Den Unbridled Wild Yeast Kimoto with Yuzu Zest (BTL 500ml)

Unbridled is names for its wildness – as it uses natural yeast, living free in the brewery, the kimoto method, and organic rice grown in California. No cultured yeast is added, so brewmaster Yoshi Sako let nature take over, trusting the final personality of the sake to the spirits of the brewery. Sake explains that it resulted in a sake "far beyond anything we had imagined," becoming a brew that could only have been born here in Oakland.

The rice is Calhikari grown in Sacramento by Park Farming Organics using shizen saibai (自然農法), a Japanese natural farming method that relies on the power of the soil alone. No pesticides, no fertilizers. To keep as much of that rice's energy intact as possible, Den polished it to only 90%, about the same as the rice we eat at home. After pressing, the sake is infused with organic yuzu zest from Hatake Farm in the mountains of Willits, Mendocino County.

We get namasu, lemon candy, and lemon curd. It's tart and refreshing, with a light body at just 10.5% ABV and a whopping acidity of 9! This one was a unanimous hit with our whole team. Try it with pork belly kakuni, and experience how the bright citrus cuts right through the richness.

Unbridled is a very limited release and cases are allocated, so we feel lucky to have snagged a few bottles. Grab one while you can!

Nominated for a James Beard Award in its first year and second year, Den Sake Brewery is just around the corner from us in Oakland, so we receive the freshest brew possible. We are proud to carry our hometown sake!

The seed for the idea to start Den Sake Brewery in Oakland, CA was planted in 2015, when Yoshi Sako started to theorize on how he could make sake himself. A bartender and accomplished sake sommelier for years, Sako stated that, "[... in order] to complete my desire to know more about sake, I knew I had to get fully into it – that meant brewing it, not just drinking it."

Read about our visit to Den Sake Brewery on our blog!

Note: We can ship this sake, but due to the nature of shipping, please note that fluctuations in temperature can affect the freshness of the drink, and we will always recommend picking up locally when possible. Please proceed with shipping at your own risk.

Features:

• Brewed in Oakland, California by Den Sake Brewery
• Wild yeast kimoto with organic yuzu zest, pasteurized once
• Seimaibuai (rice kernel remaining): Calhikari 90%, naturally farmed by Park Farming Organics (Sacramento), Acidity: 9, Yeast: Ambient/wild
• Yuzu: Hatake Farm (Willits, Mendocino County)
• Ingredients: Organic rice, koji, organic yuzu zest, water
• Gluten free
• ABV 10.5%
• 17 fl oz (500ml)
• Serve chilled