Norman

9.2

Ura-Gasanryu Koka (裏・雅山流 香華) — GREEN bottle

Brewery: Shindo Shuzoten, Yonezawa, Yamagata
Classification: Honjozo
Rice: Yamagata-grown rice
Polishing: 65%
ABV: 14%
Style: Ura-Gasanryu series

Brewer description: Designed around a fresh, fragrant character with a clean, light palate. Soft aromatics and an easy, refreshing finish emphasize drinkability rather than weight.

Tasted at Sake Day SF — 9/26/2026. Rating is limited since the same glass was reused throughout the tasting, making it difficult to get a truly clean tasting and accurate read on the aromas.

Very good and underrated. Excellent value. Not something I would bring to a serious restaurant, but I would absolutely buy it for home or at a casual restaurant. — 14 days ago

Lunett/ Yosshi

Sake Specialist Hasegawa Sake Shop Tokyo

8.9

Eiko Fuji Yaminarishuusui/ Yamagata prefecture, Japan/ Fuji Shuzo / juicy fizz sweet taste — 9 months ago

Louis Martin

9.2

Fruity, with a bit of a harder mineral alcohol bite to the finish. Paired nicely with a tempura squash dish. — 5 years ago

Ichiro Kawachi

9.2

Nama genshu/ gas kan/ wild nama nose / juicy sanmi / yes “total amount of Yamada nishki” — 8 years ago

Daniel Evans

9.0

Smooth, creamy, sliding over an alcoholic back of the throat baby burn — 8 years ago

Lunett/ Yosshi

Sake Specialist Hasegawa Sake Shop Tokyo

8.9

Kikuhime yamahai junmai nomikiri genshu/ Kikuhime goushigaisha/ Ishikawa prefecture/ yamadanishiki/ rice polish ratio: 70%/ — 9 years ago

Lunett/ Yosshi

Sake Specialist Hasegawa Sake Shop Tokyo

8.9

Taikan/ Morishima shuzou/ Ibaraki prefecture/ yamadanishiki/ limited junmaidaiginjo brewed for competition/ — 9 years ago

Norman

9.1

Takenotsuyu (竹の露) Silent Snow

Brewery: Takenotsuyu Sake Brewery, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
Classification: Junmai Hatsushibori
Style: First pressing / freshly pressed
Appearance: Lightly cloudy
Bottle: 300ml
Storage: Keep refrigerated

Brewer description: Silent Snow, a Junmai first-pressing sake. The label presents it as a fresh, lightly cloudy expression evocative of newly fallen snow.

Tasted at Sake Day SF — 9/26/2026. Rating is limited since the same glass was reused throughout the tasting, making it difficult to get a truly clean tasting and accurate read on the aromas. Supposedly this goes with steak. I would try it again. — 14 days ago

Julia K

9.1

A special lunch sake. — 5 months ago

Bryan Mooney

9.5

Fruity like melon — 10 months ago

Yuri

9.2

Fairwell drinks for Inoue-san! — 5 years ago

Drew Miller

9.4

Nice, dry, and not sweet. Super smooth. Didn’t quite catch the flavor off there but it has some subtle notes. Love it. — 8 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Refreshing acidity, with umami and earthy notes — 9 years ago

Sean O'Hare

10

Dewazakura is my favorite Sake brand. I am so happy to have found it locally, especially with all the other local brewers competing for shelf space. — 9 years ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Melon and delicate lucid fruit. Clear and precise — 7 days ago

Norman

9.1

Ohyama Tokubetsu Junmai Nama – Summer Release

Brewery: Kato Kahachiro Shuzo, Yamagata
Type: Tokubetsu Junmai Nama
Rice: Dewa no Sato
Polishing: 60%
Yeast: Yamagata NF-KA + Kyokai 1801
ABV: 15%
SMV: ±0 to +1
Acidity: 1.45–1.55
Amino Acid: 1.1–1.2
Pasteurization: None (Nama)
Release: Summer seasonal

Lightly sweet with gentle umami and fresh acidity. Very light, almost water-like weight on the palate. Clean and refreshing rather than mouth-filling. Decent persistence on the finish, although the individual flavors are subtle and hard to distinguish. Finishes tight and clean. Balanced and very easy to drink. I like it. Paid $57 but it costs $13 in Japan. 😳 — a month ago

Neal Krishna Devaraj

9.2

Great stuff — 2 years ago

Adam Nesto

9.6

Truly excellent sake. — 6 years ago

with Alex

Ned Gray Creed

9.0

It is going to be a challenge to start remembering these beauties. Sakata Brewery, yet a Jokigen listing? — 8 years ago

with Tyson

Jeff Verellen

9.0

Sparkling. Nice adcid — 9 years ago