A 400+ year old Sake brewery named after a mythological Dragon God, the Lord of the Sea.
The Ryujin ("Dragon God") Shuzo, founded in 1597, is located in the Gunma Prefecture, which is interesting as it is a landlocked, and mountainous, region so not where you would expect to see the Lord of the Sea. It is a small brewery, with only six members in its the brewing team, and it produces handcrafted Sake, as well as craft beer. Their underground water is very soft, so requires different production methods than the usual hard water used to make Sake.
The Ryujin Junmai Daiginjo Namazume Sake ($43/720ml) is produced from Yamadanishiki rice, often considered the King of Sake Rice, which has been polished down to 50%. With a 15.5% ABV, it also has a Sake Meter Value (SMV) of +1, and an Acidity of 1.4. This Sake is a Namazume, which means it only undergoes a single pasteurization rather than the usual two. It is pasteurized before it undergoes a year of aging, skipping the pasteurization that commonly occurs just prior to bottling.
This is a compelling and delicious Sake, with an alluring aroma of white flowers and citrus. On the palate, it is bright and fresh, with a hint of sweetness and flavors of citrus and pineapple. It is silky and light, complex and intriguing. This Sake can easily be enjoyed on its own, although it will also pair well with a variety of foods, from seafood to chicken dishes. I'd like to pair this with Fish Tacos too. Locally, this Sake can be found at Malden Center Fine Wines. Kanpai!
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