Tsukinowa Brewery
Prefecture: Iwate
Family: Yokozawa
Founded: 1886
Visit the Brewery
Mukaihata- 101 Kosuiji, Shiwa
Shiwa District, Iwate Prefecture 028-3303, Japan
About The Brewery
Shiwa City is home to the ancient and revered Nanbu Sake Brewing Guild, famous for their koji expertise.
Today, the 133-year-old brewery is under the direction of toji brewmaster Hiroko Yokozawa, one of the bright stars among the growing ranks of exceptional women toji in Japan. Hiroko returned to work with her father in 2006 and has since taken the brewery to new heights of quality, winning medals worldwide, balancing a modern style with deeply rooted brewing traditions, expanding production, and inspiring her young brewing team. Hiroko has made sake with mochi rice and distills her own kasutori shochu from sake lees.
At the brewery, Tsukinowa employs an extended koji propagation and uses traditional wooden vats for steaming the rice and traditional fune for pressing their sake
Toji Hiroko Yokozawa
Having spent many years working in the fashion industry, Hiroko Yokozawa returned to her father’s Sake brewery to start a new career in Sake making. She is now a regular gold prize winner in the Annual Japan Sake Awards.
Outside of becoming an award-winning Sake brewer, Hiroko is actively innovating within the industry. She started using the Sake lees, or “Kasu,” to produce Schōchū as opposed to using the lees for pickling or marinating, which are the traditional uses for this byproduct of Sake production. Hiroko then adds this Schōchū to her Honjozo Sake – creating a uniquely sustainable Sake; a special addition to the Tsukinowa Brewery.
Tsukinowa Brewery Products
"Yoi-no-Tsuki"
Midnight Moon
大吟醸 宵の月
Daiginjo 大吟醸
Tsukinowa Brewery | Iwate Prefecture
"Tsukinowa"
Moon Ring
特別純米 月の輪
Tokubetsu Junmai 特別純米
Tsukinowa Brewery | Iwate Prefecture
"Tsukinowa Kinen"
Blue Hue
本醸造 月の輪記念ラベル
Honjozo 本醸造
Tsukinowa Brewery | Iwate Prefecture
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Brewed from Iwate grown Ginginga sake rice, unique local yeasts and soft snow melt spring water to bring out bright round flavors and exotic tropical aromas. A small amount of in-house distilled alcohol enhances the aromas and softens the body.
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Body: Medium
Sake Meter Value: +5
Serving Temp: Chilled
Flavor Profile:
Pure, smooth mid-palate, progresses to an edgy dry finish. Ripe honeydew melon, peach, strawberry, bamboo and anise flavors. With Tsukinowa's "Kakushi-Aji" or hidden flavors, no one profile stands out but all elements arrive in harmony.Food Pairings:
Scrambled Eggs with Sea Urchin and Lobster Sauce | Amaebi Sweet Shrimp Sashimi | Pan seared Mahi Mahi with Coconut Swiss Chard -
Rice Type: Ginginga
Milling Rate: 50%
Yeast: Giovanni no Shirabe
Alc by Vol: 16.5%Available Sizes: 720ml
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Moon Ring is a style of Tokubetsu Junmai that aims to capture a more modern fruit forward taste profile. Brewed using locally grown Iwate Ginotome sake rice and soft snow-fed spring water, Moon Ring is both refreshing and rich; fruity with a full body and sweet grainy malty character.
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Body: Medium +
Sake Meter Value: +5
Serving Temp: Chilled | Cellar
Flavor Profile
Full, clear, complex, round, smooth, grainy umami richness. Tree and vine fruit aromas are balanced by more serious character of junmai. Long finish closes with grainy rice mash cut.Food Pairings:
Baked Ginger-Crusted Branzino with Watermelon Mango Chutney | Jasmine Rice with Garlic Sautéed Bok Choy | Pork Curry -
Rice Type: Ginotome
Milling Rate: 55%
Yeast: Yuko no Omoi
Alc by Vol: 16.5%Available Sizes: 720ml | 1800ml
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This is the beloved day-to-day sake of the locals in Iwate Prefecture. Eminently drinkable, always delicious with a wide variety of food types and cuisines. Brewed with the flavorful, locally grown, Hitomibori sake rice.
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Body: Medium
Sake Meter Value: +4
Serving Temp: Chilled | Cellar | Warm
Flavor Profile:
Clean, crisp, apple fresh aroma and fruitiness on the palate; mild, ricey graininess adds balance, complexity and length to the finish.Food Pairings:
Shrimp Wakame-Udon | Tempura Softshell Crab Burgers with Curried Mayo | Margherita Pizza | Chickpea Hummus and Pita -
Rice Type: Ginotome
Milling Rate: 55%
Yeast: Yuko no Omoi
Alc by Vol: 16.5%Available Sizes: 720ml | 1800ml
