White warehouse which conjures images of its busy past
Many sake specialty stores carry this ”sake”, and it is said that there aren’t any local ”sake” fans who don’t know ”Mutsu Hassen” by name. It is made by Hachinohe Shuzo. The brewery was started by Shousaburo Komai in 1775, and the warehouse was moved to Hachinohe in the Meiji era. Built in the Taisho era, this warehouse which is still in operation, was designated as the country’s Registered Tangible Cultural Asset in 2011 as well as an Important Landscaping Building, the first in Aomori Prefecture. The street in front of the warehouse was once the main road leading to the beach, and merchants lined the street in those days. When looking at Hachinohe Shuzo white building, it conjures images of its busy past.
Making unique, quality products
The splendid aroma and refreshing sweetness of Mutsu Hassan that is so popular took its current form in 1998. Because of the Enterprise Development decree issued in 1942, multiple sake breweries in Hachinohe City and surrounding areas had to be combined to make a cooperative like a ”union” and make sake as an organization. Although sake brewing continued in that format after the war, Komai Brewing which is the originating company of Hachinohe Shuzo, declared its independence, expressing their desire to make sake with an emphasis on quality. A new sake brewing method and new sake specific to Komai Brewing Co. was born, eventually leading to the creation of ”Mutsu Hassen”.
Sweetness that carries the tastiness of rice
9th generation brew master Shunsuke Komai guided us around the brewery, and we did the usual tasting at the end. At Hachinohe Shuzo, in addition to Mutsu Hassen, is a brand of sake named ”Otokoyama” that is mainly sold locally. We tasted this also. ”Otokoyama is dry. Hassen is tasty. ” Komai explained the characteristics of the two. Nakata took a sip of Mutsu Hassen and said ”You are right. It’s sweet. But not unpleasantly sweet. The sweetness does not get in the way.” We were give a special taste of sparkling Hassen which he explained was still being brewed on a trial basis and not yet commercialized (at the time of the interview.). We first enjoyed the aroma, and then took a sip. Nakata immediately said these simple words, ”It’s delicious.”. ”Please commercialize it by all means.” he said laughing.
