Shizuoka Sake: The Cream Of Japan

THE JOY OF SAKE in TOKYO, November 2nd

dragonlife — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:35:29 +0000

For more details check: http://www.joyofsake.com

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

Shizuoka Sake Tasting 24/5: Yamanaka Brewery-Aoitenka Toubinkoi Muroka Junmai Ginjo

dragonlife — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 03:29:22 +0000

Yamanaka Brewery i not easy to access as it is far away from Kakegawa Station near the sea and one can reach only by bus, car and bicycle (not from Shizuoka City for the latter!)!
It is a fairly small establishement, although very well know, the more for it that its neighbour is the famous soy sauce brewery, Sakae!

This particular bottle was extravagant for many reasons.
The decoration was very original in the sense that the label on the bottle is actually made of cloth!
Coming into a great box with plenty of explanations, both the bottle and box are worth a collector’s attention.

The contents were also absolutely extravagant:
The real title is Yamanaka Shuzo/Yamanak Brewery, Aointenka (sake name), Tobinkoi (sake extracted drop by drop by being left hanging into sacke inside the tank and into a large glass jar), Muroka (unfiltered), Junami Ginjo (high premium with no alcohol added), Genshu (no pure water added), the whole meaning a completely untouched sake brew!

Now for the details:
Rice: Yamada Nishiki from Hyogo Prefecture
Rice milled down to 48% (high dai ginjo level!)
Yeast: 1401
Dryness: +2
Acidity: 1.7
Alcohol: 16~17 gegrees
Bottled in July 2010

Clarity: very clear
Colour: transparent
Aroma: Slghtly dry and very fruity. Almonds, coconuts with notes of pineapple. Extremely pleasant
Body: fluid
Taste: Very complex and fruity. Extremely pleasant and sophisticated.
Dry and fruity. Junmai petillant spreading over theback of the palate. Lingers on only a little.
Dry almonds, pineapple with hints of banana and vanilla.
Finishes on a very dry almond note, but turns a little sweetish with food. Later on reveals faint notes of dark chocolate and cofee beans.

Overall: Simply extravagant, although its pricetag is ridiculously cheap (that is for that quality!). The rice millage would be of another plane elsewhere!
Sophisticated, lmost “feminine2 in spite of high alcohol content.
Best appreciated lightly chilled or at room temperature.
Personally the best aperitif one can come across!

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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
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Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting 7/7: Fuji-Takasago Brewery-Takasago Yamahai Shikomi Junmai Shu Hiyaoroshi Namatsume

dragonlife — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 01:45:16 +0000

It’s been some time since I tasted a sake from Fuji-Takasago Brewery in Fujinomiya City.
Since September is the time to taste the Hiyaoroshi sake/sake taht has been sterelized only once, it is such an embarrssment of choices, but I opted for this brewery as it is slightly unusual in Shizuoka refecture.

The real title for this particular sake is “Takasago Yamahai Shikomi Junmai Shu Hiyaoroshi Namatsume”!
Meaning: Takasago (main name) Yamahai Shikomi (old style brewing) Junmai Shu (Junmai=no alcohol added) Hitaoroshi Namatsume (bottled without a second sterilization.
On top of this it is a genshu/no water added!

Fuji-Takasago Brewery/Takasago Yamahai Junmai Hiyaoroshi

Rice: Yamada Nishiki 100% (Hyogo Prefecture)
Riced milled down to 55% (extravagant!)
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees (genshu)
Dryness: -3 (sweet for Shizuoka)
Bottled in September 2010

Clarity: very clear
Colour: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Strong, very fruity: bananas, vanilla, sweet ornages
Body: Fluid
Taste: Strong attack with a lot of junmai “petillant”, sweetish.
Complex: Macadamia nuts, bananas, oranges, vanilla.
Warms back of the palate for some time. Lingers for a while with very dry almonds backed up by oranges and vanilla.
Sweet by Shizuoka standards at first approach but dries up quickly.

Overall: A sake that can be greatly enjoyed chilled or at room temperature.
Great as a sweetish aperitif or in lieu of a port wine.
Strikes a great marriage with choclate or blue cheese.
Chilled, can be drunk as a dessert drink! Would do excellently poured over ice-cream!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting 11/13: Hatsukame Brewery/Futsushu

dragonlife — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 06:23:07 +0000

Sake can be truly extravagant in Shizuoka Prefecture, when you realize that futsushu/regular sake accounts for only 18% of its total production as compared to over 60% nationwide.
Not only this but futsushu made here uses rice that has been polished down to 70% and even less!

Hatsukame Brewery/Futsushu
Rice milled down to 65%

Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Aroma: discreet, fruity, almonds, nuts
Body: velvety
Taste: Sweetish attack. Shortish tail. Fruity: almonds, nuts, bitter chocolate.
Keeps well with any food.
Overall: Pleasant on the palate and tongue. Eminently drinkable.
Simply extravagant for a futsushu.
Great with food. Drinks up very quickly.
Can be savoured chilled, at room temperature or lukewarm (“nurukan”).
Certainly qualify for more than as futsushu/regular.

The Japan Blog List

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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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
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Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

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日本語のブログ
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Shizuoka Sake Tasting 1/10: Morimoto Brewery/Sayogoromo Chouki Ikusei Shikomi Junmai

dragonlife — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 06:22:33 +0000

Hidetoshi Morimoto, owner and brewmaster at Morimoto Brewery in Kikugawa City, is at it again! That is, he just will not “follow the lines” and call his brews as others, more traditionally-minded, would…
This sake, which should have been simply called a “Yamahai” finds itself slated as “Chouki Ikusei Shubo Shikomi Junmai, meaning a “junmai which has nurtured for a long time in my sake factory”!
Well, I don’t mind Hidetoshi’s idyosincracies as long as he creates these marvels!

Rice milled down to 60% (koji/fermented rice) and 65% (plain rice)
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees/genshu/no water added
Bottled in May 2010
Contents: 1.8 l

Clarity: very clear
Colour: transparent
Aroma: Fruity, complex, sweetish. Banana, vanilla with memories nuts and coffee beans.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry attack backed with some alcohol. Warms up the back of the palate.
Dry pineapple.
Disappears fairly quickly with memories of nuts, macadamia nuts and custard.
Stays very dry with food with more pineapple.
Surprising “gap” between aroma and taste.

Overall: A typical sake from Morimoto Brewery!
Hidetoshi Morimoto cares little about “pleasing people”… His sake, in spite of making use of Shizuoka yeast are “off the norm” in this Prefecture.
A sake for all seasons and all meals, although eminently enjoyable on its own.
Definitely on the “macho side”, uncompromising!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting 8/13: Sogatsuru-Hagi No Kura Brewery-Kazutoyo

dragonlife — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 04:20:12 +0000

This could very well be the last bottle I drink from Sogatsuru-Hagi No Kura Brewery in Kakegawa City as Hagi No Kura Brewery has definitely left Sogatsuru after buying Yoshiya Brewery’s license and moved to Shizuoka City this April although they could have done it last year!

Sogatsuru-Hagi No Kura Brewery, “Kazutoyo” kakegawajyo/Kakegawa Castle Junmai Ginjo

Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Rice milled down to 55%
Bottled in March 2003

Clarity: very clear
Colour: transparent
Aroma: Fruity. Alcohol. Pineapple, banana.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Fruity and soft attack backed up with junmai petillant.
Dissipates quickly.
Complex. Almonds, nuts with memories of banana and coconuts.
Dry finish. Welcome acidity.
Holds its well with any food.

Overall: Despite its ginjo level, a sake fit for food.
Straightforward and unpretentious sake. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Delicious combination of sweetness and acidity.

Will miss that grand name, although I can expect the same from the new brewery!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
Warren Bobrow
Tokyo Terrace

Isojiman Brewery awarded 2 Gold Medals at International Wine Challenge 2010!

dragonlife — Thu, 20 May 2010 02:02:04 +0000

The Japan Blog List

Please check Shizuoka Gourmet Blog for all the gastronomy in Shizuoka Prefecture!
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(Courtesy of Shizuoka Shinbun, May 20th, 2010)

Great news for Shizuoka Sake!
Isojiman Brewery in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture has been awarded 2 Gold Medals at the International Wine Challenge 2010 announced on May 19th 2010.

The two Gold Awards were won in the following categories:

-Junmai: Isojiman Omachi Tokubetsu Junmai

-Junmai Ginjo & Junmai Daiginjo: Isojiman Dai Ginjo Junmai

The sake section was inaugurated in 2007.
This year saw a total of 405 entries representing 176 breweries from all over Japan in 5 different divisions.

Last year, for their first participation, Isojiman had already garnered a siver medal in the Ginjo & Daiginjo Division.

Congratulations!

Shizuoka Sake Tasting 21~5: Kanzawagawa Brewery-Shosetsu Futsushu

dragonlife — Thu, 13 May 2010 01:20:46 +0000

The Japan Blog List

Please check Shizuoka Gourmet Blog for all the gastronomy in Shizuoka Prefecture!
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Kanzawagawa Brewery is also an old establishment located very near the sea at Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shziuoka City along the old Tokaido Road.
They have the merit to still make absolutely extravagant “futsushu/regular sake” at ridiculous prices.

Like most of all futsushu (only 18% of the total production, probably the lowest in Japan), the bottles are adorned with old traditional designs!. As they are easy to conserve thy would make the perfect souvenir back home in the rest of world!

Kansawa Brewery: Shosetsu Futsushu

Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Rice milled down to 70%
Bottled in January 2010

Clarity: very clear
Colour: transaparent
Aroma: Strong attack upon opening the bottle. Tends to dissipate quickly.
Fruity. Bitter chocolate, banana, macadamia nuts
Body: fluid
Taste: Dry attack backed up by delicious alcohol and a basket of dry nuts and bananas.
Complex/not straightforward for a fustushu.
Pleasantly warming up back of the palate with plenty of dry almonds, finishing on a pleasant acid note.
Holds its own well with any food with an accetuated dryness.

Overall: A sake for all meals, although eminetly drinkable on its own.
Certainly not the “image” of the futsushu, but futsushu are simply extravagant in Shizuoka Prefecture, considering that the rice millage would qualify it as premium sake!

Shizuoka Sake Tasting 26~8: Eikun Brewery-Eikun Futsushu

dragonlife — Thu, 13 May 2010 01:18:12 +0000

The Japan Blog List

Please check Shizuoka Gourmet Blog for all the gastronomy in Shizuoka Prefecture!
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Eikun Brewery is an old establishment “lost” in the mountains facing the sea at Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shziuoka City.
They have the merit to still make absolutely extravagant “futsushu/regular sake” at ridiculous prices.

Eikun: Futsushu
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Rice milled down to 70%
Bottled in January 2010

Clarity: very clear
Colour: transparent
Aroma: Fruity, ricey
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and soft attack. Discreet.
Fruity and nutty: macadamia nuts, almonds, coconuts.
Disappears quickly with dry nuts.
tends to come up with new facets with the second and third sip (glass).

Overall: Very elegant and extravagant for a futsushu.
Goes well with any food.
A sake for everyday home drinking!

Shizuoka SakeTasting 17~10: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Junmai Genshu

dragonlife — Tue, 04 May 2010 06:02:06 +0000

The Japan Blog List

Please check Shizuoka Gourmet Blog for all the gastronomy in Shizuoka Prefecture!
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Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City is one of the oldest still active breweries in Shizuoka Prefecture as it was founded in 1686 in Edo Era. Shimizu and Shizuoka were completely separated then. the Name “Sanwa/三和” could be literally translated as the “triple harmony” as it is actually the merger of three different breweries when Sanwa acquired neighbouring Koizumike and Shimizu Breweries about 30 years ago.

Sanwa Brewery, whose brewermaster hails from the Nanbu School in Iwate Prefecture, has the particularity of being the only brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture not to use the Shizuoka yeast, but nonetheless has conducted fruitful research in alternative rice strains.

Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Junmai Genshu:

Rice: Nihonbare 100%
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees (genshu/no pure water added)
Dryness: +2
Acidity: 1.5
Contents: 1.8l
Bottled in March 2010

-Clarity: very clear

-Colour: transparent

-Aroma: Complex. Fruity and flowery. Apricot, bitter chocolate

-Body: Fluid

-Taste: Strong and delicious alcohol attack with junmai petillant back-up warming back of the palate.
Complex. Fruity: Pineapple, apricot, flowers, memories of bitter chocolate and coffee beans.
Lingers for a short while with a sweetish note ending in nuts.
Holds its own well with any food.

My nurukan set!

As “nurukan” (40~45 degrees), comes with dry nuts. Very pleasant with any food.

Overall: A slightly extravagant sake for any food, although one can definitely enjoy it for its own sake (sorry for the pun!)
Could be considered as a “strong” sake in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Definitely the type of sake for a Japanese dining party!