Tag Archives: Shizuoka City

Kikkawa Hachiman (吉川八幡神社) Shrine in Kitsunegasaki Chyo in Shimizu Ku, Shziuoka City!

October 9, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

If you board the Shizutetsu railway Line from Cenova department Store in Aoi Ku, shizuoka City towards Shimizu Ku, get off at Kitsunegazaki (狐ヶ崎) Station and walk above and across the Railway Line on your left and you will discover another isolated old shrine!

A placard stating that the old torii gate stood in a different spot!

You do have to walk around to find the round entrance!

The old side entrance from which the original torii gate has disappeared!

The general view of the shrine!

An ancient stone lantern hidden in the surrounding vegetation!

The stone hand washing basin with its roof!

The stone lanterns and lion guards denote its local importance!

The usual cloud and deer carvings!

Ans also the mountain carving!

The “smiling” guard lion on the left!

Its right front paw resting on a smaller lion!
One day I will have to find the reason for this!

The “roaring” guard lion on the right!

Its left front paw resting on a ball!

Old stone stairs climbing around the right of the front shrine!

Looking backward from the same stairs!

The front shrine building shaped as a gate bears the name of Hyahata Shrine/八幡神社!

Looking backward from under the first building!

This front building was erected in 1958!

Year of the Horse placard!

Interesting ancient map!

A small museum?

Local history!

The older shrine at the back with the bell cord and rice straw garland!

It certainly looks in service!

A small peak inside!

Roofing in good repair!

More history!

Good-bye Kikkawa Hachiman Shrine!

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sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Junmai Koshu (conducted at La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

October 8, 2014 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 is already my fifth shizuoka sake tasting article conducted there in the company of Mrs. Hiromi Hasegawa/長谷川浩美さん!

This time I tackled an extravagant 21-year old koshu/古酒/matured sake under the name of Garyubai by Sanawa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Berwed in 1993
Bottled in October 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden hue
Aroma: Assertive. Deep, dry and fruity.
dry persimmons, dry fruits and nuts, sherry
Body: fluid
Taste: dry, fruity and well-rounded attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol.
Complex. Tastes like an old white sherry.
Persimmons, dry nuts, dark chocolate.
Stays faithful to itself all the time, revealing more facets with the next sips.
very mature. Lingers on the palate like a great wine. Tends to take on drier turn with further sips with late appearance of chestnuts.

Overall: Would make for a wonderful aperitif as probably best enjoyed on its own. Drinks like an old white sherry.
If you wish to pair it with food, cheese, pork meats, smoked fish and chocolate desserts would most appropriate.
An extraordinary sake for tasting and pairing at gastronomic parties/events!

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
Closed on Sundays & National Holidays
Entirely non-smoking!

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Monjyu Yashiro (文殊社神社) & Atago (愛宕神社) Shrines in Sakurabashi Chyo in Shimizu Ku, Shziuoka City!

October 5, 2014 dragonlife 3 Comments

If you board the Shizutetsu railway Line from Cenova department Store in Aoi Ku, shizuoka City towards Shimizu Ku, get off at Sakurabashi (桜橋駅) Station and walk above and across the Railway Line on your left and you will discover an isolated old shrine!

Actually, like many other shrines in Japan, you will find not one, but two shrines!

This fairly new post indicates that it is a 村社/sonjya or village shinto shrine!

This is a very old shrine, indeed, dating back to Japan Feudal Era!

A real stone hand-washing basin!

The main shrine!

Venerable trees is a sure sign of the old age of the shrine!

Now I wonder what that very heavy metal lid is for? Probably the cover of a big fireplace for festivals?

Elegant stone lantern!

With the cloud and deer carvings as found in many other shrines!

And a mountain carving!

The other lantern seemed a lot older!

The lantern is just too old to figure out what that carving represents!

Now, that stone lantern is really new!

A “smiling” lion guard on the left!

Its “roaring” companion on the right!

The main shrine with its rice straw garland, its bell and its wooden money offerings box!

Monjyu Yashiro/文殊社 shrine!

The smaller and older shrine behind it!

Pity that such shrines at the back are unusually inaccessible!

From the other side!

The names of old benefactors!

This old shrine is not dedicated t the same deities!

This shrine dates back from the Tokugawa Ieyasu Lord Era!

Atago/愛宕 shrine!

Now, this is a truly old tree!

No wonder it is considered as a natural cultural asset by the City of Shizuoka!

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Craft Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-English Pale Ale

September 27, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Aoi Brewing has just come up with a new craft beer of a totally different concept with different hops and malts and a higher alcohol content, proving an ever-constant effort to improve their creations!

English Pale Ale!
Actually this beer was born out an experiment for a new brown ale! A longer fermentation came up with a happy result!

Served on tap
Barley, Australian Galaxy hop and Kent Golding (English) hop, crystal malt and maris otter malts, live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol: 6.4 %
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: dark orange
Bubbles: very fine and creamy. long head, light brown hue
Aroma: light, deep and dry. Citruses
Taste: Deep and refreshing attack.
Fruity and dry. Complex. Welcome acidity. Pleasant alcohol.
Oranges, apricot, grapefruit.
Changes little with food.

Overall: a very fine beer! Solid, reliable, complex. Easy to drink despite its higher alcohol content.
Its fruitiness allied to its acidity will please both ladies and gentlemen!
Perfect for a still hot Autumn afternoon or evening!

AOI BREWING

Temporary address:
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

Aoi Beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s two more restaurants in Shizuoka City, namely

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

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Litbitter Stout

September 20, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

The very newest craft beer by Aoi Brewing is now a available at AOI BEER STAND in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City: Litbitter Stout!

I had a little talk about the naming, “Litbitter”!
Actually it means “a little bit bitter” or “little bitter”!
Naming is sometimes a bit mysterious in Japanese!

Served on tap
Barley, barley hops, roasted malt, live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol: 5.5 %
Clarity: opaque, slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: very dark brown
Bubbles: very fine and creamy. longish head, milk coffe color
Aroma: light, bread, toast
Taste: smooth, deep, refreshing attack. Gets deeper as it is swallowed down.
Dry coffee with hints of caramel. Dry figs.
Lingers on for quite a while before departing on a dry and acid note.
Reveals evolving facets.
Varies little with food.

Overall: Both refreshing and solid.
Very well-balanced with great acid finishing touch.
Superbly marries with food.
Drinks up slowly. Take your time to enjoy it!
Tends to reveal new facets as you drink it along.
Aoi Brewing is really coming of age!

AOI BREWING

Temporary address:
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

Aoi Beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s two more restaurants in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Cafes, Fish and Chips, Shizuoka City

Fish and Chips at BLUE BOOKS cafe in Shizuoka City!

September 18, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly, smiling and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Superb washroom in same building separated from the cafe.
Prices: Reasonable for such big servings!
Strong points: Very generous cafe/bistro multi-genred gastronomy. Great variety. Great products. Entirely non-smoking in very modern atmosphere. Great books!

Due to many other “distractions” i hadn’t much time recently to spend at Blue Books cafe in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, in spite this the perfect place to enjoy a quiet and long time with coffee, wine or a full meal at any time of the day!

I found myself in a need for a quick fix at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and I just couldn’t resist the fish and chips on the menu!

With a glass of red wine, it does make for a full meal!

Not only the fish scrumptious but the chips are are real potato wedges!

Not only English vinegar is provided but you are also served with plenty of original tartar sauce!
And all this at a very reasonable price!

BLUE BOOKS cafe

420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki-Cho, 4-6, Den Bldg 1F (5~10 minutes walk straight ahead from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit, around the corner at the large crossroads)
Tel.: 054-280-7644
Opening hours: 11:00~14:30 (lunch), 14:30^17:30 (cafe), 17:30~23:00 (dinner)
Entirely non-smoking!
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOK
Twitter: @BlueBooksCafe

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Shizuoka City, sushi, Sushi restaurants.

Sushi: Dinner at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City (2014 September)!

September 18, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Facilities: Very clean. Excellent toilets
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great variety of seafood from Shizuoka Prefecture and the rest of Japan. Great list of sake and shochu

After a holiday in France gorging ourselves with sublime but heavy food, it was a pleasure and a relief to visit our favorite sushi restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely Sushi Ko, although we ended eating more than planned! LOL

Today’s o-toshi was whelk shellfish in wasabi dressing!

The sake of the month was a Junmai ginjo by Kokko Brewery in Fukuroi City!

Sublime!

Plenty of local sashimi to choose from!

Kuchimidai/口美鯛 (also called Menada/目奈陀・目魚): haarder, redlip mullet

Tastes like seabream with the bit of sole flesh!

The sushi millefeuille of the day!

Ika soumen/cuttlefish/squid served sliced as thin as noodles!

Akaika/赤烏賊: red squid from Suruga bay!

And its tentacles served in karaage/deep-fried style!

Sanma/秋刀魚、青串魚: mackerel pike is in season!
Best served grilled!

Maguro zuke/marinated nigiri!

Sakura/Horsemeat nigiri!

Botan ebi/large sweet prawn with their eggs! Very difficult to obtain as such!

The heads of the same served deep-fried!

Ikura ko- donburi!

Negitoro maki!

Anakyu maki/cucumber and broiled conger eel!

Shiro ebi/white shrimp gunkan!

An international dish: Scallops and shrimps gratin!

Mushiyaki!

And miso shiru to finish!

SUSHI KO
420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 2-3-1 (Aoba Park Street)
Tel.: 054-251-9701
Business Hours： 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 （Sundays）
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (in Japanese)
Smoking allowed. Private room can be arranged for non-smoking (4 people)

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Alt

September 17, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Things are getting at Aoi Brewing with the first arrival of a totally new batch!

Incidentally all the summer beers so far reviewed will disappear except for the mild ale!
The very newest one is Alt!

Served on tap
Barley, barley hops, roasted malt, live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol: 5.5 %
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: dark brown
Bubbles: very fine and creamy. shortish head, light brown
Aroma: light and dry. Citruses
Taste: dry and deep, refreshing. Great character.
Roasted coffee beans, dry caramel, toasted bread.
Pleasant and well-balanced.
Practically doesn’t change with food.

Overall: Both refreshing and solid. Very well-balanced. Very pleasant acidity.
A great general improvement on already fine craft beers.
Very reliable and fulfilling, but still refreshing.
Although dry with pleasant acidity, it should please both genders!

AOI BREWING

Temporary address:
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

Aoi Beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s two more restaurants in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Italian Gastronomy, Italian Restaurants, Shizuoka City

Italian Gastronomy: Lunch at Il Paladino in Shizuoka City (September 2014)

September 17, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: Great and very large washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive.
Strong points: Sicilian Cuisine. Top-class Italian wines and great collection of Grappa.
Non-smoking at tables. Private room can be made non-smoking!

I finally managed to visit Il Paladino Tratorria in Takajo machi, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City after a long absence!

It was actually for the occasion of a “business lunch” with a client of mine!

It can easily become a very busy place, so at lunch they make sure to be prepared for customers in a hurry!

For lunch they offer three types of set menus.
We opted for the Chef’s recommendation!

Of course all the bread is home-baked!

Enormous antipasti misto!

Sicilian bread and beans soup!

Pasta of the day!

Stewed beef tongue!

Grilled “Isaki/Chicken grunt”! A typical fish from Shizuoka!

And a succulent small dessert to finish!

We certainly ended up full and contented!

Tratorria . Il Paladino
420-9839 Shizuoka City, Aoi-Ku, Takajo, 2-8-19
Tel.: 054-253-6537
Opening hours: 11:30~13:30, 17:00~22:00
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK (Dinner only)

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Shizuoka City, sushi, Sushi Design

Sushi Design by Chef Kenta Birukawa at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City: Seafood Sushi Millefeuille!

September 13, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Here is another example of Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん’s ingenuity which demonstrates why he received an award as best sushi designs from his peers two years ago!
Actually this time we challenged Chef Birukawa to create another millefeuille with pre-determined ingredients!
The shari/sushi rice layers had thinly cut cucumber and avocado in between!

Chef Birukawa first mounted the top with small “flowers of raw salmon with salmon roe in each on a green bed of thinly sliced cucumber and placed a “rose” of raw salmon in the middle!

He then formed a “cascade” of sweet shrimps!

he finally surrounded it with leek sprouts, small cubes of tamagoyaki/Japanese omelet, and more salmon roe.

Dinner report coming next!

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Croque-Madame, Japanese sake, Shizuoka City

Croque-Madame & Sugii Brewery Yamahai Junmai at La Sommeliere Wine & Sake Bar in Shizuoka City!

September 11, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but very friendly
Equipment and facilities: Spotless clean. Superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Local sake by the glass. Extensive wine list by the glass. Bottles on sale. Great local bread and pastries. Home-made light food

This is already my fourth shizuoka sake tasting article conducted there!

This time the sake was made in Fujieda City by Sugii Brewery!
Sugii Brewery is probably the one brewery most unafraid to experiment in Shizuoka Prefecture!
This time I tasted a very interesting Yamahai Junmai made with Shizuoka-grown Homare Fuji sake rice!
Report coming soon!

Like Croque-Monsieur (“crunching a gentleman”) Croque-Madame (“Crunching a lady”) comes into many guises, especially in Japan, and I wanted to savor Mrs. Hiromi Hasegawa/長谷川浩美さん’s own version since I’m sure she is a lady intent on devouring her female competitors!

Served with home-made pickles, it makes for a whole meal!

長谷川浩美さん’s is a sandwich version made with two thin slices of Pain de Campagne/Country Bread baked by Trottix bakery in Shizuoka City!
The filling is a combination of sweet white onion and Iberico bacon.
The topping is real home-made bechamel sauce with French gruyere!
And since this is a Croque-Madame it is topped with a fried egg!

Looking forward to the next double tasting!

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
Closed on Sundays & National Holidays
Entirely non-smoking!

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Mild Ale

September 9, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I seem to have recently developed a sixth sense when it comes to check the eventuality of a new brew being put on the tap!

I had no particular reason to visit Aoi Beer Stand in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City as they hadn’t announced anything on their Facebook account but here I found myself facing the blackboard over the counter with a totally new brew: Mild ale!

Served on tap
Barley, barley hops, live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol: 4~5 degrees
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: dark orange
Bubbles: very fine and creamy. shortish head, white
Aroma: very fruity and mild. Citruses
Taste: very mild and fruity attack.
Deep, elegant and refreshing.
Both well-rounded and complex: apricots, bread.
Varies little with food.
Stays very stable all the time, soft and pleasant.

Overall: The best craft beer by Aoi Brewing so far!
Very well-rounded and fruity.
A great craft beer for the coming autumn.
Being very fruity without being sweet and with little acidity, it should please both ladies and gentlemen.

AOI BREWING

Temporary address:
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

Aoi Beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s two more restaurants in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Fish, Fish Markets, Shizuoka City

Local Shizuoka Fish & Seafood at Parche Fish Market in Shizuoka City: including Shirasu/Sardine Whiting!

September 9, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

The Autumn seems hesitant to come to us here in Shizuoka and blazing hot days are alternating with cool overcast skies. But the fish don’t seem to change much yet at Parche Market in Shizuoka JR Station!
Better have another look!

The “mixed batch”!
I wonder what they have?

Most of them from Shizuoka Prefecture:
Hirame/平目、鮃、比目魚: sole, flatfish, Kuchimi/口美 (also called Fuefukidai/笛吹鯛): Adjutant, Aoigochi/青い鯒、青い牛尾魚: blue flathead, Kanpachi/間八、環八: greater amberjack, Japanese amberjack, Koshyo (Koshiodai)/胡椒鯛: crescent sweetlips, Madai/真鯛: Japanese seabream, Bora/鯔: mullet, and Umazura/馬面 (also called Umazurahagi/馬面剥): black scraper, Filefish, Scraper, a large variety of filefish!

Beautiful fish!

What kind of squids are they?

Surume ika/鯣烏賊: Japanese flying squid, Japanese common squid, Pacific flying squid from Sagara!

Beautiful seabreams there!

Tennen Madai/天然真鯛: wild Japanese seabream! Expensive!

Onikasago/鬼笠子、鬼瘡魚: Devil scorpion fish!

Hirame/平目、鮃、比目魚: sole, flatfish!

Isaki/伊佐木、伊佐幾、鶏魚: chicken grunt!

Bankokarei/バンコ鰈： a small variety of turbot!

Amadai/甘鯛: tilefish!

Akamutsu/赤鱫、赤鯥 (also called Nodokuro/喉黒): rosy seabass, red gnomefish!

Tamagashira/タマガシラ: Monocle-bream.Redbelt monocle-bream!

Mizukamasu/水魳、水梭魚、水梭子魚: a variety of Japanese barracuda!

Renkodai/連子鯛: Yellowback seabream!

Hedai/平鯛: goldlined seabream-tarwhine-stumpnose!

Maaji/真鯵: Japanese jack mackerel!

Akaika/赤烏賊: red squid, ommastrephes bartramii!

Kasago/笠子、瘡魚: False kelpfish, Marbled rockfish!

Shirasu/白子(Namashirasu/生白子 if raw): sardine whiting!
A Shizuoka specialty!

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Pale Ale (3rd batch)

September 6, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Aoi Brewing is finally starting serving its third batch at Aoi Beer Stand in Shozuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho!

Incidentally, Aoi Brewing will open their brew pub near Sengen Shrine on the same premises by mid-October!
Expect the tasting being conducted there!

Served on tap
Barley, barley hops, live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol: 4~5 degrees
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: dark orange/persimmon
Bubbles: very fine. shortish head, white
Aroma: dry oranges
Taste: Dry, light attack. Very refreshing.
Oranges, bread, persimmons.
Lingers on long enough with some welcome acidity at the end.
Stays soft and dry all the time.
Not affected by food.

Overall: A high quality thirst quencher. Very similar to the second batch with a little more body.
Eminently enjoyable on a late hot afternoon.
Like the second batch, drinks very fast, so be prepared for a bigger glass!

AOI BREWING

Temporary address:
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

Aoi Beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s two more restaurants in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

Japanese sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka City

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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