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“Yukitsuru” & “Fukuju” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro


You can taste Yukitsuru, Tahara Sake Brewery, from Niigata prefecture and Fukuju, Kobe Shushinkan Breweries from Hyogo prefecture.

Yukitsuru (Tahara Sake Brewery)

Established 1897. Tahara shuzo is located in the southwest of Niigata Prefecture.

Generally, the characteristics of Niigata sake known as “Tanrei Karakuchi” or very refined, light and dry. However, “Yukitsuru” is rich Umami taste local sake.

That portion of the brewing water which is used in mashing (“mashing water”, shikomi-sui) has a significant influence on moromi fermentation and sake quality.

For “Yukitsuru”, they use natural springs in the foot of Kubikikomagatake.

There is a well in the brewer premises, once they have used the water, which is medium hard water. Although it is suitable for dry taste sake, it is unsuitable for making soft and gentle texture “Yukitsuru”.

They cannot access to the spring water area because road closures during winter, from mid December to early March. Therefore they storage the spring water in a 10,000L tank to keep “Yukitsuru” sake quality.

Tasting at home by amazon

Yukitsuru Junmai 田原酒造 雪鶴 純米酒 720ml 新潟県の日本酒

Tahara Sake Brewery Home page

 

Fukuju (Kobe Shushinkan Breweries)

Founded 1751. The best sake rice and source water are brewed carefully. The brewery is located in the famous sake village Nada in Kobe in Hyogo prefecture. Because of the high quality sake from Nada was already famous during the shogun period. The water is rich in minerals and generates a clear and powerful sake profile. Therefore sake from Nada is called “Otoko-sake (men’s sake)”.

FUKUJU Chotokusen Daigin is awarded SAKE COMPETITION 2018 Ginjo GOLD. Fukuju Junmai Ginjo was served at the dinner and reception for the Japanese scientist who won the Nobel Prize in 2012. Since then it has become ultra popular in Japan and you cannot find it on the shelves anywhere.

Tasting at home by amazon

Fukuju Junmai Ginjo 神戸酒心館 福寿 純米吟醸 化粧箱入り 720ml [兵庫県]

 

Kobe Shushinkan Breweries Home page

DATE AND TIME

2018/6/20 (Wed) – 6/26(Tue)

-You cannot go? Check out ichibansake Event Calendar

LOCATION

Seibu Ikebukuro B1F

〒171-0022 Tokyo, Toshima, Minamiikebukuro, 1 Chome−28−1

Google map

Access

Directly connect
Ikebukuro Station South Exit, Exit 38, Exit 36

Web site

For more information visit, 今週の酒と肴

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“Notonokuni” & “Homare Kirin” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

You can taste Notonokuni, SoGen Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. from Ishikawa prefecture, and Homare Kirin, Kaetsu shuzo from Niigata prefecture.

Notonokuni (SoGen Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.)

Founded in 1768, SoGen Sake Brewery is deeply rooted in the local community, who have cultivated love of their sake that taste smooth with a hint of sweetness. The locals call it “Sogen sake” after the family name of the owner. In addition, our higher-end sake are well recognized by sake fans for their elegant aroma. Suzu City, where the brewery is located, is home to the famed Noto Toji school of brewers.

Sogen Sake Brewery was founded in the mid-Edo Period, 1768, even before America declared independence in 1776. Legend says Sogen Chugoro who traced his roots to Yoshiharu Hatakeyama, the lord of Nanao-jo Castle in the Sengoku Period, started business and his descendant was trained in a brewery in Itami (present-day Hyogo Prefecture) and mastered the secrets of the sake brewing.

Since then, Sogen Sake Brewery has carried on the tradition and has been brewing sake to please their customers for over 240 years.Their motto is, “Our customers keep coming back to us.”

Noto Toji is one of the Japanese four major Toji group and it is said that Sogen Sake Brewery is the birthplace of Noto Toji. Toji is the superintendents in breweries and is the professionals entrusted with training many brewers.

Sogen Sake Brewery succeeded in making high-quality Ginjo-shu with a fruity, delicate taste. They are proud of their own contemporary style of sake brewing, garnered through years of traditional brewing called the “Noto Style.”

SoGen Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. Home page

Homare Kirin (Kaetsu Sake Brewery Co. Ltd.)

Kaetsu Sake Brewery was found in 1880 in Fukushima prefecture (transferred to Niigata prefecture at 1886). Niigata prefecture is situated opposite position of Tokyo and faced to Japan Sea. Owing to these geographical features, it is very hot in summer and cold and one of the snowiest countries in winter. Niigata prefecture is famous for most delicious table rice “Koshihikari” and very nice domestic Sake.

The brewery is located in Aga-machi where the Agano River and the Tokonami River join and is surrounded by many mountains. Then fogs often gather along those rivers. Such a climate condition gives birth to highest class Sake rice. Moreover water quality is also important in Sake brewing. The brewery has been blessed with an excellent natural spring which water is pure and soft. “Kaetsu brewery Sake is a wonderful gift from nature”.

Mt. Kirinzan stands in the northern part of Aga-machi. The story of “Kirin” of Mt. “Kirinzan” is based on a legendary unicorn. The Kirin unicorn is an imaginary animal that has been said to appear in the sky to prepare auspicious events. Kaetsu Sake Brewery has named thier sake “Kirin” with thier hope that it will be enjoyed in such a way that brings happiness to the drinkers. The tasting profile of “Kirin” is “Tanrei-Karakuchi “(Clean, Light and Dry in English). “Kirin” Sake is good for every food.

Kaetsu Sake Brewery Co. Ltd. Home page

DATE AND TIME

2018/5/24 (Thu) – 30 (Wed) 10:00～20:00

You cannot go? Check out ichibansake Event Calendar

LOCATION

Ikebukuro Tobu Department Store B1F

1 Chome-1-25 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo 171-0021

Google map

Access

Directly connected to “Ikebukuro station”

Web site

For more information visit, 東武百貨店 池袋店 日本酒催事スケジュール

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“Iwanoi” & “Echigo Tsurukame” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

You can taste Iwanoi, Iwase shuzo from Chiba prefecture, and Echigo Tsurukame,  Echigo Tsurukame from Niigata prefecture.

Iwanoi (Iwase shuzo)

The brewery is believed to have been founded in 1723 and was operated as a sideline over the generations. Iwanoi gets its name from the Japanese phrase for the “Iwase well”. 80% or more of sake is water. For that reason, water is very important in sake brewing.

Water for sake brewing should be good for drinking, with proper amount of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Iwase shuzo is located near coast, so the groundwater passes through the shell layer and the sake brewing water is relatively harder and suitable for brewing.

High content of calcium and potassium help drive yeast propagation. To use the hard water and Yamahai Jikomi which is a traditional slow fermentation technique process at low temperatures with extra time and care. It gives this sake width & depth in a flavor and semi dry taste with a good amount of acid. Iwai shuzo is committed to Yamahai Jikomi, now more than 2 third of all sake brewing is Yamahai Jikomi style.

Iwase shuzo Home page

Echigo Tsurukame (Echigo Tsurukame)

Echigo Tsurukame was established in 1890. It is located in foot of mountain “Kakudayama”, takes about 1 hour by car from city center of Niigata prefecture.

Tsurukame means crane and tortoise (symbol of longevity, artistic motif). The brewery named that to make people easy-to understand and a congratulatory trademark. They are aiming for a delicious sake that is pleasing to people.

To keep the highest sake quality that would be satisfied, Tsurukame dare to stick to small production. From the selection of sake rice to setting appropriate rice washing condition and best water absorption condition, they try variety of condition and draw out the characteristics of raw material of sake rice by proficient skills of technique.

Also, it is said that sake brewing begins with koji and ends with koji. The koji performs 3 main roles; the biggest of which is to produce enzymes.

Provide enzymes that dissolve the steamed rice and facilitate saccharification.
Provide nutrients for the yeast starter: vitamins and amino acids.
Provide the ingredients for flavour and aroma.

Koji making of Echigo Tsurukame sticks to the characteristics of rice and uses “Kojiri Box”. It makes Toji (head sake brewer) can utilize their technique and sense from highly skilled experience to make rich and strong koji. Please enjoy tasteful and natural rich flavor of Echigo Turukame.

Echigo Tsurukame Home page

DATE AND TIME

2018/5/17 (Thu) – 23 (Wed) 10:00～20:00

You cannot go? Check out ichibansake Event Calendar

LOCATION

Ikebukuro Tobu Department Store B1F

1 Chome-1-25 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo 171-0021

Google map

Access

Directly connected to “Ikebukuro station”

Web site

For more information visit, 東武百貨店 池袋店 日本酒催事スケジュール