Prefecture: Akita
Founded: 1914
Brewer: Yoshinao Sato
Dainagawa Brewery
Visit the Brewery
Omori-169 Omorimachi, Yokote,
Akita 013-0521, Japan
About The Brewery
Yokote City is located in southeastern Akita, within the Yokote Basin, surrounded by the Ōu Mountain Range and Dewa Mountains. Yokote celebrates Akita’s deep winters with snow festivals, and Igloo dome restaurants. The Yokote River and its tributaries originates from snowmelt in the Ōu Mountain Range, which flow through the city providing vast amounts of pristine, soft water for brewing. This alluvial basin boasts fertile land, making it a thriving producer of agricultural products, including rice and apples. In recent years, “Yokote Yakisoba,” a local favorite of stir-fried noodles topped with a sunny-side-up egg, has become a popular dish that attracts nationwide attention for the remote city of Yokote.
From its inception in 1914, Dainagawa Brewery has set the standard for high-quality Junmai sake, which locals affectionately refer to as "our Junmai Dainagawa.” In 2019, Mr. Bungo Tanaka became the brewery’s new Director.
Dainagawa Brewery has set the standard.
A newly reborn Dainagawa has embraced fresh concepts in their Sake, aiming to capture the terroir of their local Omori township. The brewery is committed to using local Sake rice and their own proprietary “house yeasts”. Today, they are winning recognition and awards in Sake competitions across the Region and Country.
Dainagawa Brewery Products
"Tenka Yamada Nishiki"
Golden Tiger
純米大吟醸 天花 山田錦
Junmai Daiginjo I Dainagawa Brewery I Akita Prefecture
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The “Golden Tiger” originally created for the year of the Tiger, celebrates the strength, beauty and elegance that this Sake possesses. The Sake is brewed with Dainagawa’s signature Ginjo-style house yeast, and premium Yamada Nishiki Sake rice polished to 45%. Embracing the Akita method of “low temperature fermentation and extended cold maturation”, the “Golden Tiger” brings out the best of “Tenka”, a metaphoric term for “Heavenly Flowers” resembling Akita’s large snowflakes.
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Body: Medium
Sake Meter Value: -5
Serving Temp: Chilled
Flavor Profile:
The “Golden Tiger” has elegant notes of pineapple, lychee, and shortbread which contribute to its refined complexity. Highly aromatic with a disciplined richness.Food Pairings: Simmered yellowtail with daikon radish I Fatty fish sashimi I Mimolette cheese
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Rice Type: Akita Yamada Nishiki
Milling Rate: 50%
Yeast: House Yeast D-29
Alc by Vol: 15%
Water: Soft, Subterranean AquaferAvailable Sizes: 720ml
"Tenka Gohyaku Mangoku"
Green Apple
純米吟醸 天花 五百万石
Junmai Ginjo I Dainagawa Brewery I Akita Prefecture
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“Green Apple” Junmai Ginjo is a flagship product from Dainagawa’s Tenka Series which incorporates in-bottle pasteurization and shower cooling to protect its rich palate feel and refreshing character. This time and temperature sensitive process, among many others, highlights Dainagawa’s commitment to traditional Akita brewing methods and craftsmanship.
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Body: Medium
Sake Meter Value: +1
Serving Temp: Chilled
Flavor Profile:
Refreshing mint and cotton candy aromas are enhanced by the subtle sparkling finish of “Green Apple” Sake. Low-temperature fermentation with house yeast creates a fresh fruity character reminiscent of peach, muskmelon and green apples.Food Pairings: Vegetable Tempura | Chicken Meatballs | Ginger Pork
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Rice Type: Gohyaku Mangoku
Milling Rate: 50%
Yeast: House Yeast D-121
Alc by Vol: 15%
Water: Soft, Subterranean AquaferAvailable Sizes: 720ml
"Tenka Menkoina"
Golden Bale
純米大吟醸 天花 めんこいな
Junmai Daiginjo I Dainagawa Brewery I Akita Prefecture
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Dainagawa’s brewery team partnered with local farmers in the Yokote Basin, an area historically renown for high quality rice, to grow and harvest the rare Menkoina Sake rice. “Golden Bale” Junmai Daiginjo, is a luxurious small batch Sake that reflects the culmination of centuries old craftsmanship and regional agriculture.
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Body: Light
Sake Meter Value: +7
Serving Temp: Chilled | Warmed
Flavor Profile:
This Nama Chozo balances light fruit flavors of cantaloupe and red apple skins with a hint of fresh yogurt and shishito pepper sharpness.Food Pairings: Simmered Pork Belly Duck Confit | Peach Cheese Cream Crape | Vanilla Ice Cream
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Rice Type: Yamada Nishiki
Milling Rate: 40%
Yeast: Kyokai #9
Alc by Vol: 15%
Water: Soft, Subterranean AquaferAvailable Sizes: 720ml
"Tenka Akita Sake Komachi"
Twin Hearts
純米吟醸 天花 秋田酒こまち
Junmai Ginjo I Dainagawa Brewery I Akita Prefecture
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“Twin Hearts” is a vibrant, fruit-forward sake brewed with local Akita Sake Komachi rice. One heart represents the love for Akita Komachi culinary rice, and the other heart for its twin Sakamai brewing rice, Akita Sake Komachi. All Tenka Series Sake, including “Twin Hearts” embrace the Akita method of “low temperature fermentation and extended cold maturation”; brewed with precision and attention to detail.
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Body: Medium
Sake Meter Value: -4
Serving Temp: Chilled
Flavor Profile:
White flowers, mango, and orange, with a creamy, marshmallow texture; notes of wild strawberry, cotton candy, and juicy stone fruit, finishing with a subtle umami richness.Food Pairings: Simmered White Fish | Grilled Mackerel | Gouda Cheese | Strawberry Shortcakes
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Rice Type: Akita Sake Komachi
Milling Rate: 50%
Yeast: House Yeast D-29
Alc by Vol: 15%
Water: Soft, Subterranean AquaferAvailable Sizes: 720ml
"Tenka Kameno-O"
Turtle Princess””
純米大吟醸 天花 亀の尾
Junmai Daiginjo I Dainagawa Brewery I Akita Prefecture
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“Turtle Princess” is an exquisite Junmai Daiginjo Sake that embodies elegance, nobility and refinement. Crafted with utmost precision, this Sake uses Kameno-O Sake rice, which literally translates to “Tail of the Turtle”, evoking a sense of grace and longevity, reflecting the Sake’s harmonious blend of tradition and artistry. "Turtle Princess" has become the most popular product in the Tenka Series.
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Body: Medium
Sake Meter Value: -5
Serving Temp: Chilled
Flavor Profile:
“Turtle Princess” exhibits sweet peach, apple, lychee, and wintergreen aromas which are complemented by the Kameno-O Sake rice, which offers an elegant, rich flavor that lingers on the finish.Food Pairings: Tuna Sashimi | Snapper Carpaccio | Caprese Salad
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Rice Type: Kameno-o
Milling Rate: 50%
Yeast: House Yeast D-29
Alc by Vol: 15%
Water: Soft, Subterranean AquaferAvailable Sizes: 720ml
