We have started a new cycle of 3 brews, including of course koji-making.  A number of customers are now ordering fresh koji from us.  If you are interested in trying to cook or make amazake with fresh koji please submit your order right away.  The cost is $3.00 per 100g, with a minimum order of 500g.  Orders must be prepaid, and can be made by phone at 416-365-SAKE (7253).

If you are interested in koji recipes and general information on koji you can find many sources on the internet including:  http://www.kojiya.jp/

For those interested in being in the brewery during pressing in order to try just-pressed “Shiboritate” sake, Shikomi Batches 31-33 will be pressed in early February.  Please call us in February for specific dates.

If you are interested in viewing sake batch rice work, next Saturday morning (January 12) at 11am should be a good time.

Hope to see you at the brewery soon!

This week the Sake Institute of Ontario (a non-profit organization of which we are a founding member dedicated to introducing Ontarians to the wonderful world of sake) announced its next sake education event.  The Winter Sake Warm-up will take place at 6:30pm on January 21, 2013, at The Japan Foundation, conveniently located at 131 Bloor Street West.   The evening will feature a presentation on warm sake by sake educator Michael Pataran followed by sampling of sakes provided by SIO members paired with a variety of appetizer-style foods.  Tickets for the event will cost $25 prior to January 15, and are expected to sell quickly so please visit the following site for information and to buy your tickets!

http://kampaitoronto.ticketleap.com/SIO–Winter–Warmup/

Ontario Spring Water Sake Company will be bringing 2 sakes to the event which are delightful to drink warm:

1.  Izumi Warm Winter Blend – A blend of unpasteurized sakes chosen for their mildness and suitability for warming. The resulting flavour is rich while not overpowering when served at 40-45 degrees Celcius, and is characterized by a unique nuttiness which is derived from the flavour of our own koji (the malted and sweet form of rice used in making sake).  This sake is only available during the winter months from our brewery store in the Distillery District.

2.  Izumi Namacho – Our signature once-pasteurized sake.  This sake also opens up beautifully at 40-45 degrees Celcius, however with a more characteristically citrus-fruity flavour rather than the more pronounced nuttiness of Warm Winter Blend.  This sake is widely available throughout the LCBO system – for locations carrying Namacho click on the following link: http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/inventory/searchResults.do?language=EN&itemNumber=260174

Our brewery store carries a wide variety of “tokkuri” carafes and “choko” cups to make your warm sake-drinking experience most enjoyable.

We hope to see you at the event!