Sake

Explore my sake content and learn about this delicious brewed rice beverage.

The Japanese Bar covers the basics, more advanced subjects, the top producers, and where to find the best sake deals.

Types of Sake

learn about sake grades and styles

Sake Grades & Styles

Sake is legally defined by grades, and if you want to take your sake game to the next level, you need to know them. Luckily, this is not as hard as it might seem.

Click the button below to learn about sake grades and the additional styles.

a bottle of Ishikawa sake and a cup

All About Koshu: Aged Sake

Most sake is best drank young. But there is one major exception: koshu sake.

Nothing compares to the depth of flavor that intentionally-aged sake can develop. Check out this detailed guide I wrote for Tippsy Sake to learn more. I cover the history of koshu, how to age sake at home, and some of the best brands on the market.

And as an affiliate advertiser for Tippsy, I earn commissions on purchases made through this link.

Shizuku Sake

Interested in trying the rarest sake on the market? Then you’ll want to familiarize yourself with shizuku.

Reserved for competitions and limited-edition releases, shizuku is what brewers make to impress each other.

Shizuku is gravity-pressed sake. It’s hands-on and inefficient to make, but the result is delicious. Click below to learn about this rare and expensive style.

a sake poster ad

Sake Grades & Styles Poster

Are you a sake enthusiast and a visual learner? My Sake Grades and Styles poster was made to help you level-up with ease.

This full-sized poster covers everything you need to know to order sake with confidence. And nothing else!

The Sake Grades and Styles poster is also a great resource for shops and restaurants that sell sake.

Hit the button below to learn more!

Sake Brands and Breweries

a map of Japan made of sake labels

The 50 Best Sake Brands

Explore the top sake brands for every grade and major substyle. If you find something you like, have it shipped to your door through one of our retail links. And once you’re done, take a moment to share your favorite brands.

Click the button below to learn about the best sake brands.

learn about sake breweries

Sake Brewery & Brand Reviews

Learn about some of the most important sake breweries and brands from in-depth reviews.

Find tasting notes, history, pairing and service suggestions, and where you can buy these sake.

a bottle of Fukushima kimoto sake

Best Five Hot Sake Brands (2021)

If you think all warm sake tastes the same, one taste of my top five brands will change your mind. Click the button below to learn about my personal favorite warm sake brands.

As an affiliate advertiser for Tippsy, I earn commissions on purchases made using this link.

a brewer pours sake into a cup

US Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting Guide

You don’t have to travel to Japan to visit a sake brewery. The odds are, there is a kura within striking distance of your home.

Check out my extensive guide for Tippsy Sake which highlights some of the top US sake breweries. All of them offer brewery tours or a solid tasting room. And each brewery is reputable and specializes in making traditional sake.

As an affiliate advertiser for Tippsy, I earn commissions on purchases made through this link.

professional sake tasting with a notebook

US Sake Appraisal Award Winners

The US Sake Appraisal is the top sake tasting and competition in America. Each year, the professional sake judges evaluate hundreds of sake brands imported from Japan.

There really aren’t any bad sake at this tasting. However, some have that “wow” factor and get awarded. Learn about some of these from this article I wrote for Tippsy Sake. Every award-winning sake I tasted was outstanding. And you can purchase them through Tippsy.

As an affiliate advertiser for Tippsy, I earn commissions on purchases made through this link.

Sake Ingredients

learn about sake rice

Sake Rice Guide

Learn all about sake rice, how it’s grown, and how it’s processed to produce a rich tapestry of sake profiles. Also, discover the 36 most important sake rice types used today.

learn about sake yeast

Sake Yeast

Yeast doesn’t get enough credit for its role in brewing. For sake, yeast is the ingredient with the greatest impact on flavor and aroma.

Click the button below to learn all about this microscopic wonder. The 25 most important yeast types and their flavor profiles are discussed, as well.

Regions

shrine water in Kyoto

Nada vs Fushimi Sake

Sake and Japan don’t have regions quite like the world of wine. But there are two areas that are obvious exceptions: Fushimi and Nada.

These two brewing centers have been the center of the sake world for hundreds of years. But why have they been so dominant?

Nada and Fushimi have exceptional brewing water.

I wrote this post for Tippsy Sake. And it’s one of my favorite sake subjects. And it should be on your radar too. Because if you understand these two Kyoto and Kobe regions, the world of sake gets a lot easier to navigate.

And as an affiliate advertiser for Tippsy, I earn commissions on purchases made through this link.

Learn About Sake

How to Become a Sake Samurai

This is my advanced resource page for leveling up at sake. I include major courses, industry influencers and pros worth following, and books that will get you on your way.

learn how to read a sake label

Reading a Sake Label

Ever wondered how to read a sake label? Click the button below to view our useful infographic.

a foreigner sake brewer and writer

Origin of a Sake Brewer

Want to land a job as a sake brewer in Japan? Check out my interview with Andrew Russell to learn how he did it.

It’s the first part of an in-depth conversation we had about all things sake. Click the button below to read the post or watch the video.

Brewing in Japan and Landing a Job

In the second part of my interview with Fukucho brewer Andrew Russell, he discusses the typical day and season of a sake brewer. Andrew also discloses tips for foreigners looking to land a sake brewery job in Japan.

Click the button below to check out the blog post and video.

Sake Ware

an illustration of traditional sake cups and glasses

The Sake Cup Guide

Sake cups, glasses, and carafes are some of the coolest vessels in the beverage world. Learn about how they impact flavor and aroma, as well as, the twelve most important types.