Sake Deep Dive

May 31 2024 18

Sake Deep Dive Podcast artwork

A sake podcast for the beyond beginner! Sake brewer Andrew Russell and sake writer/translator Jim Rion dive deep into the history and culture around Japan's national drink to bring context and insight, for when an introduction just won't cut it. Join us every month for a tokkuri full of unfiltered sake knowledge! Our theme song is from: Lotus Lane by The Loyalist - Preconceived Notions https://soundcloud.com/preconceived-n... Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lotus-lane Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1YVHRMVwwHg

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Kenbishi - A Sake for the Ages

May 31 2024 56 mins

Andrew and Jim take their first ever deep dive into a single brewery. Kenbishi is about as classic as it gets, and with Andrew’s first-hand experience, the talk gets deep indeed. Come see how this truly historic brand maintains its core flavor through the changing currents of history and fad! Vocabulary from this episode: Dakidaru - A small tank that is filled with hot or cold wa

Kijoshu - We Put Sake in Your Sake

Apr 30 2024 40 mins

This time, Andy and Jim put on airs and address the noblest of sake styles: kijoshu, a modern brew made to take on the snootiest of events. We discuss everything from the supposed mythical origins of the process to the ethics of trademarking names for shared styles. No Edo period brewing manuals here, just pure seventies funk. Vocabulary from this episode Engishiki - An ancient re

Blending Sake - Unmixing Truth from Fiction

Feb 29 2024 44 mins

Finally, the European masters have introduced the world of sake to the power of blending, something that no one in sake’s centuries of history ever thought of before. Or, not. Jim and Andy stir things up with a talk about the real, and very long, history of blending sake in all its many shapes and forms. Vocabulary from this episode Arabashiri - The initial “rough run” of sak

Nara - The Origin of Sake… Maybe?

Jan 31 2024 55 mins

Andy and Jim explore the history of Nara as an early center for sake development and innovation. From rice polishing to branding, there's a solid argument that this is where sake as a consumer good was born. Vocabulary from this episode: Katahaku - Sake that used polished rice for only the mashing rice. Morohaku - Sake brewed with polished rice in both Koji and kakemai Recommen

Sake Brewing Tanks - Kame, Kioke, and Horo

Dec 31 2023 55 mins

Your humble hosts look over developments in the types of tanks used through history. It's a great chance to reflect on the surprising links between material advancements, brewing technology, and market demands. Vocabulary from this episode Horo - Enamel coating used on metal tanks Kame - A general term for large ceramic jars/tanks used for storing or fermenting Kioke - Wooden

Junmai - Pure (Non)Sense

Nov 30 2023 51 mins

Time at last for Andy and Jim to tackle the beast that is the junmai ideology. This time the gents look at just how junmai became such a hot topic, what it really means for the brewing industry, and the figures behind its postwar “revival,” if that’s what it really is. Vocabulary from this episode Aruten - Brewer’s alcohol added. Short for arukoru tenka Komedake no osake -

Fushimi - clean, clean, clean

Oct 31 2023 46 mins

We are finishing our series on Japan's major brewing regions in Fushimi, Kyoto. Built around the palace of one of Japan's most powerful warlords, we discuss how this once-sleepy town literally cleaned its way to becoming one of Japan's most famous brewing regions. Vocabulary from this Episode gokusui: fragrant water kinmeisui: Golden Water ginmeisui: Silver Water Recom

Saijo - Sake Theme Park

Aug 31 2023 42 mins

Saijo - Sake Theme Park The second of our series on Japan’s major brewing regions takes us to Hiroshima’s Saijo. This little town built on sake brewing is a sake lover’s dream. Seven breweries in close proximity, with museums, shops, and tasting opportunities galore. Come learn how it got to be this way in the latest Sake Deep Dive! Vocabulary from this episode Shuto: Affect

Nada: go-go sake!

Jul 31 2023 52 mins

This month’s topic is big, literally. In the first of a special three-part series, we explore Nada; the biggest, boldest, and most storied sake region of them all. Does Nada’s sake still have relevance within today's craft-orientated industry? Is it all just soulless, machine-made plonk for the masses? Join us to hear our thoughts on this enigmatic behemoth of the sake indu

Amakara - The (Not) Sweetest Thing

Jun 30 2023 56 mins

This time we see what value sweetness in sake has... The same meter value! Andy and Jim try to pin down what "karakuchi" means, how sake had changed over time, and what we should really look for when buying a bottle. Kanpai! Vocab Amakuchi - typically any "sweet" thing. Karakuchi - traditionally, the foil for sweet things, which has made the word very context dependent. It could me