Sake Revolution
190 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 days ago -America's First Sake Podcast. Power to the Sake People! Join your hosts sake otaku John Puma and sake samurai Timothy Sullivan as they explore the world of Japanese Sake. This podcast will help you know where to get started with sake. Every week, we'll teach you something new about sake in a fun and easy to understand segment, we call the "Sake Education Corner". It wouldn't be a sake podcast with out some sake tasting! We'll profile and taste some of our favorite sakes. Check out the show notes if you'd like to get the sakes for yourself and taste along with us. We want to make sake accessible, fun and easy to understand. We hope you'll join us! Kanpai
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Episodes
Saga Sake With Jessica Joly
September 08, 2022 00:00 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MBEpisode 119 This week we welcome sake expert Jessica Joly to the podcast to introduce us to this very special trio of sakes all from Saga Prefecture. The breweries are all different and distinct, but they have collaborated to create a set of three bottles with a unique branding and flavor story you won’t see anywhere else. First, from Koimari Brewery, we have the Tropical Junmai Daiginjo which uses the silhouette of a pineapple on the label to communicate it’s fruity aroma and flavor. Next, ...
Extreme Sake: High Acidity
September 01, 2022 17:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBEpisode 118. This week, John and Timothy combat the boredom of late summer by exploring another extreme sake. If you've ever put a squeeze of lemon in your iced tea, you know acidity can transform a beverage. But what role does acidity play in sake? and how do we taste it? By exploring a sake that is much higher in acid, we hope to uncover this and more. Wine is well known to have more overall acidity than sake, so let's see if this high acid brew brings some wine-like qualities to the ...
Ode to Joy: Celebrating the Joy of Sake
August 19, 2022 01:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBEpisode 117. This week John and Timothy give a recap of their recent visit to the Joy of Sake event in New York City. This is one of the "big kahuna" sake events in the U.S. and a great kick off to what we hope will be a return to more in-person sake tasting overall. We explore some of the history and what to expect at this event. John even lets us in on his favorite sips of the night. If you'd like to join next year, we give you all the details on staying connected to get in on their ne...
Sake Vessel Series: Masu
August 11, 2022 16:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MBEpisode 116. Week in and week out, our standard gear for tasting and evaluating sake is a simple wine glass. This works really well and almost everybody has one nearby. But in Japan, there are a wide variety of shapes, materials and sizes used to make cups for drinking sake. That got us wondering if we should take some other cups out for a test drive and compare them to our usual stemware. This week we are exploring a real square in the world of sake cups - the masu. Born as a box-shaped me...
Sake Pod Crosstalk: Sake Unplugged
August 02, 2022 15:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBEpisode 115. While Sake Revolution is currently the only U.S. sake podcast, there are several other podcasters around the world working hard to spread the good word of sake. We thought it would be fun to connect with our international colleagues for a little sake pod "crosstalk" to network and share the sake love. This week we connect with Japan-based sake podcasters Giulia Maglio and Cindy Bissig, creators of "Sake Unplugged". This podcast promises to take listeners behind the sake curta...
Super Chill: Sake Slushies for Summer
July 27, 2022 19:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBEpisode 114. With the recent heatwave, there was one kind of sake that kept grabbing our attention. Not just cold sake, but super-chilled "Mizore" sake. Mizore means sleet in Japanese, and this word describes perfectly the sake slushies we made ourselves for this week's episode. Sake slushies are made by freezing one cup sake or a small bottle to about 25 degrees F without letting it freeze solid. When the sake is then agitated, it transforms by magic into an icy, cool and super refreshi...
Branded: Kamikokoro
July 22, 2022 17:00 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MBEpisode 113. A-ha moments are not one and done. This week, John and Timothy explore a sake brand that was a sake "A-ha 2.0" for them both. Perhaps a bit less well known in Japan compared to some other so-called cult sakes, Kamikokoro is a brand from Okayama that is winning new fans around the world. Kamikokoro has harnessed the power of their renowned local fruit - Yume Hakuto White Peaches - to take their sake to the next level. The Kamikokoro Tokagen Nama sake tasted in this episode ...
Let's Talk Sake Cocktails with Kenta Goto
July 15, 2022 20:00 - 29 minutes - 20.1 MBEpisode 112. When it comes to sake controversies, there is one topic that can give "hot sake vs cold sake" a run for its money - and that is "sake cocktails!" Love them or hate them, cocktails made with sake are an up and coming way for new consumers to get their first exposure to sake. Since this is a somewhat controversial topic, we found the perfect subject matter expert to walk us through the the ins and outs of sake cocktails - Mr. Kenta Goto! He is an award-winning bartender with two...
Extreme Sake: Super Dry
July 07, 2022 17:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MBEpisode 111. What do you get when extreme sake goes mainstream? Chances are, you're looking at a popular style known as Super Dry sake. Referred to as "cho-karakuchi" in Japanese, these boozy, ultra-dry sakes pull a full 180 to the super sweet dessert sakes we've tasted before. Prepare yourself for a sake that puts the alcohol aromas, flavors and finish front and center. The bracing texture of this sake style really wakes you up and might be just the right fit if a dry martini is your fav...
Sake Book Talk: "Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake" (Part 2)
June 28, 2022 22:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBEpisode 110. It's not every day that a new sake book hits the market, so we knew we had to sit down and talk with authors Nancy Matsumoto and Michael Tremblay about their fantastic new tome "Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake: Rice, Water, Earth." Nancy and Michael co-authored this book that focuses on the ingredients in sake and well as the microbes and people that magically transform those ingredients into the beverage we all love. The stories that come out of their research trip...
Sake Book Talk: "Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake" (Part 1)
June 14, 2022 20:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBEpisode 109. It's not every day that a new sake book hits the market, so we knew we had to sit down and talk with authors Nancy Matsumoto and Michael Tremblay about their fantastic new tome "Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake: Rice, Water, Earth." Nancy and Michael co-authored this book that focuses on the ingredients in sake and well as the microbes and people that magically transform those ingredients into the beverage we all love. The stories that come out of their research trip...
108 - Extreme Aged Nama
June 07, 2022 01:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBEpisode 108. What happens when you bend the rules of sake brewing? You can certainly end up with sake that some would call extreme. Case in point- there is some traditional thinking around how to treat "nama" or unpasteurized sake. The often repeated golden rule is to 'keep it chilled' and 'drink it young'! What happens if you decide to long-term age this kind of sake? Today we'll find out! Aged Nama is a new frontier in the world of sake styles. If funky, fun and umami-driven flavors ...
Extreme Sake: Aged Nama
June 07, 2022 01:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBEpisode 108. What happens when you bend the rules of sake brewing? You can certainly end up with sake that some would call extreme. Case in point- there is some traditional thinking around how to treat "nama" or unpasteurized sake. The often repeated golden rule is to 'keep it chilled' and 'drink it young'! What happens if you decide to long-term age this kind of sake? Today we'll find out! Aged Nama is a new frontier in the world of sake styles. If funky, fun and umami-driven flavors ...
Sake Pod Crosstalk: Sugidama Podcast
June 01, 2022 10:00 - 34 minutes - 23.4 MBEpisode 107. While Sake Revolution is currently the only U.S. sake podcast, there are several other podcasters around the world working hard to spread the good word of sake. We thought it would be fun to connect with our international colleagues for a little sake pod "crosstalk" to network and share the sake love. We start with Alex, the intrepid voice behind London's "Sugidama Podcast". He brings sake interviews, history and education and to his interesting episodes. We also take some tim...
Branded: Jikon
May 23, 2022 15:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBEpisode 106. With his family's sake brewery on the verge of closing for good in 2003, Tadayoshi Onishi, at the age of 27, retooled the type of sake they were making by launching a new brand and a new flavor profile. Their "Jikon" label soon gained recognition for its zippy and bright texture all while being approachable and easy drinking. Since then, Jikon has been very much in demand with a limited supply causing some to label this a hard-to-find "cult" sake. Luckily for us, there is so...
Interview with Weston Konishi: President, Sake Brewers Association of North America
May 13, 2022 19:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBEpisode 105. This week we interview and get to know Wes Konishi the President of the Sake Brewer’s Association of North America. Wes gives us the lowdown on the SBANA and their mission to help with establishing North American sake breweries and advocating for legislative form for the U.S. sake industry. Most of us sake lovers remember a special “A-ha” moment where we discovered the joys of premium sake for the first time, but Wes comes prepared with no less than two “a-has” that cemented his...
Sake Vessel Series: Ochoko
May 07, 2022 15:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBEpisode 104. Week in and week out, our standard gear for tasting and evaluating sake is a simple wine glass. This works really well and almost everybody has one nearby. But in Japan, there are a wide variety of shapes, materials and sizes used to make cups for drinking sake. That got us wondering if we should take some other cups out for a test drive and compare them to our usual stemware. This week we are exploring the most common and widely used sake cup: the work-a-day ochoko. Ochokos ar...
Extreme Sake: Wild Yeast
April 30, 2022 17:00 - 33 minutes - 23.4 MBEpisode 103. If you look up "extreme sake" in the dictionary and you may well find a picture of this bottle in there. We are upping the ante on our quest for extreme sakes this week by introducing a brew with a lot of character... and a lot of fans: Tamagawa Heirloom Yamahai Junmai Genshu from Kinoshita Shuzo out of Kyoto. The brainchild of UK-born Master Sake Brewer Phillip Harper, this sake is extreme in its deft use of ambient yeast to create a uniquely wild fermentation starter. Paire...
Aloha Spirit: Islander Sake Brewery
April 19, 2022 16:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBEpisode 102. Who needs a vacation?! If you’re having visions of swaying palm trees and ocean sunsets, this episode may be just what the doctor ordered! This week, we live vicariously through John’s recent trip to Hawaii and his visit to Islander Sake Brewery, makers of Hawaii’s only local sake. John wouldn’t leave us high and dry, so we also get to taste a fruity and zippy Kitashizuku Junmai Ginjo sake from Islander, hand carried by John from Hawaii for this episode. It’s a rare treat that g...
Interview with Daimon Brewery CEO Marcus Consolini
April 10, 2022 18:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBEpisode 101. This week, we have an enlightening and fun interview. We’re joined by Marcus Consolini, a New York City native who became the first non-Japanese owner and CEO of a sake brewery in Japan. In 2017, Marcus was introduced to Osaka’s Daimon Shuzo and with his background in finance and banking, he began a partnership to help guide the 200 year old brewery into new markets and opportunities. With such a unique perspective on the sake industry, both inside Japan and abroad, we knew we’d...
Two Guys, 100 Kanpais: Celebrating 100 Episodes
March 31, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 45.9 MBEpisode 100. This week, we reach a very special milestone - 100 episodes of Sake Revolution! John and Timothy plan to celebrate with a quiet and heartfelt Kanpai together to reflect on the last two years, but - a few interruptions got in the way. Our phones were suddenly blowing up with previous guests of Sake Revolution checking in. You won't believe some of the breaking sake news and updates we received! Did Timothy and John ever get their quiet Kanpai together? Listen in to find out...
A Plum Job: Discovering Umeshu
March 22, 2022 19:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBEpisode 99. Ripening in May each year, Japanese plums have a brief window of being in season. Brewers take advantage of this delicious fruit to make an ever popular style of sake known as "Ume-shu" a.k.a. plum sake. We're not talking about sticky and cloyingly sweet chemical plum wine here but rather a lightly sweet, tart and low alcohol elixir that is made by soaking whole plums in premium sake. These styles of premium umeshu have complexity and go down smooth as silk. John and Timothy d...
Sake À La Carte: Exploring Sake Menus
March 16, 2022 17:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBEpisode 98. What’s on the menu this week? Well, Menus! Sake Menus, that is. We’ve all been there – Sitting in a restaurant, our server asking what we’d like to drink, staring at a sake menu and wondering what the heck to order. Sake menus come in all shapes and sizes and range from the helpful to the downright perplexing. The goal of any sake menu should be to help a customer easily find a sake they will love. And what makes a good sake menu? There is no one answer, but John and Timothy look...
Sake Vessel Series: Sakazuki
March 11, 2022 00:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBEpisode 97. Week in and week out, our standard gear for tasting and evaluating sake is a simple wine glass. This works really well and almost everybody has one nearby. But in Japan, there are a wide variety of shapes, materials and sizes used to make cups for drinking sake. That got us wondering if we should take some other cups out for a test drive and compare them to our usual stemware. Let's start by taking a look at one of the most traditional sake cups there is - the ceremonial Saka...
Sake Spotlight: Miyagi
March 03, 2022 18:00 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MBEpisode 96. Listen at SakeRevolution.com. What's the first thing that pops to mind when you hear the word "Miyagi"? Well, Daniel-san, if you're our age, it might be Mr. Miyagi's "wax on, wax off". But we are digging deeper to discover the real Miyagi - Miyagi Prefecture that is! And, by listener request, we'll be exploring some of the brands and sakes that are a part of this fascinating and resilient region. With only 25 breweries total, Miyagi suffered a major blow during the March 2011 ...
U.S. Sake Brewer Series: SakeOne
February 23, 2022 21:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBEpisode 95. Listen at SakeRevolution.com. Sitting down with another U.S. sake brewer, this week John and Timothy interview Steve Vuylsteke, CEO of SakeOne sake brewery in Oregon. Steve has an extensive background in Oregon wine, not only having grown up in a winery and but also having lead several wineries as CEO over the years. Fate brought Steve to SakeOne in 2009 and since then he's guided the company through the rapid growth of the craft sake movement in the U.S. What's it like to tr...
EXTREME Sake: Super Sweet
February 16, 2022 19:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBEpisode 94. Listen at SakeRevolution.com. This week John and Tim try to keep the episode short and sweet... EXTREMELY sweet, that it! Yes, extreme sakes are back! Listen in as we descend the Sake Meter Value (SMV) scale to taste a sake rated at a stunningly low -86! This super-duper sweet strawberry nigori from Homare Shuzo shatters our expectations on what extremely sweet sake is all about. Made with pure strawberry purée, this funky brew gives us serious Jamba Juice smoothie vibes all w...
94 - EXTREME sweetness
February 16, 2022 19:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBEpisode 94. Listen at SakeRevolution.com. This week John and Tim try to keep the episode short and sweet... EXTREMELY sweet, that it! Yes, extreme sakes are back! Listen in as we descend the Sake Meter Value (SMV) scale to taste a sake rated at a stunningly low -86! This super-duper sweet strawberry nigori from Homare Shuzo shatters our expectations on what extremely sweet sake is all about. Made with pure strawberry purée, this funky brew gives us serious Jamba Juice smoothie vibes all w...
Extreme Sake: Super Sweet
February 16, 2022 19:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBEpisode 94. Listen at SakeRevolution.com. This week John and Tim try to keep the episode short and sweet... EXTREMELY sweet, that it! Yes, extreme sakes are back! Listen in as we descend the Sake Meter Value (SMV) scale to taste a sake rated at a stunningly low -86! This super-duper sweet strawberry nigori from Homare Shuzo shatters our expectations on what extremely sweet sake is all about. Made with pure strawberry purée, this funky brew gives us serious Jamba Juice smoothie vibes all w...
Survival Japanese for Sake
February 11, 2022 18:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBEpisode 93. It is a truth universally acknowledged that, when visiting a foreign country, learning a few words of the local language can go a long way to enhancing your experience. We certainly agree and this is doubly true when visiting a sake bar in Japan. This week, Tim and John will introduce you to their "Survival Japanese" for navigating the all important conversations around ordering sake in Japanese. Move beyond a simple Kanpai and learn to describe some sake flavors and tempera...
Extreme Sake: Minimal Milling
February 02, 2022 17:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBEpisode 92. Listen at SakeRevolution.com. Are you ready to get EXTREME? In a new series, Timothy and John explore the fringes of what sake can be, taking on the expressions of sake that really push the envelope. To start things off, we look at a sake that has undergone only a bit of rice polishing - just a scant 10% milled away to leave us with a full 90% seimaibuai remaining. Most premium sakes clock in at 70% or often much less of the rice grain remaining. How will the minimal milling ...
Sake Spotlight: Yamagata
January 25, 2022 23:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBEpisode 91. This week we train our sake spotlight on another perennial favorite prefecture: Yamagata. Quite rightly known as the "Ginjo Kingdom", Yamagata has one of the highest percentages of premium sake production of any prefecture in Japan. The Yamagata Sake Brewer's Association has united the 50 breweries in the prefecture to focus their production, starting in the 1980s, on more aromatic, floral and fruity ginjo style sakes. There is no better poster child for this than the popular ...
Married to Sake Reunion
January 20, 2022 05:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MBEpisode 90. What better way to kick off a new year on the show than to have a reunion with two ultimate VIPs who are indeed "married to sake". This time, we get Myshell and Scott, the Sake Revolution Spouses, back for another episode but this time... together! How did they feel about their previous episodes? What is it like to be married to a sake-lebrity? Do they mind being locked away every week while John and Tim Record? John and Timothy also break out a Hiyaoroshi-style sake to tast...
Eat Your Sake?!
January 11, 2022 22:00 - 32 minutes - 22.7 MBEpisode 89. We've all sipped sake from a glass, and you may have even used sake in cooking, but did you know its also possible to eat your sake as well? This week John and Timothy take a look at a very unique style of sake called kijoshu. It is made by replacing some of the water used in creating the fermentation mash with finished sake. This fortifies the mash and in turn creates a rich, sweet dessert-style sake that is often aged to deepen the flavor. Taste-wise, it could be compared to...
A Visit with Japan Eats
January 05, 2022 16:00 - 51 minutes - 35.3 MBEpisode 88. This week, something a little different! Back in Oct 2021, John and Timothy were guests on the Japan Eats! Podcast, hosted by our friend Akiko Katayama. As we take a week off for the holidays, enjoy this replay of our visit to Japan Eats! The topic was: "You found out you like sake - Now What??" We had a great time talking with Akiko and we hope you'll enjoy the listen! We'll be back to our regular format next week. Until then, Happy New Year and, as always, kanpai! Suppo...
Sake Revolution 2021 Recap: Our Year in Sake
December 28, 2021 16:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBEpisode 87. With 2021 drawing to a close, it's time to take a look back at the sake year that was. Join us this week for some casual sipping and some discussion on the highlights, surprises and challenges of this past year's sake adventures. But we're not only looking back, we are also looking ahead to 2022 and coming up with a new set of our annual Sake Revolution Resolutions - setting our sake goals for the year ahead. Did you have a favorite Sake Revolution Episode from this year? Let ...
Roll Out the Barrel: Exploring Taru Sake
December 23, 2021 01:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBEpisode 86. This week, we take on a listener request and roll out the barrel - the sake barrel that is. Taru sake is a unique style of sake that is aged in "sugi" or Japanese cedar. This barrel aging allows the sake to take on a warm, woody and soothing aroma and flavor. At the first sip it is unmistakeable, but also mysterious. Once upon a time in Japan, all sake was Taru, as this wood was the principal material used to construct wooden brewing tanks and shipping barrels. With the advent...
Give the Gift of Sake
December 14, 2021 22:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBEpisode 85. The holidays are here and gift giving is high on the to-do list for a lot of us. One thing that we love to give and receive is, of course, a bottle of sake. But before you pull the trigger there are a number of considerations when giving sake. John and Timothy discuss what types of sake work well for what occasions and how you can dress up a bottle of sake with a stylish “furoshiki” or include a sake cup or carafe along with the bottle. Not sure if your friend is a friend of sake...
Tis the Season: Sake Advent Calendar
December 06, 2021 04:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBEpisode 84. The Holidays are our favorite time of year! And sake, of course, is our favorite beverage. This week, we explore a new project that brings them together like never before. Online sake retailer Namazake Paul has released the first Sake Advent Calendar! That's right! 23 Sake cups and a full size bottle to enjoy on the 24th. The sake cups arrive in a big rectangular box that, when opened, reveals the cutest illustration of a snowy christmas village filled with cartoon animals enjo...
Interview with Sam Barickman - Tasting Kozaemon
November 29, 2021 16:00 - 32 minutes - 22.7 MBEpisode 83. We love a good sake interview and today we have a great one! We are joined by our friend Sam Barickman who has worked in just about every aspect of the sake industry. Sam has worked not only for a sake brewery but he has also introduced sake to the public as a sake sommelier in high end restaurants. Currently Sam is active in sake distribution and sales with a new distribution company, Sipt Global. We sit down with Sam to learn about his path into the sake industry and it invo...
Sake Etiquette
November 24, 2021 13:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBEpisode 82. Japan is well known as an exceedingly polite country but along with this comes a bevy of rules and regulations to guide manners and behaviors for just about every social situation. This applies to sake drinking as well with a list of dos and don'ts when it comes to drinking culture. This week Tim and John explore the world of sake etiquette and all that that entails. From how to pour sake to how to receive sake, do you know the rules? The more formal the situation, the more l...
Sake Spotlight: Nagano
November 13, 2021 20:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBEpisode 81. This week, let's peruse another prefecture and visit what's known as the "Roof of Japan", the mountainous, landlocked and high altitude Nagano Prefecture. This prefecture is most widely known as the host of the 1998 Winter Olympics but it is also famous for its photogenic snow monkeys that love to warm up in the onsen hot springs in winter. The many towering mountain chains of Nagano provide snow melt water to much of the region and because of this, Nagano has the second highest ...
Wild Rice: Gohyakumangoku
November 06, 2021 18:00 - 27 minutes - 19.3 MBEpisode 80. It's time to get wild again! Wild about sake rice, that is. This week we zero in on a premium sake rice that is elegant and a true workhorse: Gohyakumangoku. This is not a sake rice name that rolls off the tongue on first glance, but it is well worth getting to know. Once you've conquered the pronunciation, the rest is pure enjoyment. Gohyakumangoku is the second most produced premium sake rice in Japan and comes from the land of clean, crisp and dry sake: Niigata Prefecture. ...
Focus on Filtering
October 27, 2021 16:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MBEpisode 79. This week we pay another visit to the Sake Education Corner to focus on what is known as "roka" or fine particulate filtering. this can be done by both a activated carbon powder or by a micron filter. The sake industry is full of debate as to whether filtering strips all the personality out of sake, or provides a clarity for color and flavor. At the end of the day it is up to our palate and our preferences! To test the waters, we are sampling one "muroka" or non-charcoal fil...
Branded: Tedorigawa
October 17, 2021 19:00 - 31 minutes - 21.3 MBEpisode 78. Movies about sake are few and far between, so you can bet that "The Birth of Sake" caught our attention when it was released as a feature length documentary in 2015. It profiles a brewing season at Yoshida Shuzoten, the makers of Tedorigawa brand sake out of Ishikawa Prefecture. The story centers on Yasuyuki Yoshida, the 7th generation heir to the brewery and chronicles his path to learning the skills not only to take over as brewery president, but also be come the new master b...
Sake Day 2021 Recap
October 11, 2021 16:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MBEpisode 77. October 1st is the biggest day of the year for us - it's World Sake Day! 2021 saw Sake Day reemerge from the cancellations of last year and there was an array of in-person events happening from coast to coast. This episode is a recap and overview of some of those events. Mark your calendars now if you'd like to get involved with sake day next year. We also get in our usual sake tasting with two fresh and delightful brews: Dan Junmai Ginjo from Sasaichi Brewery and Gangi Hito...
Branded: Mutsu Hassen
October 05, 2021 17:00 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MBEpisode 76. Another week, another brand profile! Join us as we travel up north to the very top of Honshu – to Aomori Prefecture. Located a stone’s throw from the coastal shoreline, Hachinohe Shuzo has been crafting sake in Aomori since 1775. More recently, two brothers have taken over at the Brewery, Hideyuki and Nobuyuki Komai and they began steering their small batch “Mutsu Hassen” brand in exciting new directions. With tweaks to the traditional sake brewing orthodoxy, such as using white...
Say it with Flowers: Hana Kobo
September 27, 2021 04:00 - 35 minutes - 24.7 MBEpisode 75. This week, the Sake Revolution is running on flower power! We're talking specifically about "hana kobo" or flower yeast. Yes, that is yeast for fermentation that is isolated from an acutal bloom and propagated for use in sake. While not something every brewery does, this is a delightfully scented niche in the world of sake. Backed by a research institute at Tokyo's Nodai University, there has been a true blossoming in the understanding and use of these special yeasts to make som...
Sake Spotlight: Kyoto
September 19, 2021 01:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBEpisode 74. Kyoto is one of Japan's most well known tourist destinations. If you think of Kyoto, you'll probably envision geishas, green tea and gardens. But did you know, this city was not only the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years but it has also been key player in sake culture and history for centuries? This week John and Timothy travel virtually to Kyoto and discuss some of it's history and stories of their past visits to this amazing sake center. We'll learn about their shared fa...
Cute Overload: Kawaii Sake Labels
September 12, 2021 18:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBEpisode 73. Can you judge a book by its cover? Or a sake by its label? This week, John and Timothy put this to the test. Now there are a lot of label styles out there, so they each found a sake label with a common style: a "kawaii" or super cute label on the bottle. One is a Muppet-like abominable snowman with a shaggy coat and saucer-like eyes. The other is an adorable kitty drinking sake while surrounded by symbols of good luck. When we looked a little deeper, both labels actually have...