Sake
-
Sake Basics
A brief guide to some key terms, styles and things to keep in mind. Sake is the fermented product of rice, with its own character, body of knowledge and vocabulary. Here are some sake basics worth knowing. Types of Sake Before the rice is fermented, the outer layer is polished away, leaving the grain’s starchy core. Junmai Rice is polished until no more than 70 percent of the grain remains. Ginjo No more than 60 percent remains. Daiginjo No more than 50 percent remains. All sakes designated junmai contain only rice, water, yeast and koji, a mold that converts starch into fermentable sugars. Some other sakes are made with small amounts of added…
-
Sake Is Booming in America
From the NY Times, an excellent article about sake and the growing interest in America. Imports are way up, retail shops are proliferating and more sake breweries are opening. When Shinobu Kato first tried sake as a young man in Tokyo, it tasted harsh and sharp to him. He hated it. But, he recalls, an older colleague told him that he was drinking cheap, poorly made sake. As he was introduced to better styles, Mr. Kato grew to love it. When he moved to the United States in 2004 to study business at the University of Maryland, he could afford only the sorts of bad sake that had left such a…
-
Momokawa Organic Nigori
Chill and serve with spicy foods, chocolate and rich barbecue or simply on its own as a organically decadent treat… TASTING NOTES Momokawa Organic Nigori features rich and silky layers of coconut and cream with a big burst of fresh pineapple and a hint of banana. Shake well and serve chilled. SUGGESTED PAIRINGSSpicy noodles & soups, tropical fruits and poultry.
-
Tozai Snow Maiden
SAKE OVERVIEW This sake is named after Hanako, or “Flower Maiden”, the most famous Japanese koi fish that lived for 226 years in the snowy, icy waters at the foot of Japan’s Mt. Ontake. TASTING NOTES Bright and fresh with a lovely ricey and fruity combination. Flavors of honeydew melon, raw pumpkin, and radish. Creamy texture and full body. FOOD PAIRING Try with spicy foods, crab, pork, or spicy tuna poke. Grade: Junmai NigoriSeimaibuai: 70%Rice: Gohyakumangoku & Gin-OhmiNihonshu-Do: +6.5Acidity: 1.6Alcohol: 14.9%Sizes: 12/300ml / 6/720mlSuggested Retail Prices: $10 / $17.5 BREWERY Kizakura Brewery
You May Also Like
Sake to Me
-
Fukucho Moon on the Water
SAKE OVERVIEW This vibrant showstopper is beautifully soft and feminine, brewed by one of Japan’s only female brewery owners and tojis. Brewed in Hiroshima, the birthplace of Ginjo sake, which is known for remarkably soft water that requires expert skill to use in sake production. Once mastered, it enables a highly controlled, precise fermentation, resulting in vibrant fruit aromas. This Junmai Ginjo is bottled immediately without charcoal filtering. TASTING NOTES A fruity nose of lime and melon with bold hints of fennel, white pepper and allspice. The flavors gravitate to ripe cantaloupe and anise while the minerality from the soft water is evident in the finish. FOOD PAIRING A natural…
