exhibiting the meat used in the restaurant, a sure sign of superior quality!

Then I started to understand!
Wagyu is horribly expensive in Japan, wherever it is produced and moreover if it has received the label ‘Special Choice” by the Government!

The restaurant is owned and run by the Shizuoka JA (Japan Agriculture), the biggest Agricultural Association in Shizuoka Prefecture (and also heavily subsidized by the country!)!
Now, I knew why the prices were still comparatively reasonable, even for local products!

The establishment is absolutely spotless clean with a direct view into the kitchen! Talk about superior hygiene!

Not only the meat, but most of the sake and shochu are also brewed in Shizuoka Prefecture!

There are three types of seating: A counter by the window, very practical for individual guests of\r couples, benches and tables for 4 people apiece and a dig-in kotatsu Japanese room you can partly or completely reserve for a meal away from other guests’ sight (500 yen extra per person in the case). The Japanese room can be completely reserved for up to 8 guests. Otherwise parties up to 26 guests are accepted. Total reservation can be insured for up to 66 guests.

The sliding doors of the private Japanese-style room.

My first was for lunch at which you can a choice of single bowl dishes between 800 and 980 yen (very popular with office workers and doctors working nearby!), and three meat lunch sets between 1,200 yen and 3,000 yen. I chose the latter, which at 30 US $ is still very reasonable!

Next time I will strongly suggest that they write an English translation!

Not only the wasabi (of course!) but even the salt is local!

Supreme fat to coat the BBQ plate with before grilling the meat and vegetables! Extravagant!

Absolutely beautiful!
Now, what do we have?

Two kinds of wagyu and Kinton-o pork form Shizuoka prefecture!
Actually our Prefecture is nationally know for its supreme pork!

They need to translate that, too!
It does make for good reading, actually!

In the bckground lean Wagyu Beef and in the forefront Kinton-O Pork!

Great attentions to detail: served with grilled garlic slices and chopped thin scallions!

Naturally the vegetables are exclusively local!

Local vegetable salad and Shizuoka green tea as a bavarois with jelly!

Shizuoka-grown Koshihikari rice! A real beauty!

They should translate that too in English:
Shizuoka Koshikari rice is the earliest to be harvested in the island of Honshu: planted in April, rice grains appear in July and the rice is harvested end of August!
It is nicknamed “Pearl Rice”!

A light soup, perfect to wash all that good food down!

100% Shizuoka orange juice! The real article!

You grill everything at your own pace and order!

So tender and so juicy wagyu beef!
What else can you ask for?

Look forward to more reports as I want to investigate some of the ridiculously cheap meat bowl lunches and of course a full dinner with local sake and shochu!

Sumpu No Nikudokoro
Shizuoka Sodachi
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Oote Machi, 2-15, MRK Bldg., 2f (across Cenova Dept. Store above 7 eleven convenience store)
Tel.: 054-251-4129
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00, 17:00~23:00
Closed on third Wednesday of each month
Credit Cards OK
Reservations highly recommended for dinner!
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shimada City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Sake, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Breweries: The One That Disappeared-Yagi Brewery (Tanchou/丹頂) in Shimada City!

October 17, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

During My visit to the Shimada Obi Festival last Monday I walked past a small private museum/display of Shimada craftsmen’s tools and artifacts.
I made an interesting discovery proving that you can’t overlook anything!
The photo above is taht of a sake bottle bag printed with the word “Tanchou/丹頂” the brand name of the late sake Brewery called “Yagi Brewery/八木酒造”
The brewery disappeared some ten years ago before I really started delving into Shizuoka sake history.
The reasons for its demise are quite simple: the brewery was basically making sake on order for the big breweries in Nada (Kobe) region. When the sake boom of the 70’s receded the orders decreased and finally stopped. On the other hand the other brewery in Shimada City, namely Ooumuraya brewery/大村屋酒造 famous all over Japan for its brand names such Onna Nakase/女泣かせ, Onigoroshi/鬼殺し and Wakatake/若竹 was striving as it has opted for a local market for some time and stopped producing for the Nada breweries a long time ago.

This is when I realized that their shop, Tanchou Honten/丹頂本店 was just across the road!

The ground floor of the decrepit building is still used as a bike shop!
An article for my friend at Abandoned Kansai?

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hana No Mai Brewery-Tokubetsu Junmai Cenova 2nd Anniversary

October 13, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

hanan No Mai, located in Hamamatsu City, is the largest sake brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture and makes a good use of all events in our Prefecture to well their products.

Cenova Department store in Shizuoka City just celebrated its 2nd Anniversary and like for the opening and 1st Anniversary hana no Mai produced a tokubetsu Junami limited to 100 numbered bottles. I got No 11!

“Local Souvenir”!

Hana No Mai Brewery has a habit of printing the exact bottling date on their labels!

Rice locally grown
rice milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled on September 30th 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Light golden hue
Aroma: Assertive and fruity. Custard
Body: Fluid, lightly sirupy
Taste: Soft attack at first, immediately followed by puissant junmai petillant warming up back of the palate.
Fruity and dryish. Custard, macadamia nuts, almonds, oranges.
Lingers for a while before softly disappearing with more macadamia nuts and ornages.
Takes a small back step with food on a slightly drier note with more dry oranges.
Away again from food sees a solid appearance by chestnuts.

Overall: A typical sake from Hana No Mai Brewery with a comparatively soft approach.
A sake probably best enjoyed before food.
Should please younger people and ladies alike.
A sake fit for beginners, too.
Would make for a beautiful sweet aperitif when chilled!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Sake Kegs at Sengen Shrine in Shizuoka City

October 2, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

One noticeable difference between Buddhist Temples and Shinto Shrines (Shinto is the native religion) in Japan is that shrines exhibit the empty kegs of sake offered by believers (the original meaning of “Sake” is “food of the gods”) whereas Buddhist Temples don’t.

Sengen Shrine in Shizuoka City which is one of the most important in the Prefecture does exhibit quite a few.
Not all are sake made inside Shizuoka Prefecture, though.
At least investigating the one produced inside Shizuoka Prefecture provide quite a few insights!
Therefore it will be a pleasure to help you discover them!

“Kaiun/開運” is the brand name of the sake produced by Doi Brewery/土井酒造 in Kakegawa City/掛川市 in central-western Shizuoka Prefecture.

“Garyuubai/臥龍梅” is the brand name of Sanwa Brewery/三和酒造 in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City/清水区静岡市 in central Shizuoka Prefecture.

“Aoitenka/葵天下” is the brand name of the sake produced by Yamanaka Brewery/山中酒造 in Kakegawa City/掛川市 in central western shizuoka Prefecture.

“Hana No Mai/花の舞” is the brand name of Hana No Mai Brewery/花の舞酒造 in Hamamatsu City/浜松市 in western Shizuoka Prefecture.

“Senju/千寿” is the brand name of Senju Brewery/千寿酒造” in Iwata City/磐田市 in western Shizuoka Prefecture.

“Kumpai/君盃” is the brand name of Kumpai Brewery/君盃酒造” in Shizuoka City/静岡市 in central Shizuoka Prefecture.

“Haginishiki/萩錦” is the brand name of Haginishiki Brewery/萩錦酒造 in Shizuoka City/静岡市 in Central Shizuoka Prefecture.

“Takasago/高砂” is the brand name of Fuji-Takasago Brewery/藤高砂酒造 in Fujinomiya City/富士宮市in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture.

Now, this keg belonged to a defunct brewery!
“Chuumasa/忠正” was the brand name of Yoshiya Brewery/吉屋酒造 in Shizuoka City/静岡市 in central Shizuoka Prefecture.
Their license was bought some two years ago by a new brewery called Suruga Brewery/駿河酒造 also in Shizuoka City. As for the Chuumasa brand name it is still used by Suruga Brewery.

As for this brewery, there are a lot questions marks left! (would you believe that one of my Japanese-side relatives is actually working there!)
“Kihei/喜平” is the brand name of Hikari Brewery/平喜酒造 in shizuoka City/静岡市 in central Shizuoka Prefecture.
Now, Hiraki Company which originally (and still is) a liqueurs and drinks distributor originating from Kakegawa City bought Hiraki Brewery in Okayama Prefecture in 1956 and then established their headquarters in Shizuoka City to sell the sake made in their brewery in Okayama Prefecture.
Two years ago, having acquired the license of defunct Dogatsuru Brewery in kakegawa City they started their second brewery called Shizuoka-Hiraki Brewery/静岡平喜酒造. When interviewed the Association of Sake Brewers in Shizuoka Prefecture assured me that they would only market sake made in Shizuoka City inside Shizuoka Prefecture. Unfortunately it was completely untrue! Moreover their representatives or master brewers never appear at events featuring their brand!

“Fukki/富貴” of the eponymous brerwey is from Shizuoka Prefecture but they produced pure sake alcohol to be blended with jumai sake in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City. They were an official member of the Association of Shizuoka sake Brewers until two years ago. They haven7t been mentioned there since then. I wonder why… actually I know!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hana No Mai Brewery-Homare Fuji Junmai Sekai Isan

September 23, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Although Mount Fuji is far from Hamamatsu City, as Hamamatsu City is inside Shizuoka Prefecture they also felt compelled to mark the event, Sekai Isan/World Heritage!

This sake is 100% Shizuoka-made with Shizuoka-grown Homare Fuji rice, local water and Shizuoka yeast!

The brewery advertised this particular brew as slighly dry and light in approach!

Rice: Homare Fuji (Shizuoka-grown)
Rice millled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled on August 1st, 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very light golden hue
Aroma: Discreet, hard to catch. Fruity. Rice
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry fruity well-rounded attack.
Complex.
Almonds, coffee beans, vanilla, apricots.
Very light in approach, almost feminine.
Disappears quickly.
Tends to take a step back with food with a drier character.

Overall: A typical Hana No Mai Brewery sake who tends to produce sake to attract a younger or feminine clientele.
As they do export a lot to the States and Canada in Particular, their sake, including this one, are conceived for a wide-ranging market.
very pleasant and easy to drink at all seasons, preferably slighly chilled.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Hoosu Muroka Junmai Ginjo Nama Genshu

September 23, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Sanwa Brewery, in spite of being the local sake brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture not using one of the Shizuoka yeasts nonetheless produces some remarkable nectars including this yearly limited production called Hoosu.

The same brewery also tends to put long names on their sakes!
“Garyubai” is the main brand and “Hoosu” is the name of this particular brew.
“Murooka” means “unfliltered, “Junami” means that no pure alcohol was added, “Ginjo” is the premium grade level, “nama” means “unpasteurized” and “Genshu” means that no water was added. All this to mean that this sake has not been “tempered with” whatsoever!

Rice: 100% Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.4
Bottles in August 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very light golden hue
Aroma: Fruity and sweetish. Pears (La France pears)
Body: Fluid
Taste: Assertive attack back up by strong junmai petillant warming uo back of the palate.
Strong alcohol but easy and pleasant to drink.
Very fruity.
Complex: Pears, oranges, apricots.
Lingers for a while before departing on a slightly drier note.
Very refreshing for an unpasteurized and practically unaltered sake.
Not changing noticeably with food, except for more dry pears.

Overall: In spite of its “rough” approach, a very enjoyable sake for all genders at all times, temperature, with or without food.
A pity it is only a limited brew!
The kind of sake to keep you deliciously warm in winter!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Torigai

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fuji-Takasago Brewery-Junmai Ginjo “Nama”

September 14, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

It’s been a long time since I enjoyed a “nama”/unpasteurized sake by Fuji-Takasago Brewery in Fujinomiya City!
If you don’t want to spend or drink too much it is always a good idea to buy smaller bottles containing only 180 ml, or even drink two them if you want variation in low quantities!

I can recommend Cenova Department Store in Shizuoka as they take the pains of adding extra information!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 14.5 degrees
Dryness: + 4
Bottled in May 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Light golden
Aroma: Assertive. Dry and fruity. Pineapple, citruses.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very dry attack wit strong junmai petillant.
Complex.
Lots of nuts.Oranges.
Lingers for a little while warming up the back of the palate.
Ends up on an even drier note with oranges, nuts, almonds, chestnuts.
tends to take a back step with food although junmai petillant is still very strong and dryness more accentuated with more nuts.

Overall: A sake for dry sake lovers!
Enjoyable with and away from food.
Strong in spite of normal alcohol content.
Tends to take a mellow turn once away fro food again.
Although I appreciated it on its ow, it is probably conceived to be drunk with heavy izakaya food.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
The Wine Wankers by Stuart in Australia!
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Iwata City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Senju Brewery-Oo Kara Kuchi-Kyoku +20 Honjozo

September 14, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

I already tasted this limited sake from Senju brewery in Iwata last year and am always looking frward to tasting it again every year as sake is never the same!
+ 20 means it is extremely dry, probably the record in Shizuoka Prefecture!

In any case they almost overstate it: Oo (very) Kara Juchi (dry) Kyoku (exceptional)!
This is an honjozo meaning that it needed a lot of work blending it with pure rice alcohol!

Rice milled down to 65%
Alcohol: 14~15 degrees
Bottled in August 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very light golden hue
Aroma: very light. Pears, custard. Dry and fruity
Body: very fluid
Taste: Very dry attack.
Complex, hard to “catch”.
Greens, nuts.
Marries exceptionally well with heavy izakaya food.
Disappears quickly on dry nutty note.
Always seems to incite you into the next cup!

Overall: A sake for izakaya food. Full stop.
Not the kind of sake you really want to extol on, but just drink!
Its extreme dryness makes for a great experience though.
Could be enjoyed at any temperatures but it should definitely be enjoyed lukewarm!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hamamatsu-Tenjingura Brewery-Shusseijyo Homare Fuji Muroka Nama Genshu

August 26, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

August usually sees some extraordinary limited brews taken out some secret nook of breweries for the utter pleasure of sake lovers in pursuit of unusual nectars.
Hamamatsu-Tenjingura Brewery in Hamamatsu has just put one out with another long name!

incidentally “nakakumi/中汲み” means that only the middle part of the pressed sake was considered whereas 24BY means Year 2013.
This a very local sake as the rice is Homare Fuji, a shizuoka-grown variety and the yeast also a Shizuoka-developed yeast.

Muroka means it was unfiltered, Nama that is was unpasteurized and Genshu that no pure water was added to lower the alcohol contents.

Rice: Shizuoka-grown Homare Fuji
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 18~19 degrees
Yeast: Shizuoka Yeast
Bottled in August 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Silvery golden
Aroma: Deep and fruity. Pears, apples, pineapple
Body: fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Very rich and fruity attack with puissant alcohol.
Extraordinarily assertive pears reminding La France variety grown in Japan!
Pears, pineapple, apples, oranges.
Lingers only for a while ending on a rich dry fruity note with the same fruits accompanied by dry almonds.
Complex as it almost wildly starts on a fruity sweetish note to rapidly escape on a very dry deep note revealing more fruits.

Overall: Little need to drink such a sake with food!
Makes for the perfect aperitif and even digestif.
Shows its qualities best when chilled.
Splendidly marries with cheese if you must absolutely enjoy it with food!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fuji Takasago Brewery-Sekai Bunka Isan Tooroku-Yamahai Junmai Ginjo

August 22, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Fuji-Takasago Brewery is located in Fujinomiya City and as I said since Mount Fuji has been accepted by the UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage, the brewery felt obliged to advertise the event!

I suspect they printed that particular “flying label” for all their bottles! LOL

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very light golden hue
Aroma: Faint, almost shy. Fruity and sweetish. rice
Body: Fluid
Taste: Well-rounded fruity and sweetish attack with assertive junmai petillant.
Complex. Pears, almonds, hints of chocolate. Later, hints of sweet milk coffee.
Lingers for a while warming up the palate.
Tends to sweeten up with second long sip.
Marries well with food.
Surprisingly sweetish and pleasant sake for a yamahai.

Overall: A sake obviously designed to be enjoyed with heavy izakaya food, although thoroughly enjoyable on its own chilled.
Probably best enjoyed by ladies thanks to its sweetish approach.
Try it with cheese!

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