Tag Archives: Sake Breweries

Japanese sake, Oomuraya Brewery, sake, Sake Breweries, Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery Hikake Kyurei Jukusei Honjozo Genshu (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

February 12, 2020 dragonlife Leave a comment

I have said it time and again, when it comes to tasting local sake I often do it In La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City in the company of Hiromi Hasegawa as it is cheaper and certainly more entertaining! That is at least for only a part of the vast array of nectars being brewed in this Prefecture! LOL

This time I tasted a sake made by Oomuraya Brewery in Shimada City which comes with some long names to describe their brews:
Hikake (pasteurization) Kyurei (immediately refrigerated after pasteurization) Jyukusei (slowly matured) Honjozo Genshu (no water blending)!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku
Rice milled down to 70%
Yeast: Shizuoka SY-103
Alcohol: 18 degrees
Dryness: +1
Acidity: 1.4
Amino acids: 1.2
Bottled in 2018

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Pears, apples faint raisins.
Tasting: dry and fruity attack. Warms up back of the palate. Pears, apples. lingers for a while on the palate before disappearing on drier note.
Tends to become a little drier with food with dry raisins and nuts popping up.

Comments: very fine sake in spite of its comparatively low status.
Very easy to drink, notwithstanding the high alcohol contents.
More elegant than expected. Best drunk at room temperature.
A discovery! The more for it as it limited to only 500 bottles!
If you have a chance to find it, just grab it and keep it as long as you wish until a special occasion!
Suggested pairings: vegetables salads and marinades. Tempura.

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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Bandai Brewery, sake, Sake Breweries, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shuzenji

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Bandai Brewery-Shuzenji Monogatari Tokubetsu Honjozo

February 22, 2018 dragonlife Leave a comment

Shuzenji in Izu City, Izu Peninsula, is witnessing a fast resurgence of its tourism, what with the increasing influx of overseas tourists and the Olympics looming large over the whole Peninsula.
Accordingly local products tend to reflect the local history and folklore more and more for the pleasure of visitors.
Bandai Brewery, the only sake sake brewery in the Peninsula has come out with a brand of its Tokubetsu Honjozo with the name of Shuzenji Monogatari/Shuzenji Story!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15 degrees

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Dry plums
Taste: Dry and fruity attack.
Dry plums,loquats.
Lingers for while warming up the palate before departing on note of drier plums.
Turns smoother with food.

Overa;;: solid, dependable and straightforward sake conceived to accompany food.
A lit unusual for Shizuoka for its old fashioned approach.
Will make for a nice souvenir back home though.
Recommended pairings: Japanese yam salad, onsen tamago:hot spring eggs, marinated oysters.

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hatsukame Brewery-Daiginjo Genshu “Ai”!

January 29, 2017 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day I had the rare pleasure to visit again Hatsukame Brewery in Okabe Cho, Fujieda City in the company of a professional farmer consultant from the USA!
Hatsukame Brewery has a special place in my heart for many reasons: it is the oldest single family-owned Sake brewery In Shizuoka Prefecture for more than 380 years!
Interestingly enough it used to be located in the very center of Sumpu City (the old name of Shizuoka City) before moving to its present location during the Meiji Era!
I must admit a special treatment has always been offered to me and my visiting friends and I dare not reveal what presents and services I have been granted there!

This Daiginjo Genshu (no water blended in) called “Ai” (“Love”) was brewed before Hatsukame Brewery switched from Noto Master brewer to a young talented one from the Nanbu School in Iwate Prefecture!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 45%
Dryness: +3~+4
Acidity: 1.0 (low by Shizuoka standards)
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Bottled in March 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Strawberries
Body: fluid, almost sirupy
Tasting: dry, smooth, deep and very fruity attack.
Complex: strawberries, dark cherries.
Lingers for a while before departing on more fruity notes of strawberries.
Very pleasant alcohol all the way through, warming back of the palate.
Turns drier with food with liquorice and mandarines making a late appearance.

Overall: elegant and extravagant sake very much in the tradition of Hatsukame Brewery!
Very smooth in spite of its high alcohol contents.
Continuously entices to the next cup.
At its best on its own slightly chilled, although marries very gracefully with almost any cuisine.
Gentlemen will fight for it, but ladies need not worry about the high alcohol contents!
Makes for the perfect digestif in special company!
Recommended pairings: terrines, dry cured ham, cheese, smoked duck.

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One-Cup Series 15: Fujimasa Brewery-Genkotsu

January 2, 2017 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day I had the surprise to discover a One Cup sake by Fujimasa Brewery which is located in Fujinomiya City, a long way from Shizuoka City!

Interesting and very macho name: Genkotsu, that is “The Fist”!

Advertised a “dry sake”!

Old-fashioned cap!
Incidentally this is a honjozo!

Rice: various from Shizuoka Prefecture
Rice milled down to 68%
Dryness: + 6
Acidity: 1.1
Yeast: No 6
Alcohol: 15.5 degrees
Bottled in December 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: dry, smoky, oak, plums
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and smoky attack.
Dry plums.
Pleasantly warms back of the palate.
Lingers for a while before departing on a softer note of dry oranges and more plums.
Tends to turn even drier and smokier with food.
Late appearance of chestnuts and bitter chocolate.

Overall: as expected a sake fit for men’s taste although I don’t doubt many members of the so-called weak gender will appreciate its uncompromising dryness and smoky oaken notes!
Great with a hot meal!
Suggested pairings: yakitori, oden, stews, cheese.

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-Nanburyu Satoru Hibino 55 Wakatake Junmai Ginjo Nama Genshu Homarefuji

November 20, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Satoru Hibino, master brewer at Oomuraya Brewery in Shimada City has come up with a limited edition labeled with his own name!

Satoru Hibino belomngs to the Nanbu School of brewers which originated in Sendai.

The whole long name for this particular nectar is:
Nanburyu (Nanbu School of sake brewers) Satoru Hibino 55 (millage) Wakatake (generic name of that particular sake)Junmai (no pure rice alcohol blended in) Ginjo Nama (unpasteurized) Genshu (no pure water blended in) Homarefuji (sake rice grown in Shizuoka Prefecture)!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.4
Amino acids: 1.2
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Bottled in September 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Plums
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and very fruity attack backed up by puissant junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol.
Complex: plums, melon, chestnuts, sweet potato.
Lingers for a while before departing on notes of mandarines.
Turns drier and deeper with food.

Overall: splendid sake to be enjoyed on its own or with a meal, at any temperatures although at its best slightly chilled.
Will reveal new facets with rise in temperature.
Can be enjoyed as an aperitif as well as a digestif!
Recommended pairings: foie gras, blue cheese, pickled vegetables.

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hana No Mai Brewery-“Kira” Junmai Ginjo “Kura Dashi”　Nama Genshu

October 6, 2016 dragonlife 2 Comments

I just had the opportunity to taste a very unusual, that is for that establishment, by Hana no Mai Brewery in Hamamatsu City, in my usual not so secret lair!

The name, ”煌”/”Kira”, could be roughly translated as “bright” and is increasingly used in names.
The sake was sold in Cenova Department Store, Shizuoka City, not in the bottle, but from a tank into a bottle to be closed in front of the customer!
It is a junmai (no pure rice alcohol blended in) ginjo nama (unpasteurized) genshu (no pure water blended in!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice blended to 60%
Alcohol: 18~19 degrees
From the tank on October 1st, 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: light, dry and fruity. Discreet. Dry plums, pears
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack backed up by puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: dry plums, pears, dry custard.
Lingers for a while warming up the palate before departing on notes of chestnuts, sweet oranges and dry sweet potato.
Varies little with food but for a drier note.
Turns a little sweeter with rise in temperature with sweet potatoes taking the lead.

Overall: a very unusual sake for Hana No Mai Brewery, which should actually appeal more to adults thantheir usual brews.
Best enjoyed slightly chilled on its own.
Would make a superlative aperitif!
Suggested pairings: grilled fish, yakitori.

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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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Shizuoka Sake tasting: Eikun Brewery-Eikun Gokugoku Junmai Homarefuji

May 28, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

On Sunday May 22nd, I had the occasion to taste again a nectar by a Shizuoka City brewery, Eikun
On Sunday May 22nd, I had the occasion to taste again a great nectar by Eikun Brewery from Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, at another famous izakaya in Shizuoka City, Kodarumatei, which took part in the annual Shizuoka De Hashigo Sake event!

Actually the bottle did not bear an official label although all needed information was printed on stickers!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Alcohol: 14 degrees
Dryness: 0
Acidity: 1.4
Bottled in May 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: very discreet and dry. Faint bananas and pineapple
Body: fluid
Taste: almost sweet and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: dry bananas, coffee beans, dark chocolate.
Lingers for quite a while on the palate before departing on notes of dry greens.
Turns dry with food with more notes of greens.
Overall: elegant and almost feminine sake.
Sweeter than Shizuoka standards and so easy to drink.
A sake for all seasons.
Suggested pairings: shrimps and seafood, smoked duck, crab salad.

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Takashima Brewery-Hakuin Masamune Junmai Homarefuji “Mount Fuji Day”

May 25, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

On Sunday May 22nd, I had the occasion to taste again a nectar by a favorite brewery of mine, Takashima Brewery in Numazu City, at a great izakaya in Shizuoka City, Kin no Okan, which took part in the annual Shizuoka De Hashigo Sake event!

This particular brand is created every year to be bottled on March 22nd which Mount Fuji Day!
It is a junmai made with a Shizuoka-grown sake rice called Homarefuji!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: + 3~+ 4
Acidity: 1.3~1.4
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Bottled on March 22nd=23rd, 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Tasted as “nurukan” according to Takashima Brewery’s wish
Aroma: light and discreet. Pineapple, banana.
Body: fluid
Taste: strong, dry and fruity attack backed with puissant junmai petillant
Complex: banana, melon, faint lemon.
Lingers for a while on the palate before departing on drier notes of pineapple.
Varies little food but for a drier note.
Very easy and enjoyable to drink as it invites to the next cup and the next one!

Overall: another splendid sake especially suited for “nurukan/about 40 degrees temperature”!
It would useful to know that Takashima Brewery produces only junmai-type sake these days!
A sake to enjoy with higher-class izakaya cuisine!
Suggested pairings: BBQ, kusaya, sausages, yakitori.

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sake, Sanwa Brewery, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

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

May 23, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day, while shopping at Cenova Department Store I felt attracted by a old regular nectar by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City.
Being a 300ml bottle it is very practical for keeping chilled in the fridge in these increasingly warm days!

Although Sanwa Brewery is mostly known now for its Garyubai Label, Hagoromo no Mai/The Light Veil Dance in commemoration of a famous legend occurring on Miho Beach in Shimizu Ku, is still produced after many years of existence.

It is completely different from the Garyubbai labels and I thought it was time to taste this year’s nectar!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in March 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: golden
Aroma: Assertive, dry and fruity. Pineapple, custard.
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and strong attack backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: coffee beans, almonds, faint oranges.
Lingers for a short while on the palate before departing on dry notes of smoked almonds and walnuts.
Takes an even drier turn with food with strong notes of smoked nuts.

Overall: strong, solid, old fashioned sake untypical of Shizuoka Prefecture.
Obviously conceived to accompany food, especially heavy izakaya fare.
For traditional dry sake lovers!
Suggested pairings: broiled meats, Nabe/Japanese pot-au-feu, BBQ, blue cheese.

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-Wakatake Premium Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Homarefuji (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

May 8, 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!

This time we tasted a very special and extravagant sake by Oomuraya Brewery in Shimada City!

Wakatake Premium Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Homarefuji!
This is still the only Junami Daiginjo made with Shziuoka Prefecture-grown Homarefuji sake rice in the whole Prefecture!

It was conceived by Master Brewer Wataru Hibino/日比野哲杜氏!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40%
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Single pasteurization
Dryness: + 3
Acidity: 1.3
Amino acids: 1.1
Yeast: Shizuoka HD-1
Bottled in April 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive and fruity. Lychees, faint pears, melon and banana.
Body: fluid. Slightly sirupy
Taste: Strong, dry and fruity attack backed with beautiful junmai petillant.
Complex: oranges, lychees.
Lingers for a while on the palate before departing on drier notes of oranges and apricots.
Lychees make a constant comeback with every sip.
Very pleasant alcohol but not overwhelming in spite of its high contents. Will actually milder with rise of temperature.

Overall: Extravagant, elegant and really masculine despite its complexity.
Will of course please ladies thanks to its superlative balance in strength and elegance.
A sake which ought to be tasted and enjoyed on its own but if you must absolutely pair it I would recommend blue cheese, chocolate, foie gras or broiled conger eel.
Definitely a high class digestif!
At its best slightly chilled, but beware of its alcohol contents! LOL

LA SOMMELIERE

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

April 28, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

On Friday, April 22nd, A special sake tasting party was held at La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, with Master Brewer Wataru Hibino/日比野哲杜氏 who brought four different sake all made with Shizuoka-grown homarefuji sake rice!

The four sake!
All Junmai (that is no pure rice alcohol blended in!)!

Our fourth tasting was a Junmai Ginjai would eventually be called Wakatake Junmai Ginjo!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: + 2
Acidity: 1.4
Amino acids: 1.2
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Bottled in March 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Banana
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: banana, vanilla, almonds, lychees.
Lingers for a while before departing on notes of sweetish lychees.
Varies little with food but for some oranges.

Overall: Another elegant and intriguing sake!
Would do do well with any vegetable-based food although eminently enjoyable on its own!
Suggested pairings: Shrimps salad, bamboo shoots dishes.

LA SOMMELIERE

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April 27, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The four sake!
All Junmai (that is no pure rice alcohol blended in!)!

Our third tasting was Junmai Daiginjo which will be called “Take no Kaze/Wind in the Bamboos” when it is bottled!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 50%
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.2
Amino acids: 1.0
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Bottled in April 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and discreet. Pears.
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and dry fruity attack backed up a little junmai petillant.
Lingers for a little while before departing on drier notes of lychees, and coffee beans.
Turns a little sweetish with food at first but quickly switches back to dryness.

Overall: Intriguing sake.
But a dangerous ones as it slyly entices you to try the next cup and the next cup!
Just superb!
Suggested pairings: light vegetable stews.

LA SOMMELIERE

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-“Oniotome Koi” Tokubetsu Junmai Nama Homarefuji (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

April 23, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The four sake!
All Junmai (that is no pure rice alcohol blended in!)!

Our second tasting was the summer edition of the now famous “Oniotome/The Goblin’s Fiancee” seasonal series called “koi/Falling in Love”!
It is a Tokubetsu Junmai (no pure rice alcohol blended in) Nama (unpasteurized)

Rice : Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: + 1
Acidity: 1.4
Amino acids: 1.3
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Bottled in March 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Banana, vanilla, lychees
Body: fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed up with pleasant junmai petillant.
Complex: lychees, oranges.
Very soft on the palate.
Lingers for a while before departing on drier notes of oranges.
Tends to get drier with food.

Overall: Another sake for all seasons in spite of the fact it is a summer edition!
Definitely becoming a classic!
Best enjoyed on its own, although it will marry easily with food!
Suggested pairings: Sashimi, vegetable salads.

LA SOMMELIERE

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April 23, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The four sake!
All Junmai (that is no pure rice alcohol blended in!)!

We started with the sake made with Homarefuji rice milled down to 40%!

It is not actually on sale yet but will soon hit the market under the name of Wakatake Premium Junmai Daiginjo!
It is moreover a genshu (no pure water blended in)
Incidentally this is the only Junmai Daiginjo made with Homarefuji Rice in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40%
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.2
Amino acids: 1.0
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Single pasteurization
Bottled in March~April 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: slightly sweet and fruity. Banana, melon, pears, lychees.
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: melon, banana, honey.
Lingers for a short while before departing on notes of melon and soft lychees.
Varies little with food but for a drier note.

Overall: very elegant and intriguing sake!
The kind of sake you shouldn’t bother eating food with.
For special occasions only!
Suggested pairings: salads, asparaguses.

LA SOMMELIERE

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