Sake Brewing Seminars
Preview
*All Times are Eastern Time (New York)
ATTN: Registered attendees, Click here for video links
March 24, 2024
3pm* - Microbiology of Sake
Dr. Chiaki Takahashi, owner and master brewer at Islander Sake in Hawaii, will explain the fascinating world of microorganisms at work during the sake making process. Even as a child, she was fascinated by the living world, both big and small. With a doctorate in medicine, Chiaki worked as a researcher for years, mostly notably, at the famed National Research Institute of Brewing in Japan where she studied and isolated yeast for use in wine and sake.
April 14, 2024
3pm* - The Yamahais and Lows of Kimoto-kei
Less data and more sensing. Byron Stithem, owner and master brewer of Proper Sake in Nashville, TN, will give a deep dive on the fascinating style of fermentation that has made his sake a consistent award winner and how he makes adjustments when things go awry. While he specialized in both Kimoto and Yamahai styles, this will focus more on Yamahai as a timesaving and yet thoroughly flavorful method of producing sake that has a very long shelf life.
May 12, 2024
3pm* - Discover how Kato's Sake Works
Deeply entrenched in the heart of Brooklyn and flourishing through the chaos of the pandemic, Shinobu Kato built an incredible team at Kato Sake Works in just 500sq ft, working out his recipe and then expanded into a new location with even more incredible products to offer. Shinobu will walk us through one of his products from start to finish and explain his approach from intentions, working through challenges, and developing consistency.
June 9, 2024
Brooklyn Kura - TBD
Brandon Doughan is Co-Founder and Master Brewer of Brooklyn Kura in Brooklyn, New York where he focuses on brewing junmai and junmai ginjo sakes. As a former biochemist researcher, his personal approach to brewing is one you don't want to miss.
July 28, 2024
3pm* - Rice: Mistakes and Recovery
Jake Myrick, Co-Founder of Sequoia Sake, San Francisco's first craft sake brewery founded in 2014, has been researching rice since 2013. He and his partner Noriko began growing their own strains in 2020 in California and there is no doubt their efforts will echo through the industry for years to come. While there are so many topics Jake could speak about with incredible depth, one of the biggest topics in sake brewing is how to handle rice and what to do when things go wrong.
August 18, 2024
3pm* - Building a Brewery from Scratch
Todd Bellomy is one of the OGs of the American sake brewing scene. He started DoveTail sake in 2014 when the industry was very volatile. While Dovetail wouldn’t survive the early days of sake brewing in the United States, he wasn’t deterred. Todd used his ingenuity and contacts to plan his newest brewery, Farthest Star Sake, which he runs with his wife, Amy. In between breweries, Todd was also the consultant for almost every other sake brewery that started in the US. In this presentation he will reveal what you need to get started. What you can probably get away with and what you should pay top dollar for.
September 15, 2024
Moto-i - TBD
Presentation by members of Moto-i
October 13, 2024
3pm* - Sparkling Sake
Justin LeVaughn, master brewer at The Void Sake in Lexington, Kentucky, is a former microbiology researcher and beer brewer. His understanding of the fundamentals and contagious excitement for experimentation makes it imperative you hear what he has to say about sparkling sake. From the methods to the madness it can create when things going wrong, put on some protective gear and let’s explore the world of carbonation.
November, 2024 - TBD
YamaSake - TBD
Presentation by owner of YamaSake in Switzerland.
December, 2024 - TBD
SakeWien - TBD
Presentation by owner of SakeWien in Austria on the appliance of bio-dynamic principles in the Kura, a philosophy of a sustainable, minimal-invasive production, by adopting "bio-dynamic cellar rules". Full description to follow
2025 and beyond
Check back for updates ….