08/20/2026
Nama club is here!!!!
This one is super cool and super premium! Nearly 99% of this brewery's sake is drunk locally, so even if you visit Japan this is going to be hard to find! Introducing… Washinoo Shiboritate Muroka Nama Genshu. A quick recap of all this fun vocabulary on this one.. Shiboitate: Fresh press or squeeze; Muroka: No charcoal filtering; Nama:(come on we should already know this one!); Genshu: Undiluted. Washinoo uses the pure, mineral rich springwater from Mt. Iwate. This is a strong, flavorful, and intense drink!
You can expect all the classic flavors from a winter pressed sake. Bright, crisp, refreshing, the Genshu adds a punchy fun drinkability. Perfect to enjoy on the warm summer nights.
Located at the base of Mt. Iwate, Washinoo translates to ‘Eagle’s Tail’. Why Eagle’s Tail? It stems from the legend that Giant Eagles used to live on Mt. Iwate. When the snow melts during spring, the leftover snowpack on the mountain resembles the shape of giant wings. How neat!
Washinoo is a family run brewery, founded in 1829 with the current Kuramoto(brewery owner/operator) being Tomo Kudu. Tomo was studying engineering when his grandfather passed, and he decided to run the brewery. Alongside the generational knowledge of brewing, he approaches his work with the same mindset as an engineer. Adjusting components of each brew with the changes in nature. More rain means less water, low rice yield means less genshu. What I find really cool about Washinoo is that the brewery has remained in the same place since 1829. The original homes of the founders of the brewery now serve as both a reception area for guests and an event venue!
Woah don’t get ahead of yourself here Nama Club.. Snack time!
A perfect implementation of one of my favorite summer snacks, Hatch Chile Miso! Summer is hatch chile season and the flavors combine sooo well with miso, we just had to make a little snack dip out of it! The chile flavor really comes through and will help mellow out the high ABV of this sake with every sip. We like to pair it with cucumber the most. If you can, go to the UW farmers market and check out Koji And Lizzy stand and get some produce from there!