Norman

9.1

Stella (すてら) Premium Drip Muroka Genshu Yamada

Brewery: Inaba Shuzo, Tsukuba area, Ibaraki, Japan
Classification: Junmai Daiginjo
Style: Shizuku (雫酒, bag-dripped, no pressing), Muroka Nama Genshu
Rice: Yamada Nishiki 100%
Polishing: 40%
ABV: 16%
Bottle: 720ml
Bottled: 2024.5
Brewery-limited (蔵元限定)
Importer: Mutual Trading Co. (El Monte, CA)

A micro-brewery at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba, run by Nobuko Inaba, doing every step by hand. The Premium uses only the first free-run drops from the hanging bags, bottled unfiltered, undiluted and unpasteurized. Expect pear, muscat and floral notes on a soft, round palate.

Tasted at Sushi Kinsen, Redwood City, 10/24/2026. Good. Would have gone with this if I hadn't tried the others ;)
— 6 hours ago

Norman

9.0

Sake World 2024 Had to judge given it’s the same glass throughout the tasting. This did not stand out. I believed this is polished down to 30%. I would give it a shot outside of this environment. It’s hard for these light ones to get a fair shot in a reused glass. — 2 years ago

Yuri

9.2

Perfect taste of autumn. — 4 years ago

Turd Ferguson

9.1

Good stuff. Rich & smooth. — 7 years ago

Muralee Murugesu

9.8

Perhaps one of the best sake I have ever tried! It is an incredible sake with amazing length. It last easily 2 min on the palate! Never experienced such a depth for a sake. This kitaya (best Japanese rice) dai ginjo is some what equivalent to a great a great French white! Delight! — 7 years ago

with Rodolphe

Kei Iwashita

9.6

酸味高い、おいしいお酒 — 8 years ago

David Kline

9.7

Pecan bread nose, soy nut, and ginger. Kabuki freckled ghost lacing. Lemon effervescing through dark pretzel, crispy rice, and yuzu. Nano-starfruit.

#sharedtradition #KoshihikariEchigo #japaneseBeer #EchigoBeerCompany #RedAle — 15 days ago

Lunett/ Yosshi

Sake Specialist Hasegawa Sake Shop Tokyo

8.9

Eiko Fuji Yaminarishuusui/ Yamagata prefecture, Japan/ Fuji Shuzo / juicy fizz sweet taste — 10 months ago

Aaron Tan

9.5

Aramasa strikes again! Although I did prefer the 2020 Lapis we drank this with, the 2021 Cosmos was no slouch. It had all the trademark Aramasa rawness and sapidity, as well as the textural weight and acidity I love. The Cosmos was rounder, more umami, more grain-focused, woodier, less exotic with its fruit notes, and had a perceivable bitterness. It was almost like a darker version of the Lapis to me. Put this altogether and the usual gone-before-you-know-it event ensued. — 4 years ago

Louis Martin

9.4

Full bodied and warmer than a traditional sake, paired beautifully with simple nigiri. — 5 years ago

Ma K

9.1

This is Haneya Prism, Ginjo, not Kirabi.
Brewed April of 2019.
Flagrance is not as strong, but smells like fruity mix of pear and melon. Smooth and fresh, very light body as it goes into mouth. A hint of bitterness comes well after passing throat. — 7 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Notes of soy sauce, mushrooms and caramel — 8 years ago

Yuri

9.1

Celebrating the first day of my new position:-) — 9 years ago

Norman

9.1

Ohyama Tokubetsu Junmai Nama – Summer Release

Brewery: Kato Kahachiro Shuzo, Yamagata
Type: Tokubetsu Junmai Nama
Rice: Dewa no Sato
Polishing: 60%
Yeast: Yamagata NF-KA + Kyokai 1801
ABV: 15%
SMV: ±0 to +1
Acidity: 1.45–1.55
Amino Acid: 1.1–1.2
Pasteurization: None (Nama)
Release: Summer seasonal

Lightly sweet with gentle umami and fresh acidity. Very light, almost water-like weight on the palate. Clean and refreshing rather than mouth-filling. Decent persistence on the finish, although the individual flavors are subtle and hard to distinguish. Finishes tight and clean. Balanced and very easy to drink. I like it. Paid $57 but it costs $13 in Japan. 😳 — a month ago

Norman

9.0

This was all part of our Sake Day 2025 experience. We only tasted 60ish sakes out of an estimated 450, so a small fraction of what was available. While I attempted to rinse the glass with water and stay hydrated it’s difficult to fairly rate in this environment and I use it solely as a time to try a wide variety and interact with the brands. — a year ago

Jason Li

9.3

sweet and attractive — 4 years ago

Naoki Kondo

9.3

Omachi. Very nice Banana aroma! — 7 years ago

Hiroyuki Hikichi

9.0

Fruity and slightly hoppy sake with sashimi. — 7 years ago

Hiroyuki Hikichi

9.1

Almost recovered from a disease! Moderately fruity and really rich Houhai — 8 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.2

Light and well balanced savory style sake — 9 years ago