Category Archives: Shizuoka Prefecture

Fukuroi City, Kokko Brewery, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Kokko Brewery-Junmai Ginjo (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

August 22, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

I don’t mind repeating it all the time but I prefer conducting sake tastings in the right environment but not many places are propitious for that exercise or willing to help.
But La Sommeliere in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City is certainly becoming a habit as not only I can conduct my tasting in the best conditions possible but also exchange views at the same time!

For a change this time we tasted a Junmai Ginjyo concocted by Kokko Brewery in Fukuroi City!
Incidentally Kokko Brewery was the first a long time ago to use the new Shizuoka yeast!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 50%
Yeast: Shizuoka Ginjyo HD-1
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: +7
Acidity: 1.2
Amino acids: 1.2
Bottled in July 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma dry and fruity. Pears, flowers,herbs
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed gentle junmai petillant.
Complex. Banana, persimmon, walnuts, chestnuts, almonds.
Lingers for a short while before departing on notes of oranges and bitter chocolate and faint coffee beans.
Will finally end up on an even drier note at the back of the palate.

Overall: Superb sake, but not as dry as this brewery uses to.
Probably best enjoyed on its own.
Starts it slightly chilled to discover new facets as temperature rises.
Suggested pairings: salads, grilled whitie fleshed fish, cheese, chocolate.

LA SOMMELIERE

420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 7-5, Aiseido Bldg, 1F
Tel. & Fax: 054-266-5085
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00, 12:00~18:00 on Sundays & National Holidays
FACEBOOK (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

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-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

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Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, sushi, Sushi restaurants.

Sushi Lunch at Uogashi Nagarezushi in Fujieda City!

August 21, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: busy but friendly
Equipment and facilities: Overall very clean. Excellent washroom. Non smoking
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: great choice and fast service

If you are in a bit of a hurry but still are hungry Fujieda Station is a practical place to enjoy some reasonably-priced but still tasty sushi.
Uogashi Nagarezushi is located on the second floor of OLE Building just beside Fujieda Station south exit!

It is a fairly big place but seats are sufficiently separated for necessary privacy.
This is a “nagaraezushi”, that is a system where orders are coming to your table via a computer service. Very quick and efficient and the staff will come regularly to collect away your empty plates.

Plenty of top-class local sake!

What did we have, then?

Whale/kujira/鯨 nigiri!

A set consisting of horse mackerel/aji/鯵 prepared in four different manners!

A set of three white-flesh fish/shiromi/白身 in aburi/seared/炙り style!

A mixed set of twelve diffrenet sushi nigiri!
Gizzard/kohada/小肌, grated tuna/negitoro/ネギトロ, boiled sardine whiting/shirasu/白子, crab salad/kani sarada/蟹サラダ, boiled prawn/yudeebi/茹で海老, Japanese omelet/tamagoyaki/卵焼き, Horse mackerel/aji/鯵, bonito/katsuo/鰹, mackerel/saba/鯖, cuttlefish (squid9/ika/烏賊, seabream/tai/鯛, and tuna red lean part/maguro akami/鮪赤身!

Large horse mackere/aji/鯵 in aburi/seared/炙り style!

And to finish, another set of nigiri in aburi/seared/炙りstyle: horse mackerel/aji/鯵, tuna/maguro/鮪　and cuttlefish tentacles/ika geso/烏賊ゲソ!

All with as much tea and pickled ginger as you want!

Uogashi Nagarezushi/魚がし流れ鮨

Fujieda City, Maejima, 1-3-1, OLE Building (Fujieda JR Station South Exit)
Tel.: 054-634-2880
Opening hours: 10:00~21:00
Credit cards OK
Take-outs OK

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Geppaku Fuusei Ale (2016 version)

August 14, 2016 dragonlife 3 Comments

Aoi Brewing Owner Naoki Mando in center and Master Brewer Kooichi Taka on the right!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to taste the brand new limited craft beer, Geppaku Fuusei Ale, 2016 version, by Aoi Brewing In Shizuoka City!
It is a French Saison ale type craft beer!

Served on tap
Barley and wheat, Pilsner Malt (Germany), Wheat malt (Germany), Opal hop (Germany) Perle hop (Germany), coriander, nutmeg, orange peels, lemon peels, clove, French saison yeast
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Alcohol/ABV: 5.5 degrees
IBU: 20
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: Longish head, very fine bubbles, white color
Color: smoky lemon/orange color
Aroma: dry and fruity. Citruses
Taste: very dry, spicy and fruity attack backed up with some pleasant acidity.
Complex. citruses, lemon, coriander,cloves.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on notes of dry lemon and dry spices, especially cloves.
Dry nuts will appear on the late.
Varies little with food.

Overall: great summer ale craft beer!
Very complex, fruity and spicy with a marked dryness.
Its sharpness makes it a very welcome beer in hot summer!
Will please both genders at any time of the day!
Suggested pairings: nuts, cold meats, pickles.

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 18:00~25:00
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome
FACEBOOK

BEER GARAGE

Aoi Brewing Co.,Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyagasaki Chyo, 30
Tel.: 054-294-8911
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00 (Monday~Friday), 15:00~23:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesdays
COD, Cash On Delivery only for all orders.
MAP
FACEBOOK

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi Brewing beers are also available at the mother company’s other restaurant,

GROWSTOCK

420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi Naka Building, 5F
Tel.: 054-293-9331
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00 (Mon.~Thurs.), 17:00~27:00 (Fri & Sat.), 17:00~24:00 (Sun.)
Parties welcome (reserve!)
Credit Cards OK
FACEBOOK

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Lingering Summer Ale

August 13, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Aoi Brewing has come up with another craft beer: Lingering Summer Ale!
But I can assure you it will not linger long at AOI BEER STAND!
Incidentally this tasting was conducted with the help of two good friends of mine, namely Atsuko Kurata and Chiaki Hirano!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt (England), Munich Malt (Germany), Flaked barley malt (USA), Chinook hop (USA), Perle hop (Germany), Sugars, Lingerwood yeast (ale yeast-USA)
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Alcohol/ABV: 4.5 degrees
IBU: 29
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: Longish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, whitish orange color
Color: deep orange
Aroma: dry and fruity. Citruses, hop
Taste: dry and fruity attack but soft and light on the palate.
Citruses, bread, dry honey, unripe persimmon.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with dry oranges.

Overall: very easy to drink craft beer in spite of its high dryness,acidity.
A real summer craft beer!
Suggested pairings: sausages, cold meats.

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 18:00~25:00
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome
FACEBOOK

BEER GARAGE

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi Brewing beers are also available at the mother company’s other restaurant,

GROWSTOCK

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Takashima Brewery-Hakuin Masamune Homarefuji Junmai Shu, “Natsu”

August 3, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Summer in Shizuoka Prefecture witnesses the creation of limited or regular editions dedicated to our hot summers and Takashima Brewery in Numazu City is no exception!

Even if you cannot read Japanese you will easily guess it is a sake to be enjoyed in summer!
Incidentally the rice used is Homarefuji, exclusively grown in Shizuoka Prefecture, and takashima Brewery produces only junmai-style sake (no pure rice alcohol blended)!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bottled in June 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Pears, vanilla, melon
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry, assertive and fruity attack backed up with a reasonably strong junmai petillant.
Complex: lychees, pears, custard.
Lingers only for a short while before departing on more dry notes of custard.
Changes little with food but for a softer note of oranges and more dry custard.

Overall: A strong, fruity, complex and extremely pleasant and satisfying summer sake!
Very elegant in spite of its marked dryness.
A treacherous nectar that will disappear before the end of the meal!
Suggested pairings: salads, marinated vegetables, oden, grilled fish.

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Chinese Cuisine, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Restaurant, Shizuoka Prefecture, Wine Bar

Gastronomic Wine Bar: “BEBER” in Hamamatsu City!

July 25, 2016 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Smiling, friendly and very attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Overall spotless clean. Small but beautiful washroom
Prices: Reasonable~a little expensive
Strong points International wine list. Japanese whiskeys including one from Shizuoka Prefecture. High standard Chinese cuisine. Bistro gastronomy

With the ever increasing number of visitors, the City of Hamamatsu City is quickly changing and you do need local friends’ help to keep abreast of the new developments!
One such establishment is BEBER which opened only a few weeks ago!
Incidentally “beber” in Portuguese means “drink”!

A good friend, himself restaurateur, took us there last Thursday just before it got crowded by all kinds of customers, some of them really influential citizens in Hamamatsu City.
It does not prevent the Master of the Place, Mr. Toshio Iguchi/井口敏郎さん, to be equally attentive and welcoming to all his customers, whatever the status!

As it is first of all a wine bar, it does have a fine international list!
We started the celebrations with a “vino tinto” from Argentine, TERRAZAS de los Andes, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005!
Lots of red fruit! A discovery!
Have a good look at the drink menu as it also includes some fine whiskeys, even featuring “Fuji Sanroku” distilled in Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture!

Chinese-style fresh salad!

Although they have all kinds of bistro favorites from terrine to foie gras, their chef is a talented Chinese Cuisine specialist whose creations are simply perfect with wines!

Juicy Xiaolongbao/小龍包!

A exquisite steamed dim sung with lettuce!

Cold spicy ramen!

The wine was quickly disappearing and we ordered this reliable Bourgogne Chardonnay (20139 by Jean Bouchard, not far from my very own birthplace!

Now, this deep-fried chicken in sweet and sour sauce was definitely way above average!

Talk about global gastronomy: Chinese-style fish and chips with cheese!
The British cannot come up with such a fine rendition!

A first but very short visit which will definitely warrant many more!

BEBER

430-0944 Hamamatsu City, Naka Ku, Ta Machi, 331-13
Tel: 053-452-5711
Opening hours: 18:00~last customer
Closed on Sunday
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Kuraya-Narusawa/Hansharo Beer-“Yoritomo” Porter

July 16, 2016 dragonlife 1 Comment

If you are lucky enough to find out, AOI BEER STAND in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Sizuoka City sometimes runs out of its own beer and takes the opportunity to introduce a craft beer from another brewery, preferably that of a Shizuoka Prefecture-based establishment!
That is when the other day I discovered this craft beer by Hansharo Beer Co. in Nirayama, Izu City, Izu Peninsula!

Served on tap
Barley, malts, hops, live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5%
Bubbles: Long head, very fine bubbles, creamy, light brown color
Color: dark brown
Aroma: dry, strong and complex. Coffee beans, dark caramel, dark toast
Tasting: dry, deep and very pleasant attack.
Not as strong as expected.
Complex. Coffee beans, dark caramel, toast.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on a slightly drier note.
Coffee beans will linger long on the palate.
Varies little with food.

Overall: very pleasant and easy to drink craft beer.
Excellent balance.
A light porter for all seasons!
Suggested pairings: nuts, cold meats, pizza.

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 18:00~25:00
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome
FACEBOOK

BEER GARAGE

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi Brewing beers are also available at the mother company’s other restaurant,

GROWSTOCK

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Takashima Brewery-Hakuin Masamune Tokubetsu Junmai (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

July 9, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

This time we tasted a nectar concocted by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City!
Hakuin Masamune Tokubetsu junmai!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in June 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Custard, banana, dry passion fruit, gardenia jasmin, almonds, immature persimmon
Body: fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: dry and very fruity attack with only a little junmai petillant.
Complex: dark chocolate, coffee beans, almonds.
Lingers for a while before departing on drier notes of almonds an apricots.
Oranges perk up with rise in temperature.

Overall: dry but so elegant!
Drinks more like a complex white wine than a sake!
Tends to show new facets according to its temperature.
Almost tropical aroma.
Can be enjoyed with any food. Chilled, would make a supreme aperitif while becoming a soft digestif at room temperature.

Suggested pairings: Chilled-Aquapaza, flatfish or cuttle fish sashimi (seasoned with salt, not soy sauce!), sakamushi, chawanmushi, scallops.
At room temperature-yakitori (seasoned with salt, not soy sauce!)

LA SOMMELIERE

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Japanese Gastronomy, Pork and Egg Roll, Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tonbo

Osaka-style Pork Egg Roll at Tonbo in Shimada City!

July 8, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: shy but very kind and smiling
Equipment & facilities: Old but very clean. Clean washroom
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: takoyaki and okonomiyaki and other traditional izakaya foods. Local sake

Having some time on hand before an assignment in Shimada City I decided to make a quick visit to Tonbo, a popular Osaka-style restaurant near the JR Station and sample something new!
“ふわふわ卵ロル”/”fuwafuwa tamago roru/””fluffy egg roll! Interesting!
It came in two varieties, one with “ぶた”/”buta”/”pork” and “ぶたチーズ”/”buta chiizu”/”pork and cheese”!
I opted for the pork one this time!

The chef first of all fried some pork rashers on a very hot plate and seasoned it with his special sauces (one secret chefs will never tell you!)!

Once the pork has been cooked he pushed aside onto a cooler part of the plate.

He then spread beaten eggs (3, I think) and started working quickly as obviously the eggs should not be overcooked. For all its simplicity it does need a quick and experimented hand!

Then the eggs are carefully lined with the pork near the inside edge.

Then the inside edge of the eggs is carefully rolled over the park with the help of metal spatulas.

The chef keeps rolling the lot carefully as quickly as possible.

Done!

The top of the roll has been pasted with at least three sauces and sprinkled with fine herbs.

You are provided with a metal spatula to cut it yourself along to your liking!

At 670 yen, very good value when you consider the volume sufficient for two and the simple and great taste!
To be savored with beer or local sake!

TONBO

427-0029 Shimada City, Hinode-Cho, 1-1 ( few minutes’ walk straight from Shimada JR Station North exit)
Tel.: 0547-35-7635
Opening hours: 17:00~22:00
Closed on Sundays and national Holidays.
Orders on the phone and take-out OK!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Junmai Ginjo “Ryoofu Kashu”

July 6, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

It is the time of the year when Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City puts out its summer limited sake!

Its name?
“Ryoofu Kashu/涼風夏酒”, that is “”cool wind, summer sake”!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku (Toyama Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 6
Acidity: 1.3
Bottled in June 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Dry bananas, dry melons, apricot
Body: fluid
Taste: strong, dry and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: dry melons.
Lingers for a short while on palate before departing with dry notes of apricot, banana and flowers.
Tends to show more facets with further sips such as faint coffee beans.
Varies little with food.
Peaches and plums will appear with rise of temperature.

Overall:: very dry and elegant sake. Drier and more masculine than usual although ladies will also appreciate it.
Can be enjoyed at any temperature on its own or with any food.
Suggested pairings: salads, asparaguses, oden.

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Italian Gastronomy: Dinner at Soloio in Shizuoka City (June 2016)!

June 29, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The Team!
Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん/Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子さん

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable considering the quality
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

Time goes fast and I hadn’t realized I hadn’t visited my favorite Italian Restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely Soloio, for almost a year!
It certainly was time to make amends and enjoy some classics and new dishes concocted by Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん!

The setting has somewhat changed for even better!

You certainly won’t mind a stiff neck reading out some of the specials of the day overhead!

So, what did we have?

Plenty of wine of course, but we started with a glass of this brilliant sparkling wine: Chardonnay “Le Vacanze” by Cantina d’Autore in the Veneto Region!

Skillet-grilled aubergines/eggplants and duck raw ham salad!

Wild boar (caught in Mikkabi, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture) terrine!
I would come any day just for that!

Shizuoka prefecture madai/seabream carpaccio!
The vegetables include uri/gourd!

Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん creates the best risotto in the whole Prefecture and the above one was no exception with Umbria summer truffles!

Little jewels!

A superb dish not on the menu!
Shizuoka Prefecture tachiuo/scabbard fish (also called cutlass fish) cooked on a skillet with avocado!
A true discovery!

As we still wanted a light dish before the pasta (we have no respect for traditional order! LOL) we consulted the menu of the day again!

Chicken thigh Rotoro/Rolled chicken thigh and stuffed with figs, marinated mushrooms and canederulli in carupione fashion/white-fleshed fish balls!

The pasta!
Spaghetti Bolonese with beef stew sauce!

By that time we were full but just for the fun we had a tiny dessert consisting of very sweet Shizuoka corn grilled on a skillet!

SOLOIO

Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん/Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子さん

420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours:
Lunch: 11:30~13:30 (l.O.) (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Dinner: 17:00~22:00 (l.o.), 17:00~23::00 (Friday, Saturday)
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Entirely non-smoking!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Yamanaka Brewery- Enshuu Yokosuka Aoitenka Junmai Ginjo Gaiden Yamada Nishiki

June 26, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

It had been a long time since I could taste a nectar brewed by Yamanaka Brewery in Kakegawa City as they are not easy to obtain here in Shizuoka City!

Even when considering this brew is concocted every year!
“Enshuu Yokosuka Aoitenka Junmai Ginjo Gaiden Yamada Nishiki”!
“Enshuu” is the old name for the Western area of Shizuoka Prefecture and “Yokosuka” one of its old districts. “Gaiden” means “Anecdote”!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: + 4.8
Acidity: 1.4
Yeast: Kyokai 1501
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in May 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. banana, pineapple
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and very fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant
Complex: pineapple, faint pears and apricots.
Lingers for a while on the palate before departing on drier notes of custard and nuts.
Takes an even drier turn with food with notes of nuts and custard.

Overall: Another discovery as made every year!
Dry and extremely fruity.
Elegant and easy to drink.
Will please both genders of any age!
Eminently enjoyable on its own or with any food at any temperature.
A sake for all seasons!
Suggested pairings: stews, oden, cheese.

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Morimoto Brewery-Sayogoromo Amakuchi Tokubetsu Junmai

June 6, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Hitosi Morimoto, owner nad master brewer at Morimoto Brewery in Kikugawa City has always been considered a maverick by his peers.
This time he decided to produce a sake called Sayogoromo Amakuchi. “Amakuchi” stands for “sweet” and knowing that sake in Shizuoka Prefecture are generally very dry it was a bit of a provocation although it was not that sweet by the standards of other Prefectures in Japan!

Naturally, it is a very limited brew!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: – 4
Acidity: 1.6
Bottled in April 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: drier than expected. Discreet and fruity. Raisins
Body: fluid
Taste: Gentle and fruity attack backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Drier than expected.
Complex: raisins, muscat, custard, honey, castella.
Lingers for a while before departing on drier notes of castella.
Will turn sweeter with food before turning back suddenly to a drier note later.

Overall: drier than expected but very deep and fruity.
Drinks like a sweet white sherry.
Probably best enjoyed in place of a dessert wine!
Suggested pairings: cheese, chocolate.

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Bandai Brewery, Izu City, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shuzenji

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Bandai Brewery-Izu Banyou Junmai Ginjo Homarefuji

June 3, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Bandai is a very old brewery located in ancient hot spring city of Shuzenji now merged to Izu City in the centre of Izu Peninsula.
As Bandai Brewery it is not the oldest brewery in the Prefecture but it has existed under other names for more than 500 years!

In spite of being the sole brewery left in Izu Peninsula somewhat isolated in Shizuoka Prefecture, making it difficult to find their bottles, it keeps abreast of modern ideas and has used Shizuoka-grown Homarefuji sake rice for some time.

The name of this particular brand, “Banyou/満燿” is linked to the origin of the brewery back in 1497 as mentioned by Houjyou Souun/北条早雲, himself a native of Izu Peninsula!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Bottled in January 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: discreet, dry and fruity. Melon.
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up by puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: apricot, melons, muscat.
Lingers for a while on the palate before departing on a drier note of muscat and nuts.
Sweetness will increase with temperature along the discovery o more “facets”.
Varies little with food.

Overall: A bit of a discovery although I have known the brewery for quite some time.
Ought to be better known in spite of the distance to travel to Shuzenji.
Very complex and fruity.
Can be enjoyed on its own or with food at any temperature.
Pairings: oden! (Japanese pot-au-feu)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Haginishiki Brewery-Haginishiki Minami Alps Tokubetsu Honjozo Nama Genshu

May 26, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

On Sunday May 22nd, I had the occasion to taste for the first time in a long time a nectar by a Shizuoka City brewery, Haginishiki Brewery, at a famous in Shizuoka City, You-to, which took part in the annual Shizuoka De Hashigo Sake event!

It was a rare and very limited sake as You-to as You-to master, Toushirou Yamaguchi, confirmed he barely obtained the last 3 bottles just in time for the event!
It is an “arabashiri” style, meaning the first press unfiltered.

Rice: Biyama Nishiki and Yamada Nishiki
Rice milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Dryness: + 5
Acidity: 1.4
Bottled in February 2016

Clarity: cloudy (white lees unfiltered) but very clean
Color: almost transparent and whitish when stirred
Aroma: discreet and light. Faint bananas and melons
Body: fluid
Taste: Strong and almost sweetish attack.
Complex: white lees, bananas, melon.
Lingers for a while before departing on a strong white lees note.
Varies little with food.

Overall: both a traditional and extravagant sake in spite of its modest arabashiri status.
Very unusual by Shizuoka Prefecture standards.
For light white lees sake lovers.
Perfect for izakaya cuisine of any genre!
Suggested pairings: Japanese-style banya cauda,

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