Seasonal Sake – Shake a Stick At Chikurin, Kirinzan, Koshino Homare, Narutotai, Otokoyama, Ohyama
Holy Moly! We have a lot of seasonally released spring unpasteurized brews right now. And that is great news for you. They are fresh, fun, and some of them are not even unpasteurized, which is weird but is it? Sakes are made for the season! Come in and explore a very large gaggle of sakes, or give us a call! We’d love to walk you through an order of seasonal sakes. Just dial 415.355.9555 and get your nama on!
Chikurin "Otoro"
From Okayama Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo Nama. SMV: ±0 Acidity: 1.1
The nose on this awesome seasonally-released unpasteurized sake is a remarkable collection of cherry, strawberry, honeydew, cooked pear, This sake is nicknamed for "deep flavor" and is made by a brewery that is extremely passionate about the Yamadanishiki brewing rice that they personally grow in Okayama Prefecture. Can you already taste the quality and depth? Layered, smooth, velvety, round, elegant, bright and lively, there is a very subtle, almost undetectable spritz that drinks almost magically with so much feeling and flavors. Look for strawberry, cherry, papaya, sugarcane, brown sugar, brioche, navel orange, caramel, and lush floral flavors with a hint of white pepper, and a lingering soft finish. This is very passionate nama sake, and it's not to be missed. WORD: Depth WINE: Soft Reds/Complex White Burgundy BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, otoro, grilled chicken and fish, steamed cheese and meat boards, and soy sauce based dishes.
Kirinzan Shiboritate "Potari Potari"
From Niigata Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo Nama Genshu. SMV: +1 Acidity: 1.6The nose on this very limited and only bottled twice per year unpasteurized (nama) and undiluted (genshu) sake is a wide collection of persimmon, chive, celery, blueberry, cupcake frosting, milk, and yeasty aromas. Clean, crisp, smooth, medium-bodied, rich-light™, slippery, and elegant, this brew drinks bright and lively with lots of wine-like action that deserves a white wine glass. We love Kirinzan, and their prototypical
Niigata ‘clean and dry’ style is highlighted in this 3-D version of nama sake. There is a 17% ABV that is not noticeable, and a finish that is very quick and clean. Look for subtle fruit tones of white peach, dried apple, and young pear at first, to more caramel, dark chocolate, juniper, and vanilla flavors that intertwine with a gentle umami flicker. This is a very fun "wine-fans" sake that is extremely limited. WORD: Clean WINE: Crisp Reds/Bright Whites BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, yakitori, izakaya pub-fare, salty, savory, oily, and fried flavors.
Koshi no Homare "Kura no Homare"
From Niigata Prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo Muroka Nama Genshu. SMV: +3 Acidity: 1.8 The nose on this seasonally released and very limited unpasteurized and undiluted (17% ABV) brew has a cool collection of persimmon, cream soda, pear, grape, watermelon, kiwi, pomelo, and peach aromas. Say hello to coolness in a bottle. This nama is a Junmai Daiginjo (classy!) that drinks bright, lively, crisp, spritzy, off-dry, tingly, very flavorful, with a dry clean finish. Look for Asian pear, vanilla bean, baked bread, papaya, mango, green apple, daikon, rock sugar, grape, and snowmelt mineral flavors that dance with an integrated umami, and end with an impeccable balance. Again, this is another season of excellent sake from Koshi no Homare. WORD: Balanced WINE: Minerally Reds/Flinty Whites BEER: Clean Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, elegant and complex Champagne fare, caviar, oysters, lobster, crab, sweet shrimp, and cheese boards.
Narutotai "Black Snapper"
From Tokushima Prefecture. Ginjo Muroka Nama Genshu. SMV: +5 Acidity: 1.7
The nose on this exact same sake as the "Red Snapper" except it hasn't been charcoal filtered (no, not Nigori) has a robust collection of sea spray, finger lime, apple, grape, citrus, cranberry, mochi, corn flakes, marzipan, toast, nutritional yeast, and apple vinegar aromas. Welcome back, Narutotai Black! Your fans have been waiting a year to drink up your power and sake wonder. This is a very dry version of the Red Snapper and it is beefy at 19% ABV, but it is still unpasteurized and very flavorful and fun. Round, rich, full-bodied, velvety, fat, chewy and lush, this sake drinks you as much as you drink it. Look for an array of dry flavors including cocoa nib, peanut butter, root beer, dark chocolate, sweet mochi, creamy cantaloupe, daikon, and peanut brittle with a long nutty finish. Sounds like a mouthful, and it is a mouthful, and that's exactly why this can is so popular. WORD: Big WINE: Immense reds/Full-Bodied Whites BEER: Guinness FOODS: Everything you think sake wouldn't pair with, buffalo wings, tacos, curries, international spice, fried everything, burgers, chops, and wild boar.
Otokoyama Ginpu Shiboritate "Kita no Inaho"
From Hokkaido Prefecture. Junmai Nama Genshu. SMV: +7 Acidity: 1.6
The nose on this unpasteurized seasonally released Hokkaido favorite brew is a lively collection of taffy, cantaloupe, banana cream, apple, pear, coconut milk, sugar, green grape, and cookie dough aromas. Full-bodied, fleshy, silky, rich, slippery, water-like, clean, and bright, this nama has a quintessential dry Hokkaido finish. Look for mochi, bread, buttermilk, white chocolate, cookie dough, yam, wood bark, toasted rice, and grains, with a dry wheat-like finish that speaks to wine drinkers for the astringency and tannin-like dryness. Our team feels that this is a throwback to classic dry namazake and doesn't have the new fangled expressions, just ricey and good. WORD: Classic WINE: Dry Reds/Clean Whites BEER: Hefeweizen FOODS: Yakitori superstar, fried, greasy, and oily fare, street fare, food carts, a pop-up wonder brew.
Ohyama "Tomizu"
From Yamagata Prefecture. Tokubetsu Junmai Muroka Nama Genshu. SMV: -6 Acidity: 2.15
The nose on this seasonally released unpasteurized, un-charcoal filtered, and undiluted sake is a raucous collection of dried mango, watermelon, green grape, blueberry, kiwi, pear, caramelized sugar, and steamed rice aromas. In Japan, Tomizu is one of the hottest brands on the market now, and we luckily got this big and beautiful brew for you nama drinkers. Soft, smooth, plump, watery, juicy, silky, with a little spritzy tingle, with a nice medium-to-full bodied texture. Look for cantaloupe, dried apple, cream soda, cotton candy, caramel, grape gummies, cookie dough, and sweet rice flavors on a fluffy and spritzy flow with an umami tail. This is a great sake to learn what a higher acidity does to a sweeter sake, that achieves a very tasty balance that rocks-and-rolls through the palate, and makes a great gift or a great bottle to bring to a party that everybody likes. This sake is fresh and fun. WORD: Juicy WINE: Soft Reds/Fruity Whites BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, crab, lobster, sweet shrimp, BBQ oysters, international spice, cheese and fruit plates galore.