In-Store Saturday Tastings – Chris Presents The September Tasting Line Up!
September 5th - Fukushima Prefecture Tasting with True Sake Staff
As the sake industry as a whole ramps up for our 21st Annual Sake Day event at the Hotel Kabuki, that means some importers and distributors might be too busy to pour during our weekly Sake Saturday Tasting Series, which is totally understandable.
With that being said, the True Sake Staff will step up to the plate and fill that time slot with a fun Fukushima Prefecture tasting! There are many reasons why Fukushima is so famous when it comes to sake: Pristine soft water, amazing region specific sake rice like Yume no Kaori, good diurnal temperature range for growing rice, brewery camaraderie and collaboration, advanced prefectural technical research, and kurabito training across more than 50 different breweries. Wow! Put in the work, and get gold medals.
We'll be samping sake from Otokoyama Shuzouten (makers of Aizu Otokoyama), Miyaizumi Meijo Brewery (makers of Sharaku), and Nagurayama Shuzo (makers of Aizu Shikon). Stop by this tasting and find out what gold medals taste like! *Not literally.
WHEN: Sat, September 5th from 2:00 – 4:00 PM
WHERE: True Sake, 556 Hayes Street
WHO: True Sake Staff!
WHAT: Free Sake Tasting for 21+ with ID
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September 12th - Junmai Ginjo Nama Tasting with True Sake Staff
The next tasting we have planned for September is a Junmai Ginjo Nama tasting. A little more specific, because not all Nama are the same. Anytime a customer tells us they love Nama, we always have to follow up with, "What kind of Nama do you like?" Come to this tasting and see if this is the type of Nama you like!
Junmai Ginjo Nama is a fun category because you obviously get the fun Nama aspects, but you also get the fruitier and refined styles (generally speaking) that a Junmai Ginjo can bring too.
We'll be pouring sake from Sakai Shuzo from Yamaguchi Prefecture (makers of Gokyo), Matsuura Shuzo from Ishikawa Prefecture (makers of Shishinosato), and Sasaichi Sake Brewery (makers of Dan). Three totally different Junmai Ginjo Nama expressions that will definitely make you think. Get out of your comfort zone and do not miss out on this fun tasting!
WHEN: Saturday, September 12th from 2:00 – 4:00 PM
WHERE: True Sake 556 Hayes Street
WHO: True Sake Staff!
WHAT: Free Sake Tasting for 21+ with ID
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September 19th - Karakuchi Tasting with True Sake Staff
Our good customer Imamura-san happened to be at the shop as we were planning our September Saturday Tastings. I asked Imamura-san what kind of tasting he would like to see, and he quickly said, "Karakuchi tasting!" Ask and you shall receive!
Karakuchi literally means dry mouth, or dry taste. It's a style of sake that lots of customers ask for here at True Sake, and we can definitely oblige. Dry sake pairs well with rich food, fried food, or just simply put izakaya pub fare. Of course, it would also go great with sushi like fatty tuna or other richer fish.
Our dry karakuchi sake lineup will include Daisekkei Shuzo from Nagano Prefecture, Shuho Shuzojo from Yamagata Prefecture, and Kita Shuzo (makers of Kirakucho) from Shiga Prefecture. These are most likely newer brands to the seasoned dry sake drinkers, so come on out and expand your horizons! Kubota and Suigei fans should definitely come to this and try something new!
WHEN: Saturday, September 19th from 2:00 – 4:00 PM
WHERE: True Sake 556 Hayes Street
WHO: True Sake Staff
WHAT: Free Sake Tasting for 21+ with ID
September 23rd - Zaku and Bijofu Tasting @ Biergarten
We are kicking off the lead up to Sake Day with an amazing PRE SAKE DAY event earlier in the week. If you were one of the unlucky few that could not secure a ticket to Sake Day, we have a fun event planned for you at Biergarten right here in Hayes Valley, San Francisco.
Friend of True Sake, Sven, is graciously hosting our guests from Japan, Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten (makers of Zaku, and the brewery donating the Sake Day Welcome Sake) and Hamakawa Shoten Brewery (makers of Bijofu). Both breweries will have members of the family business in attendance, and we are so humbled and honored to have them too. Also in attendance will be our importer friends that are making this possible, Sachiko Miyagi and Skurnik Sake.
It's not too common to have actual Japanese breweries in attendance at our events. Come take advantage of the opportunity to meet the breweries, and let's show our friends from Japan that San Francisco loves sake!
WHEN: Wednesday, September 23rd from 4:00 – 7:00 PM
WHERE: Biergarten Hayes Valley 424 Octavia St
WHO: Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten (makers of Zaku) and Hamakawa Shoten (makers of Bijofu) visiting from Japan
WHAT: Sake will be offered by the glass and by the bottle in exchange for USA monies.
September 26th - 21st Annual Sake Day San Francisco @ Hotel Kabuki
Yes, the 21st Annual Sake Day event is here! Not to toot our own horn, but this is arguably the biggest sake event in North America. Unfortunately, this event is sold out.
WHEN: Saturday, September 26th from 4:00 – 8:00 PM
WHERE: Hotel Kabuki 1625 Post Street
WHO: True Sake, San Francisco's premier Japanese sake specialty store.
WHAT: The 21st Annual Sake Day!