[Directly told by the sake brewery president and chief brewer] What is the sake snack series?
・I like drinking sake, but what kind of snacks should I pair it with?
・I get tired of always eating the same snacks...
・What kind of food goes well with this quality of sake?
Have you ever faced any of these problems when drinking sake? ?
I have so much! ! (lol)
I think the compatibility between sake and snacks is an important element that can bring out the flavors of each other the more you get addicted to it, making it a blissful moment!
At hands-on SAKE,In order to provide such a moment, we ask brewers about their recommended snacks during the monthly online sake brewery study abroad program.
This time, we will set up a brewery in Isahaya City, Nagasaki Prefecture.[Kine no Kawa]traditional sake"barrel sake"and the next generation of alcohol"The beginning is the beginning"We learned about the pairing that goes well with it!
Kikinokawa, which has a long history and various characteristics, is a sake brewery that is constantly evolving by incorporating the latest trends.
We will be introducing some Japanese sake snacks that reflect this mindset! !
What is Hands-on SAKE's online sake brewery study abroad experience?
Online sake brewery study abroad isA sake mail order service that allows you to connect directly with local alcohol makers and toast together while staying at home.It is.
You can also taste the thoughts and personality of the sake brewer, and through sake you can learn about life and create new connections.
Having fun learning with friends who live far away will make your regular drinks even more delicious and flavorful.
One of the best parts of studying abroad at an online brewery is being able to directly ask brewers about their recommended pairing menus, like this time.
※Overview and schedule of online sake brewery study abroadetc.herePlease take a look!
About Kinokawa
Sake"Kine no Kawa" "Dawn"Kinokawa Co., Ltd., which brews
The brewery is located in Isahaya City, which is a transportation hub in Nagasaki Prefecture and is one of the leading grain producing areas.
[A brewery that nurtures good people and good sake]
Our brand mission isWe aim to make sake that goes well with local meals.
In addition, in recent years, there has been a direct sales office in the warehouse.“Kuramoto Factory Kikawayoka”We have opened a bar and gallery to provide opportunities for direct contact with customers.
Events such as brewery openings are held regularly.[Tourist sake brewery]We continue to convey our charm.
Four characteristics of Kinokawa
Japan's first "Four Seasons Brewing"
The river of the pestle isIn 1961It was the first brewery in Japan to operate four-season brewing, and has a history of delivering this system to Okinawa's only sake brewery, "Taiseki Sake Brewery."
Four seasons brewing literally means brewing sake throughout the year, ``spring, summer, fall, and winter.''
Unlike traditional sake brewing, which is brewed from winter to early spring due to temperature control, four-season brewing allows sake to be brewed regardless of the season thanks to the well-equipped air conditioning equipment.
The only barrel craftsman in Nagasaki Prefecture
In the river of the pestleThe only barrel craftsman in Nagasaki PrefectureWe employ a craftsman named Yasushi Ichinose.
Originally, the Ichinose craftsman was delivering barrels to the Kinokawa River, but about 20 years ago,The company had decided to close down due to the slump in demand for barrels.
When I visited Kinokawa to tell him about this, I was invited by the third generation brewer at the time., decided to join the company.
Made with cedar barrels that incorporate the skill and commitment of craftsmen."barrel sake"is a very popular product at the annual brewery opening, and has become Kikinokawa's signature alcoholic beverage.
And its ability isInternational Wine Challenge (IWC)So much so that it won a gold medal! !
The first female chief brewer in Nagasaki Prefecture
Currently, President Seto's younger sister is the fourth-generation chief brewer at Kinokawa."Ritsuko Seto"Chief brewer.
He was appointed after the retirement of Chief Brewer Tanaka, who had worked as President Seto's partner for many years.
This results inThe first female chief brewer in Nagasaki Prefecturewas born.
"Toji Team"Ritsuko, the brewer, has worked together as one to inherit the Ki-no-kawa style of sake brewing that is loved by the locals.
We create alcoholic beverages and liqueurs with the creator's passion while valuing communication with contracted farmers.A brewer who embodies “a brewery that nurtures good people and good sake” more than anyone else.You could say that.
In 2020, Kinokawa started a project aimed at ``creating new Kinokawa fans,'' centered around Ritsuko, the brewer, and young employees with little company experience.
The name too[Sakehashi PROJECT]
The word ``Sakehashi'' has the meaning of serving as a ``bridge'' for passing on Japanese sake to the younger generation, and we are taking on various challenges, such as planning events where people can drink alcohol while camping and bonfires.
in-house designer
In-house designer Masakazu Eguchi has breathed new life into Kinokawa.
Originally, I worked at a printing company and supported Kinnokawa's public relations and projects from outside the company, but when I reached the milestone of 20 years at the company, I"I want to support Japanese culture"With this feeling in mind, I joined Kinokawa.
On October 1, 2023 (Sake Day),New facility“Kuramoto Factory Kinakayoka”Open.
As a sake brewery with a history of 180 years, we want to contribute to the community."Fermented tourism" "Tourist sake brewery"With this keyword in mind, we renovated an old bottling factory and warehouse.
The new facility, which maintains the buildings and machinery of the long-established establishment while incorporating new features, is equipped with a brewery's direct sales store selling local specialties, a gallery, and a bar counter, and serves as a tourist spot.
[Kine no Kawa]
〒854-0056
17-4 Hashinoocho, Isahaya City, Nagasaki Prefecture
TEL：0957-22-5600
FAX:0957-24-5825
HP:https://www.kinokawa.co.jp/
Online shop:https://www.kinokawa.shop/
*Click here for a detailed article on Kikinokawa.
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Sake introduced this time
These are the two types of sake we will be introducing this time! !
1. Kinokawa Taruzake
2. Sakehashi Junmai Ginjo Hajimari Hajimari
We would like to introduce each feature and pairing menu right away!
Pairing menu for “Kinokawa Taruzake”
Barrel sake marinated in cedar barrels painstakingly made by Kinokawa barrel craftsmen.
The barrels are made from Yoshino cedar from Nara Prefecture,"Smells nice..."The scent is so soothing that you can't help but think of it.
The sake that is marinated in the barrel is ``regular sake,'' which is low in alcohol and has a gentle sweetness, but also has a slightly sharp taste, typical of Kikinokawa.
The scent of cedar leaves your mouth feeling refreshed, and the drink is clear and easy to drink.
It is an alcoholic beverage that goes well with strongly seasoned dishes and can be enjoyed as a companion drink.
Surprisingly, the time spent in the barrelApproximately 18 to 20 hoursThat's what he said.
If soaked for longer than this, the harshness and oil content of the cedar will be emphasized, so it is best to leave it for less than a day to bring out the beautiful taruka aroma.
This ease of drinking is perhaps the secret behind Kikinokawa's most popular product and winning the IWC Gold Medal.
If you want to make the barrel aroma a little stronger, you can enjoy the scent even more by putting cedar wood shavings in a tea bag or something like that and letting it float in the glass.♪
| raw rice | Yamada Nishiki and Reihou rice grown under contract |
|---|---|
| Rice polishing ratio | 75% |
| Alcohol level | 14 degrees |
| Japanese sake level | -6 |
| acidity | 2.0 |
| Amino acid content | 1.8 |
| Recommended temperature range | Cool slightly and bring to room temperature |
Pairing menu
Kikinokawa Barrel Sake Pairing
- Grilled eel
- Miso stew of mackerel
- Yakitori sauce
The scent of cedar has antibacterial and aromatic effects.It is said that barrel sake also cleanses the palate.
Therefore, the food and snacks always feel fresh and delicious, and it is best to pair it with something rich in flavor!
Grilled eel
Isahaya City is famous for eel, which goes perfectly with kabayaki! !
Isahaya's kabayaki is a famous dish with a tradition dating back to the Edo period, called ``Rakuyaki eel.''
After grilling, it is steamed in a unique double-bottomed vessel called ``Rakuyaki,'' resulting in an exquisite fluffy texture that melts on your tongue.
The combination of the aroma of eel and the elegant scent of cedar will transport the drinker to a time of relaxation.♪
Miso stew of mackerel
Miso-stewed mackerel is also a great dish to go with alcohol!
The sweet and rich miso sauce and the umami of the mackerel pair well with the slightly sweet Kinokawa barrel sake.♪
The scent of cedar will eliminate the fishy smell of blue fish, so you can concentrate on the flavor and enjoy the pleasure of pouring!
Yakitori sauce
Yakitori, the classic snack, is a must-try! !
In particular, the yakitori, which is grilled with a rich sauce that has been added over the years, is packed with the flavor of the ingredients and sauce, and you'll want to fill your mouth with it!
The aroma of slightly burnt sauce and the elegant scent of barrel sake.
I think you could drink it just for the scent of both.♪
“Sakehashi Junmai Ginjo Hajimari Hajimari” Pairing Menu”
Kinokawa's new project“Sakehashi PROJECT”An alcoholic drink created as part of the first product project.
Based on the concept of ``the beginning'' to serve as a bridge for the younger generation who are not familiar with sake, the sake is designed to have a sake content of -20 to make it easy to drink, resulting in a sweet and juicy Junmai Ginjo.
In addition, without being bound by the traditional concept of sake, Ritsuko brewer aims to create a sake that can be paired with hamburgers, fries, sweets, etc.“Kyokai Yeast No.77”The sake has a sweet and sour quality.
An interesting point about Konohajima Hajimari is that you can enjoy it in a variety of ways, including straight, on the rocks, and with soda.♪
The label design for Hajima Hajimari was created by Mr. Eguchi.
The symbol mark in the center is a combination of a green "7" in the normal position and a pink "7" in the reverse position, in honor of "Kyokai Yeast No. 77."
This mark, which resembles the number 0 (zero), signifies the beginning of everything.
In addition, the green color represents sake and the pink color represents the feelings of the brewer, and this mark contains the story that when these two elements are combined, a ``bridge'' is created between people who are new to sake.
| raw rice | 100% Yamada Nishiki from Isahaya |
|---|---|
| Rice polishing ratio | 60% |
| Alcohol level | 15 degrees |
| Japanese sake level | -20 |
| acidity | 3.6 |
| Amino acid content | 1.8 |
| Recommended temperature range | 5-15° (cold, room temperature) |
| How to drink | Straight, on the rocks, carbonated water, tonic water |
Pairing menu
Sakehashi Junmai Ginjo Hajimari Hajimari Pairing
- mimolette
- hamburger
- apple pie
``Hajimari Hajimari'' has a gentle apple-like sweet and sour taste, and we recommend pairing it with a Western liquor snack!
The range of pairings is wide depending on how you drink it, and you can easily drink it with fast food, so I think it's perfect for home parties and outdoors.♪
mimolette
Mimolette is a round cheese with a bright orange cross section.
It has a cheese-like chewiness and is rich in flavor, so much so that it can be likened to mullet roe.
He is a perfect actor as a side dish.
It goes well with the sweet and sour "Hajimari Hajimari", and you'll want to enjoy the brightness of malic acid and the taste of aged cheese.♪
hamburger
The true value of ``Hajimari Hajimari'' is that it can easily be paired with fast food such as hamburgers! !
Wash it down with sake while biting into a hearty hamburger with a meaty patty, cheese, bacon, and lettuce sandwiched between buns.
This is what the future of sake life will look like! (lol)
The sweet and sour ``Hajimari Hajimari'' has a Western liquor feel, so it goes perfectly with bread and meat!
I would like you to drink it in various ways and pair it with fast food.♪
apple pie
“Hajimari Hajimari” can also be paired with sweets!
Apple pie, with its heartwarming melting apples wrapped in crispy pastry, is the perfect match for alcoholic beverages, which are characterized by malic acid.♪
What kind of drink goes well with apple pie, which allows you to enjoy the two textures of pie crust and apple?
It might be fun to find out what you like!
If you want to drink sake at home, study abroad at an online sake brewery
・I want to go on a sake brewery tour, but I don't have time...
・I want to increase my knowledge of various types of sake!
・I want a friend who loves sake!
If so, please join our online sake brewery study abroad program.♪
Each time we hold an event with a different sake brewery and a different theme related to sake, you can have valuable experiences such as the opportunity to interact directly with the brewer and have serious discussions with international students.
Would you like to have a drink time that is a little different than usual in search of new discoveries and encounters?
If you are interested, please join us below!
We look forward to your participation.♪
Online sake brewery study abroad process
① Alcohol will be delivered in advance!
・After applying for the online sake brewery study abroad program, the sake will be delivered to your home.
② Participate in online sake brewery study abroad!
・Cheers with the creator! (ZOOM or YouTube LIVE)
・Divided into the first and second halves, we will explore the key points of Oshizo while interacting with everyone.
③ You can make drinking friends all over the country!
・Exchange information online with sake fans from all over the country and make drinking friends.
You can read the report summarizing past online sake brewery study abroad experiences here, so please check it out!
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With the creator"Connect"
The thoughts of the creator"Peek"
our worldview"Spread"
Cheers with a hands-on pose again next time!
