Shizuoka Sake Tasting 3/1~4: Doi Brewery-Kaiun

5) Kaiun Junmai Hiyaoroshi

We are in October and it becomes a rush to taste all these Hiyaoroshi!

Doi Brewery: Kaiun Junmai Hiyaoroshi
Rice: yamada Nishiki
Rice milled down to: 55% (extravagant!)
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees (genshu)

Clarity: Very clear
Colour: Light golden tinge
Aroma: Discreet. Banana
Body: Velvety
Taste: Complex. Shortish tail. Fruity and dry. Banana, coffee beans.
Turns drier very quickly, especially with food.
Vanilla and almonds appearing later.
Junmai tingle.
Bitter choclate appearing later with more food.

Overall: “Shizuoka Type Sake. Multi-faceted.
Well suited for food.
Drinks very quickly. Tends to show a fleeting character.
Extravagant millage at 55%.
Poured a cup inside a “kegani/spider crab” shell with its “miso/brain”. Sublime!
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4) Kaiun Junmai Ginjo “Den”

Doi Brewery in Kakegawa City has seen its junmai elected as the best in Shizuoka Prefecture by their peers in 2008.
I just could not pass the occasion to check it for myself!

Doi Brewery/Kaiun Junmai Ginjo “Ten”

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: +4.0
Acidity: 1.3
Yeast: Shizuoka Yeast
Alcohol: 1~18 degrees
Limited edition: 600 bottles
Bottled in February 2007

Clarity: very clear

Colour: light golden hue

Aroma: dry, alcohol, fruity, flowery, melon

Body: velvety

Taste: Strong junmai tingle, almost bubbly. Complex, fruity and spicy
Short tail, calling for another sip. Melon, vanilla. Drinks very easily and does change character with food.
Bitter chocolate and bananas make a late entry.

Overall: Impressive sake to be savoured at all times for all occasions. A sure winner! Very solid and showing a lot of character.
The kind of sake that disappears from your glass without notice!
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3) Kaiun Ha Junmai Ginjo

Kaiun Ha Junmai Ginjo by Doi Brewery, Kakegawa City, wasthe second brew tasted by the Hamamatsu Geeks on November 2nd:

Kaiun Ha Junmai Ginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki 100% (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40%
Dryness: 6.0
Acidity: 1.3
Limited edition: 600 bottles
Bottled in May 2007

Clarity: very clear

Colour: almost transparent

Aroma: Light, fruity

Body: soft. Velvety to fluid

Taste: Delicate, fruity. elegant. Almonds/Bitter chocolate

Overall: Very elgant and discreet. Complex. Suited for ladies especially.

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2) Junmai Ginjo 10 years old Sake

When the Japanese Government boosted the Sake in dustry in 1953 by offerings generous loans and tax rebates, they included an unwritten condition that Breweries produce sake to be consumed as early as possible, effectively stifling the research and developments of “vintage” and old-style sake.
Some breweries in Shizuoka Prefecture have recently developed their own “koshu”/old sake nonetheless: Morimoto (Kikugawa), Eikun (Shizuoka-Yui) and Doi (Kakegawa)

Doi Brewery has come up with a particularly interesting brew called “Junmai Ginjo Ju Nen Koshu” (Ten year old junmai ginjo) made from rice milled down to 55%.
Apart of the beautiful old fashion label, it drwas a 17~18% alcohol content, making pretty strong.
The colour is a radiant gold, almost the same colour as the label.
For unknowing people its taste reminds of old Chinese rice wine.
It could be drunk at room temperature or warmed up as “kan”. It is a bit of an acquired taste, but wine fans will be able to appreciate for its great value.
I would definitely recomend it with some hearty food.
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1) Iwaizake

I just finished this bottle offered to me by mrs. Miyazaki, a student of mine who has relatives in Fujinishiki and Wakatake Breweries (which should make it easier for me when interviewing them!)

It was brewed in February 2007 by Doi Brewery in Kakegawa City.
“Iwaizake” means “Congratulations Sake”.
It is a “nama shinshu shiboritate”, or unpasteurized new sake, just “wrung out”.
Interestingly enough, although the rice has been milled down to 60%, the Brewery did not give even the name of Honjozo.
It can be drunk chilled or even as “kan” (warmed up).
Totally transparent
Clear colour with a hint of amber
Slightly sweet aroma, melts quickly inside the mouth with strong hints of banans and vanilla. Leaves a “petillant” impresion on the palate for a while, typical of unpasteurized sake.
At 920 yen a 720ml bottle, definitely a great bargain! Would suggest it as a chilled aperitif!
Kampai!