SakeFest

Last Wednesday evening was the 2010 Philadelphia SakeFest, and I was helping out with the Wine of Japan portfolio's local distributor.



Only a handful of quality brews were on offer at other tables, I recall seeing (ok, tasting) one brew from each of Dassai, Umenishiki, Tenranzan, Kariho, Dewatsuru, Narutotai, Kubota, Kikusui, Ichi no Kura, Suigei, and Ohyama . Apart from an Ohyama Nigori, nothing unfamiliar, so that was disappointing. It was nice to see some Hitachino beer though, in particular a brown ale aged in sake casks. No obvious wood notes, but a certain roundness.



We poured Niwa no Uguisu Tokubetsu Junmai (Fukuoka), Ugo no Tsuki Tokubetsu Junmai (Hiroshima), Kaiun Junmai Ginjo (Shizuoka), Garyubai Junmai Ginjo (Shizuoka), and Kitaya’s Ai no Hime junmai nigori awashu (Fukuoka.)



Good crowd, seems like everyone had a good time. I do wish more distributors were on hand though, seems like quite a lot less being poured than in previous years. Thankfully, I got to do all my tasting beforehand!