Seasonal Sake – Winter Namas Brrrrrrrr Yah!
Yes! Winter has not only arrived, it’s beating us pretty good! But take heart, because sake brewers are here for your rescue. The seasonally released “Winter Namas” are here and ready to warm your spirits. And they are incredibly tasty this season, which is a huge bonus for the brrrrrrrrrs! Don’t forget to call us at the shop 415.355.9555 – we have actual humans who love sake to help you pick your perfect brews.
Ohmine “Winter’s Arrival” 2025
From Yamaguchi Prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo Nama. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this winter-released seasonal unpasteurized (nama) sake is a fun collection of vanilla, yogurt, cantaloupe, green apple, pine, icing, lemon cream, and strawberry milk aromas. Talk about a winter wonderland of flavors in a snow-globe bottle of sake! Effervescent, spritzy, lively, crisp, light, and tingly, this brew is fresh, full, and fun. Look for powdered sugar, vanilla, grape, whipped cream, sweet rice, butter, sugar cane, lemon cake, Ramune, Frosted Flakes, and other breakfast cereal milk flavors that are like snow cone and waffle cones combined. Always one of our top selling winter-released sakes. WORD: Effervescent WINE: Fruity Reds/Zesty Whites BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Izakaya fare, pub fare, grilled everything, international spice, street foods, tacos, burgers, and pizza.
From Wakayama Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo Nama. SMV: +1 Acidity: 2.0
The nose on this very popular winter-released seasonal unpasteurized sake is a vibrant collection of berry, peach, kiwi, strawberry, cream, and steamed rice aromas. Lively, bright, clean, crisp, slippery, and with a medium to light body, this “Shiboritate” always drinks like a sunny winter’s day with a tingle of acidity and a rush of fruit flavors. Made with Gohyakumangoku rice varietal milled to 55%, there is a very slick layer of umami that rests just below sweet and sour flavors such as peach, green apple, frosting, pineapple, crème fraîche, mineral water, and sweet rice with a touch of astringency and an excellent white pepper finish. This is very quaffable winter sake that goes down way too easy, and pairs very well with sashimi. WORD: Crisp WINE: Bright Reds/Fruity Whites BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, Izakaya fare, salty and savory fare, grilled and fried fish and fowl.
From Yamaguchi Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo Nama. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this extremely popular winter-released seasonal unpasteurized sake is a ripe collection of lemon lime, grapefruit, tangerine, bell pepper, powdered sugar, Italian soda, and mochi aromas. Made by a female toji in a very small brewery, this sake is very large in feeling and flavor, and uses the “free run” or the first flow of sake before pressing, which means it’s livelier, brasher, and generally more fun and flavorful. Look for strawberry, rock sugar, tangerine, lemon custard, cherry pie, mochi, and lemon zest flavors that pop up and down on a bright and crisp flow. There is a little cloud or whisp of unfermented rice particles that gives this sake freshness, spritziness, and more flavors to explore out of a white wine glass. WORD: Fresh WINE: Zesty Reds/Crisp Whites BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: International spice, American sushi, crab, shrimp, spicy handrolls, and fried chicken.
From Fukui Prefecture. Nama Honjozo. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this famous winter-released seasonal unpasteurized sake is a unique collection of cookie dough, yeast, brioche, apricot, rock sugar, toffee, vanilla, cocoa nib, kiwi, seawater, pear, and banana bread aromas. When you think of winter sake our customers always think of Denshin and that snowman sticker on every bottle. Light, silky, medium-body, water-like, slippery, and clean this sake drinks like snow-melt and has a cool herbal dry finish. Look for nougat, cookie dough, caramel, toffee, chestnut, brown sugar, apple, bamboo, sweet potato, almond, and mineral flavors that glide on the icy river through the palate. Very refreshing winter water sake that warms you on the inside. WORD: Snow Melt WINE: Dry Reds/Crisp Whites BEER: Gentle ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, grilled fish and chicken, comfort foods, carpaccios, winter oysters, shellfish, and tofu.