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Daiginjo Brewing Peak Season
Greetings to all readers. It's daiginjo brewing season, when the ambient temperatures are coldest, minimizing bacteria and maximizing control.
Most contest sake are brewed just about now, with lesser daiginjo (how's that for an oxymoron!) on either side of that, flanked by lower and lower grades.The reports I have heard from the brewers I have spoken to
all indicate things are looking good this year - at least in general. The rice harvest was good, it is cold enough outside, and all I have tasted should make brewers brim with confidence. Warm regards, and enjoy the
newsletter. John.
Special Confusion:
Tokubetsu Junmai and Tokubetsu Honjozo
Let's Eschew Obfuscation!
I have, over the 120 issues of this newsletter, written several times about the grades tokubetsu junmai-shu and tokubetsu honjozo. One such in-depth article is here.
But I want to touch on them again, albeit briefly, to clear up an important point.
The word "tokubetsu" means "special," so that these two terms translate as "special junmai"
and "special honjozo." But before that important point to be cleared up, though, let me just go ahead and say that some of my favorite sake can be found in these classifications. Why is that? While I am
getting ahead of myself here, maybe, the answer is because these two grade classifications, tokubetsu junmai-shu and tokubetsu honjozo, hover effectively between the converging vortex of ginjo and the
borderline-plebian rank-n-file realm of junmai-shu and honjozo.
What is behind these grades? What makes them what they are? What are the definitions that apply to these legal, official grades? More is here, but in short tokubetsu honjozo and tokubetsu junmai-shu are special in that they are either made with proper sake rice (rather than any ole'
table rice), milled down to ginjo levels (no more than 60% of the original size of the grains remaining), or -get this -something else special, a something which should be listed on the label.
Note the vagary - both in rules and in positioning on the quality chart . I agree, it can be confusing at first. If these grades seem like an afterthought that's because they were an afterthought. Junmai and honjozo grades were firmly established, then came the sexy ginjo grades. With standard, representative products in each class, brewers faced a dilemma. Considering a new product, well, it might be better than their regular junmai or honjozo but not quite up to snuff for their personally held image of their ginjo. So call 'em special junmai-shu and special honjozo. While it can seem a bit obfuscating, it does sorta make sense, in a sake kind of way.
However, lately I have heard people speak of a brewery's "tokubetsu," and people have asked me just what a tokubetsu is. It therefore seems important to make it clear that the word tokubetsu has no legal
meaning or official meaning unless used together with junmai or honjozo.
So if a sake only has the word tokubetsu on the label, or has that word in conjunction with a term other than junmai-shu or honjozo,
it is not in an official capacity. Sure, brewers can call their sake special. They can call it just about anything they want. They can call it supercalifragilisticexpialidocious if they like, but that does not mean
that it is, or that said terms have any official meaning. (It does not, by the way.)
And, in fact, there are indeed a couple of products called tokubetsu ginjo or tokubetsu daiginjo; I have seen them. Not
many, but there are a couple. But these do not have any significance outside of the brewer's feeling, impression and marketing efforts. Of course, these things are significant enough - if it helps a brewer sell more
sake, all power to him or her.
So the next time you hear someone speak of a tokubetsu sake, or call for another glass of tokubetsu, be sure to politely enquire, "tokubetsu what?"
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Did you know?
The many methods of moto...
Did you know there are many ways of making the yeast starter? Most common is, of course, sokujo-moto
("fast-brew yeast starter"), which takes two weeks and has been around since 1912. The precursors to that were kimoto (uh, I dunno, "original yeast starter" or something like that) and yamahai moto (similar to
kimoto but less laborious). Kimoto was the sole method in use for literally centuries. Then there is bodai moto, which is the precursor to the kimoto method above.
Bodai moto was developed at temples during
a time when such institutions were producing much sake. The word "bodai" itself has been adapted from the Sanskrit "Bodhi," which is usually translated as enlightenment, but runs deeper in meaning (thanks Wikipedia). One would think that bodai moto sake would then aid one on the path to enlightenment, but only a couple of places in Nara Prefecture make it
now, reviving the method after a millennium of disuse. So it must not have worked… but I digress.
Then there are more modern methods, such as Koh-on Touka
(high temperature saccharification) that lets the moto be ready in but six days, and its more recent relative, Chu-on Touka (sorta-high temperature saccharification) that lets it all be ready in about ten days.
None are intrinsically better than the others, although the most common method by far is the 14-day "sokujo" method. Brewers have different sake aims, preferences and conditions, and use the method(s) most
suited to their situation.
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Sake Basics
Daiginjo-shu and Junmai Daiginjo-shu
Last month, we looked at the term ginjo-shu, and learned that it is premium sake, the top 10% (most recent numbers) or
so of all sake made. So what, then, is daiginjo, and how do they differ?
In short, daiginjo is the top one-third or so of all ginjo. In other words, it is super premium. Just remember that daiginjo is ginjo
to die for.
How is it different? Legally, the rice has to be milled even more (down to 50% or less of its original size), but practically, it calls for colder, longer fermentation, and more exacting
methods each step of the way. This makes it (usually) more refined and more aromatic.
The difference between daginjo and junmai daiginjo is that the former has a bit of alcohol added to help pull out flavor
and aroma, where as the latter does not use this step. For more about these see Types of Sake and the Sake Notebook, but just remember that daiginjo is ginjo to die for, and you'll know all you really need to know.
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Sake Professional Course in USA
The next SPC will be held in the US on the West Coast tentatively in June. For more information, send an email to John.
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Sake's Hidden Stories
I am very pleased to announce the publication of my new ebook, Sake's Hidden Stories, subtitled The Personalities, Philosophies, and Tricks-of-the-Trade Behind the Brew.
Sake's Hidden
Stories ($14.99) will give you a view to what goes on in the sake industry behind the brew we all love so much. The book goes into stories much deeper than the information we most commonly encounter; way beyond
simply what ginjo-shu is, what junmai-shu is, or what the role of koji is. You will learn about the personalities behind the sake. You will see in just how much detail some brewers make sake, and how each is
different in where importance is placed. And most significantly, something that has not been written about in any book on sake in English, you will meet more than a dozen brewers, and encounter their personalities.
You'll see what makes them tick, what drives them in their work, and how their histories and idiosyncrasies affect the sake they brew.
For more information on content and get your copy, go here.As with any
ebook or informational product I offer, satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you don't like it or feel it was worth what you paid for it, I will cheerfully refund your money. Finally, for a nice third-party review of
the book, check out this cool blog.
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Sake Educational Products
Jump-start your sake savvy
Just a reminder to check out the Sake-World e-store, currently offering three educational products immediately downloadable for your education and further sake
enjoyment. We offer three products, with more to come soon, including a full-blown, comprehensive self-study course covering all the material in the Sake Professional Course, and more.
First is The Sake Notebook, a 15-page pdf file guaranteed to jump-start your sake understanding and appreciation. It covers everything related to
sake in a tight, concise and easily digestible presentation replete with plenty of photos and diagrams for at-a-glance enlightenment. Sake basics, history, grades and quality levels, aging, temperature, storage and
more are all briefly touched upon to create a foundation upon which more sake learning can flourish. There is also a list of 250 (count 'em!) sake brands to look for and try. Finally, included with purchase is
access to a password protected area on www.sake-world.com known as "The Goodstuff" a regularly updated list of good sake recommendations, replete with brief commentary on each, and some indication of
John's personal recommendations and preferences. Available for $15.
Next is The Sake Production Slideshow, an executable file (Photojam) wherein resides a 15-minute slideshow of photos of the
sake-brewing process from beginning to end, giving you a glimpse into the day-to-day brewing environment of sakagura in Japan. Available for $15. Also, access to "The Goodstuff" comes with this product as
well.
Third is a bundled package of both The Sake Notebook and The Sake Production Slideshow for those that cannot make up their minds or simply have to have - or give - both as gifts. Available as a
set for $25.
Surely these would make wonderful gifts for those close to you that are itching to get into good sake, and their easily downloadable digital format makes it all that much easier.
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The Sake Dictionary...only $8.99
Announcing The Sake Dictionary. Have you ever found yourself out and about at perhaps a retail shop or at
a sushi bar, perusing the sake menu and wondering - or trying to recall - just what the dickens all those terms actually mean? Wouldn't it have been great to have a quick guide that fits in your pocket, pda, or
phone that you could whip out to confirm a term or two? Well, here it is.
The Sake Dictionary is just that: A concise little package of all the terms you might ever come across when dealing with sake. Almost
200 of them - including sake grades, rice variety names, seasonal sake terms, special varieties, rare types, post-brewing processing words and the myriad terms used in sake production - many of which are not even
familiar to the average Japanese person on the street - are listed up here with concise, useful and clear definitions and the written Japanese version as well.
Start to toss around Japanese sake terms like
you were raised knowing them! Gain a level of familiarity hitherto unimaginable! Avoid frustrating paralysis when faced with a sake-related purchase!
Get your copy of The Sake Dictionary now and never be
confused by sake terms again. So click here to purchase your copy of The Sake Dictionary and eliminate sake stress and get a permanent grip on those pesky terms, and start really enjoying your sake. Go here to get your copy now.
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Odds-n-Ends
More information on the following topics can be found at
http://www.sake-world.com/html/nl_related.html
- Sake Homebrewing
- Books on Sake
- Information on the archives of this newsletter
- General information related to this publication
Questions and comments should be directed to John Gauntner. Email John from this link: www.sake-world.com/html/email.html
All material Copyright, John Gauntner & Sake World Inc.
www.sake-world.com
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