One of the best things about being in the sake industry is that with time things that you thought would never happen … happened. Ten years ago when I was in Kyoto for a big Sake Samurai sake tasting I...
Welcome to the 174th Issue of America’s sake-centric Newsletter. In this frigid February issue try to stay warm and read about sake breweries that change their labels, get ready for Nama Season as the first spring brews are arriving, learn which sakes are great...
Labels mean a ton in the sake industry. Some brewers say that they don’t care a lot about labels as long as the sake is good inside the bottle. And yes that is what the owner of the super popular Dassai Sake Brewery once told me, “We’d rather...
I always get a thrill when I see the new year bottling dates on sake bottles. That’s not a joke. It makes me smile. It comes in two forms. Our calendar year 01.19 or the Japanese emperor’s calendar Heisei ’31.01 stamped on...
Say What? Sake pairs well with chocolate? You bet! There are all types of pairings with chocolate. Some sake have cocoa and dark chocolate flavors, some sake are creamy, and some brews have a tingle of bitterness that all pair well with chocolate. And some sake are so...
This comes from my friend John Gauntner, who is a superb educator and leader in the sake industry. John is the ultimate teacher in the field of all things sake. I highly recommend his sake education program: “From Tuesday, April 23 through Thursday, April...
It's been freezing the past few weeks here in San Francisco. But lucky for us all, Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring season! In preparation for our good luck this year, let's reminisce about the famous spring namas of 2010!...
The Beau-Zone Layer – Tonoike (Bo:)” From Tochigi Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo SMV: NA Acidity: NA Hey wine lovers listen up! There is a new movement within the sake world to make wine-like sakes that have high acidity and bright characteristics that are different and...
This month we see the return of Enter’s Sookuu, which is a really classy Muroka Junmai with a killer beer cap top. Makes a great gift for you and a friend. Then we say hello to an outstanding Yamahai from...
