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早春の風物詩・酒蔵開き
To tell you the truth, I’m not a big fan of brewed alcohol, despite the fact that I have trained myself to enjoy the odd glass of wine. I prefer distilled drinks, but I’ll take this timely opportunity to get more accustomed to sake.
February and March is the time for sake breweries to crack open their latest brews: The sake world’s version of Beaujolais Nouveau. The most widely known sake is made in the colder areas further north than Kansai. However, Fukuoka is not without its fair share of breweries. They say that all you need for brewing good sake is “tasty rice, fresh water, natural surroundings and a skilled artisan,” and Fukuoka has had these in abundance since ancient times—Fukuoka is thought to be the place where the very first rice farming in Japan took place, as shown in the rice paddy traces at the Itakuze ruins.
There are more than 70 breweries in Fukuoka prefecture, and Johjima Brewery by the Chikugo riverside is particularly famous. It opens its sake cellars in February and March, which also happens to be the best season for enjoying rape blossoms in full bloom and horsetails just popping up their heads. The only brewery in Fukuoka City itself, Ishikura Shuzou (Hakata-ku, Katakasu 1-chome, next to Fukuoka High School), produces some local brews and cracks open their new sake on March 17th and 18th. For more information in Japanese, check this website: www.fukuoka-sake.org/nihonnsyu/event/kaihou.html
Please be sure to make a reservation before you visit, and don’t drink and drive. Take advantage of the bus tours on offer that take the driving out of your hands!
More Info / Schedule
Fukuoka Prefecture Shuzou Union: 092-651-4591
Ishikura Shuzou: 1-30-1 Katakasu, Hakata-ku 092-633-5100 March 17 (Sat.), 18 (Sun.)
Tomiyasu: 326 Yamakawa-cho, Kurume 0942-43-6391 March 4 (Sun.)
Ohga Shuzou: 4-9-1 Futsukaichichuo, Chikushino 092-922-2633 March 10 (Sat.), 11 (Sun.)
Seiriki Shuzou: 9-1 Kanegae, Ohkawa 0944-87-2145 March 11 (Sun.)
To tell you the truth, I’m not a big fan of brewed alcohol, despite the fact that I have trained myself to enjoy the odd glass of wine. I prefer distilled drinks, but I’ll take this timely opportunity to get more accustomed to sake.
February and March is the time for sake breweries to crack open their latest brews: The sake world’s version of Beaujolais Nouveau. The most widely known sake is made in the colder areas further north than Kansai. However, Fukuoka is not without its fair share of breweries. They say that all you need for brewing good sake is “tasty rice, fresh water, natural surroundings and a skilled artisan,” and Fukuoka has had these in abundance since ancient times—Fukuoka is thought to be the place where the very first rice farming in Japan took place, as shown in the rice paddy traces at the Itakuze ruins.
There are more than 70 breweries in Fukuoka prefecture, and Johjima Brewery by the Chikugo riverside is particularly famous. It opens its sake cellars in February and March, which also happens to be the best season for enjoying rape blossoms in full bloom and horsetails just popping up their heads. The only brewery in Fukuoka City itself, Ishikura Shuzou (Hakata-ku, Katakasu 1-chome, next to Fukuoka High School), produces some local brews and cracks open their new sake on March 17th and 18th. For more information in Japanese, check this website: www.fukuoka-sake.org/nihonnsyu/event/kaihou.html
Please be sure to make a reservation before you visit, and don’t drink and drive. Take advantage of the bus tours on offer that take the driving out of your hands!
More Info / Schedule
Fukuoka Prefecture Shuzou Union: 092-651-4591
Ishikura Shuzou: 1-30-1 Katakasu, Hakata-ku 092-633-5100 March 17 (Sat.), 18 (Sun.)
Tomiyasu: 326 Yamakawa-cho, Kurume 0942-43-6391 March 4 (Sun.)
Ohga Shuzou: 4-9-1 Futsukaichichuo, Chikushino 092-922-2633 March 10 (Sat.), 11 (Sun.)
Seiriki Shuzou: 9-1 Kanegae, Ohkawa 0944-87-2145 March 11 (Sun.)
日本酒といえば有名なブランドは関西なら「灘」「伏見」、有名な銘柄を持っているのは新潟、石川などでしょう。もっと有名なところがあるのでしょうが、日本酒に詳しくないのです。お酒には醸造酒と蒸留酒がありますが、私は醸造酒に弱いようで、これまでひどい二日酔いをしたのはすべて醸造酒。ワイン（醸造酒）だけは飲めるようになりたいと訓練しました（こんなことで訓練するな！という声が聞こえてきます）。もうひとふんばりして、日本酒もたしなめるようになろうと考えています。
そして絶好のチャンス到来。新酒の季節、それが２月、３月です。寒いところが日本酒の生産地だと思われていますが、ここ福岡にも美味しい酒をつくる酒蔵があります。酒造りに欠かせない要素といわれている「美味しい米、美味しい水、良質な自然、技術」の条件が福岡にはあるのです。なにせ、日本でもっとも古い水田跡が板付遺跡から発見され、稲作発祥の地といわれているのですから。
福岡県内にはおよそ70軒の蔵元があり、有名なのは筑後川河畔の「城島（じょうじま）」。2月、3月の早春、新酒が楽しめる「酒蔵開き」が行われます。菜の花も満開、ツクシも顔をのぞかせている頃です。「冨の寿」をつくる冨安、「玉出泉」の大賀酒造、有名な清力（せいりき）酒造なども３月に蔵開きします。また福岡市内でただ1軒の造り酒屋「石蔵酒造」は博多区堅粕1丁目で「吟醸・如水（じょすい）」や「仙がい」「祝いめでた」など博多ゆかりのブランドを造っており、3月17日、18日の週末に酒蔵を開放しています。
詳しい酒蔵開き情報は www.fukuoka-sake.org/nihonnsyu/event/kaihou.html
でチェックして行ってください。必ず予約することと飲酒運転は絶対しないことを約束してくださいね。バスツアーなどもあるはずです、探してみましょう。
お問合せ先／日程
福岡県酒造組合 092-651-4591
石蔵酒造 福岡市博多区堅粕1-30-1 092-633-5100 3月17日（土）、18日（日）
冨安 久留米市山川町326 0942-43-6391 3月4日（日）
大賀酒造 筑紫野市二日市中央4-9-1 092-922-2633 3月10日（土）11日（日）
清力酒造 大川市鐘ヶ江9-1 0944-87-2145 3月11日（日）
To tell you the truth, I’m not a big fan of brewed alcohol, despite the fact that I have trained myself to enjoy the odd glass of wine. I prefer distilled drinks, but I’ll take this timely opportunity to get more accustomed to sake.
February and March is the time for sake breweries to crack open their latest brews: The sake world’s version of Beaujolais Nouveau. The most widely known sake is made in the colder areas further north than Kansai. However, Fukuoka is not without its fair share of breweries. They say that all you need for brewing good sake is “tasty rice, fresh water, natural surroundings and a skilled artisan,” and Fukuoka has had these in abundance since ancient times—Fukuoka is thought to be the place where the very first rice farming in Japan took place, as shown in the rice paddy traces at the Itakuze ruins.
There are more than 70 breweries in Fukuoka prefecture, and Johjima Brewery by the Chikugo riverside is particularly famous. It opens its sake cellars in February and March, which also happens to be the best season for enjoying rape blossoms in full bloom and horsetails just popping up their heads. The only brewery in Fukuoka City itself, Ishikura Shuzou (Hakata-ku, Katakasu 1-chome, next to Fukuoka High School), produces some local brews and cracks open their new sake on March 17th and 18th. For more information in Japanese, check this website: www.fukuoka-sake.org/nihonnsyu/event/kaihou.html
Please be sure to make a reservation before you visit, and don’t drink and drive. Take advantage of the bus tours on offer that take the driving out of your hands!
More Info / Schedule
Fukuoka Prefecture Shuzou Union: 092-651-4591
Ishikura Shuzou: 1-30-1 Katakasu, Hakata-ku 092-633-5100 March 17 (Sat.), 18 (Sun.)
Tomiyasu: 326 Yamakawa-cho, Kurume 0942-43-6391 March 4 (Sun.)
Ohga Shuzou: 4-9-1 Futsukaichichuo, Chikushino 092-922-2633 March 10 (Sat.), 11 (Sun.)
Seiriki Shuzou: 9-1 Kanegae, Ohkawa 0944-87-2145 March 11 (Sun.)
