Akabu Sake Brewery

[Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture] What is Akabu? Introducing new sake made by young people in Iwate

We all know that sake is a drink that has been passed down to the Japanese people since ancient times, but do you ever feel like it doesn't suit the modern era?

In this article, we will introduce Akabu sake, which we would like people like you to try


What is Akabu

Akabu Shuzo is a long-established sake brewery in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, founded in 1896. The current sixth-generation owner, Ryunosuke Furutachi, who became the youngest brewery in history at the age of 22 in 2014, is a group of young people who have come together under the motto of "making a new history for Akabu Shuzo," and continue to explore ways of making sake that suit the new era

Originally, Akabu Shuzo brewed sake under a different brand for the local market, but the brewery's facilities, including its sake brewing equipment, and offices suffered devastating damage in the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011

However, in 2013 the brewery was rebuilt, and in 2014 the current sixth-generation owner, Ryunosuke Furutachi, who won a sake tasting competition while studying at Tokyo University of Agriculture and also received training at the National Research Institute of Brewing, Japan's only national research institute for alcohol, took over the sake brewing business

Akabu seems to be a brewery that attracts young people, and they are actively promoting Akabu, a brewery they are proud of, to the younger generation by posting promotional videos on their website and focusing on posting on Instagram

Reference: AKABU official website "Promotional video"

Reference: AKABU official Instagram


About the types of Akabu

What types of sake does Akabu Brewery brew?

I have summarized it in a table.

classification

name

Rice polishing ratio

Alcohol degree

raw rice

AKABU Standard

Junmai Ginjo

50%

Iwate Prefecture rice

Junmai sake

60%

Iwate Prefecture rice

F

60%

Iwate Prefecture rice

AKABU Elegance

Junmai Ginjo Yuinoka

50%

"Yui no Kaori" from Iwate Prefecture

Junmai Ginjo Yamadanishiki

50%

Yamada Nishiki rice from Hyogo Prefecture

Junmai Ginjo Aizan

50%

"Aizan" from Hyogo Prefecture

Junmai Ginjo Omachi

50%

"Omachi" from Okayama Prefecture

AKABU Limited

SAKURA (unpasteurized sake)

60%

12 degrees

Iwate Prefecture rice

SNOW XMAS (raw sake)

60%

13 degrees

Iwate Prefecture rice

AIR

60%

12 degrees

Iwate Prefecture rice

SNOW EXTRA (raw sake)

60%

13 degrees

Iwate Prefecture rice

SEA

60%

13 degrees

Iwate Prefecture rice

Junmai Natsukasumi

60%

Iwate Prefecture rice

MOUNTAIN

60%

14 degrees

Iwate Prefecture rice

Junmai Hiyaoroshi

60%

Iwate Prefecture rice

AKABU Premium

The finest pure rice daiginjo sake

35%

"Yui no Kaori" from Iwate Prefecture

Soul's Great Work Daiginjo

35%

"Yui no Kaori" from Iwate Prefecture

Junmai Daiginjo Yuinoka

40%

"Yui no Kaori" from Iwate Prefecture

Junmai Daiginjo Yamadanishiki

40%

Yamada Nishiki rice from Hyogo Prefecture

Junmai Daiginjo

40%

Iwate Prefecture rice

AKABU's sake is divided into four types: AKABU Standard, which can be enjoyed daily; AKABU Elegance, which can be enjoyed by serious sake lovers; AKABU Limited, which has a low alcohol content and can be enjoyed like wine; and AKABU Premium, which is also recommended as a gift

What makes it special is that you can choose from a wide variety of options depending on your purpose for purchasing

Reference: AKABU official website "Gallery"


Should I buy Akabu

Akabu Sake Brewery is a small-scale sake brewery, so they do not sell their products directly at the brewery

Instead, there are authorized dealers all over the country, and Akabu's website lists links and contact information for these stores

There are many stores that specialize in local sake, and they all sell sake with an understanding of how to store and handle it, so if you are particular about the quality of your sake, it is best to first find a nearby authorized retailer and purchase from them

Reference: AKABU official website "Store"


Recommended way to drink Akabu

We will introduce recommended ways to drink AIR and snacks to go with it, which is one of the most popular and frequently searched drinks among Akabu drinks

AIR is a slightly sweet drink with an alcohol content of 12%, but the recommended way to drink it is on the rocks with ice

Drinking it on the rocks reduces the alcohol content of the raw sake to a moderate level, making it easier to drink, and it does not detract from the characteristic flavor of Akabu sake

Furthermore, since AIR is a pure rice sake classified as a rich, mellow sake, it would be delicious paired with similarly tasting Camembert cheese or Brie as snacks

Combining sake and cheese, both of which are fermented foods, enhances the flavor even more, so be sure to give it a try


summary

Akabu is a long-established sake brewery in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, founded in 1896. We learned that the young sixth-generation owner, Ryunosuke Furutachi, continues to explore ways of brewing sake that are suited to the new era, together with young people

You can find the perfect sake for daily use, as a gift, or as a treat for yourself, so be sure to give Akabu sake a try


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