Yaoshin Shuzo Gangi
Junmai Murooka Hiya Oroshi Yamadanishiki

I first recall trying Sagaminada at the Young Brewers’ event at the Hotel Eminence just outside Shibuya in June. This is one of my favorite sake events each year around Tokyo: Not too big, not too small, and always excellent sake to try from younger up-and-coming brewers. This is where you can try nihonshu from craftsmen establishing their own style. So, there are plenty of opportunities to find something new and interesting. Sagaminada certainly fit the bill.

Although they may have been new to me, others have been paying attention this year with a favorable mention in March 2009 issue of the fine food and beverage magazine Dancyu. If you visit the website for Kubota Shuzo, makers of Sagaminada, you’ll find a very unprepossessing photo of the kura on the front page and simple links to brief profiles and descriptions in Japanese. This is a small brewer producing 250 koku per year with a small staff averaging just 29 years old. Their stated goal is to balance sweetness and acidity for a clean sake that goes well with food and still reflects the umami of the rice. I think they are doing very well at achieving those goals.

One reason why Sagaminada caught my interest is that they are almost my second “local”. Work takes me out to Machida and Sagamihara everyday, so these guys are my nearest sake brewery. They really have respect from their community. One of the main restaurants that specializes in sake just in front of JR Fuchinobe Station proudly serves Sagaminada side-by-side with Urakasumi. The local sakaya prominently features Sagaminada too. That’s where I picked up a bottle of their Tokubetsu Junmai Murooka the other day.

There is good acidity here and they met their goal of balance. It definitely went well on its own or with some snacks like dried fish or edamame and then grilled chicken and veggies. Et-chan and I agreed that it still tasted a bit young and may need to settle down a bit. If there was a slight hint of something medicinal, it soon clears away with a very good, clean finish. I will pick this one up again some evening after work. And, when the time is right, I’ll call the brothers and schedule a visit for a few interested teachers one Friday after work.

Kubota Shuzo: Established 1844
Brewers of Sagaminada
Tsukui-gun, Tsukui-machi, Nekoya 702
TEL. 0427-84-0045
FAX. 0427-84-2225

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