Spec’s carries brewed beverages from around the world, and our selection of Japanese sake is a great example. Many countries create traditional alcoholic beverages with regional resources, and Japan’s entry in this category is this much-loved (and much-misunderstood) rice-based beverage. Let’s serve up some facts about sake.
Sake is not actually “rice wine,” as popular slang suggests. It is a rice-based brewed beverage most closely related to beer. (“Rice wine” does exist, but it is more common to mainland China and produced using different methods.)
Sake is produced using koji (pronounced KOH-JEE), a unique, naturally occurring yeast mold, rather than the cultivated yeast strains used in beer or wine production. Additionally, sake has a shelf life, like beer, and should be consumed within one year of production and bottling. To assist consumers in assessing the freshness of their products, many producers print bottling dates on their labels – usually the month and year. Sake has many different quality gradients and is strictly regulated by the Japanese equivalents of the Department of Agriculture and its Food and Beverage Agencies.
Sake is served at many different temperatures, from hot to room temperature to completely chilled. While heating sake is a popular serving method, especially in the U.S., some sake connoisseurs believe that quality sake should not be warmed to avoid destroying subtle flavors and aromas. If chilled, the ideal temperature is between 58′-62’F.
The range of flavors and serving choices in sake is as varied as beer. Whether you’re a sake savant or looking to expand your experience in brewed beverages, Spec’s has the knowledge and selection to help you explore more!
Submitted by: Erik the Booze Nerd, Store #61 in Austin, TX
