Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Appare
Small Brewery Sake Bringing Out the Characteristics of the Rice.
It takes a true master to unlock the very soul of rice and transform it into the flavor of sake. At Senkoma Shuzo, that master is Chuji Kikuchi, the head of manufacturing. He is an artisan who wields premium sake rices like 'Gohyakumangoku' and 'Ginpu' with expert skill.
"I identify the unique 'quirks' of the rice, and then I consider the perfect combination of koji and yeast. It’s a level of detail we can only achieve because we are a small brewery," Mr. Kikuchi says modestly. But he understates the complexity of his work. The factors that define the final sake are countless, all intricately intertwined. From this dizzying number of possibilities, Mr. Kikuchi finds the one true path to a single, delicious drop. He is, in essence, a doctor of sake.
"Our brewing water is a gift from the Nasu mountain range," Mr. Kikuchi says with a proud laugh. "It's subsoil water, rich in potassium and calcium, but free of the iron and manganese that hinder fermentation. It’s ideal for sake brewing. This water is the secret to our sake's umami." The sake of Senkoma Shuzo is just like that gushing spring water—impossibly smooth. It’s a taste you’ll want to lose yourself in.
The brewery is located in Shirakawa, a city steeped in history and surrounded by nature. The kura (storehouse) itself is a piece of that history, recognized as one of the city's historical buildings, still breathing the atmosphere of the past. "We use calligraphy brushed by the artist Shoko Kanazawa for our Senkoma logo," explains President Kei Sakurai. "We draw inspiration from this powerful artwork, and it fuels our entire team's commitment to strive for new heights and even greater quality."
This is a brewery that walks a perfect balance. They faithfully protect the classic flavors cherished by their community and hold fast to time-honored traditions. At the same time, they are innovators, actively developing new products and expanding their craft to a wide lineup that even includes shochu and liqueurs.
Senkoma Shuzo
While protecting tradition, "Senkoma Shuzo" continues its sincere sake brewing with constant innovation and evolution.
They have a wide variety of drinks to enjoy with the changing seasons, from winter-brewed sake to authentic shochu and plum wine.
Among them are sake filled with the passion of the brewers at Senkoma Shuzo! 🍶💗
Today, we hear from the toji, Mr. Chuji Kikuchi, as he introduces "Senkoma" and "Campanella"!
▶︎ "Senkoma," Loved Since the Brewery's Founding
The Shirakawa region has long been famous for its horse markets. The sake "Senkoma" was born as a prayer for people's health and happiness, entrusting the sound of a young colt's hooves and its powerful image to the spirit of the drink.
"Junmai Daiginjo Senkoma" is a top-grade sake made with premium rice polished down to 40%. It features a fruity aroma and a gentle sweetness derived from the rice, and it won the "Grand Gold Medal" at the Wine Glass de Oishii Nihonshu Award! 🏆☆
▶︎ "Campanella," Full of Dreams and Hope
This is a sake filled with "dreams," using "Utsukushima Yume yeast" that made an epic journey of over 700 orbits around the Earth, and "Yumenokaori" rice from Fukushima Prefecture. It was brewed on the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake to express gratitude for recovery support and hope for the future.
A Junmai Daiginjo polished to 50%, it is slightly sweet with a refreshing aroma of apple and muscat grapes. 🌿 Its character changes with temperature, offering a beautiful flavor that might even bring scenes of the cosmos to mind.
🏘️: Senkoma Shuzo @senkomashuzou
📍: 15-1 Nengumachi, Shirakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture
Brewery tours are also available, where you can enjoy the atmosphere of the charming wooden storehouse and the faint aroma of the brewery.
The shop is also filled with many attractive Senkoma products, so please be sure to visit! 😊
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