No. 459INDEX / 321
Ine to Agave Koshu Hanakaze
Ine to Agave, Akita
Reviewed in H2 2025
The craft sake primer
SCOREOverall score
82pts
SPECBasic data
- Rice
- Akita-grown rice
- Polishing ratio
- 90%
- Alcohol
- 14%
- Type
- craft sake, hops
- List price
- ¥2,310
PROFILEFlavour chart
JUDGEMENTStraight-Talking Sake Judgement
TOCKY's report
Taste3.5
Aroma4.0
Value for money4.0
Numata's report
Taste3.5
Aroma3.5
Value for money3.0
NOTESNumata's tasting noteTRANSLATED
MOVIEWatch this episode
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PAIRINGCOMING SOON
'Hanakaze Hoppu' is the entry-level release from Ine to Agave, pioneers of craft sake. A sake brewed with rice and rice koji plus hops added. An intense burst of grapefruit-like aroma reminiscent of an IPA or pale ale bursts out. Alongside the gentle sweetness and umami of junmai sake, there's a bitterness created by the hops — a flavour unique to craft sake, quite unlike ordinary sake.