A glass of fizzy goodness! Nicely chilled "Amagaeru" from Aramasa Shuzo in Akita.
It's light as a feather and has a subtly sweet yoghurty flavor that vanishes cleanly with the fizz. The low alcohol content - only 9% rather than usual 15-16% - makes it a perfect first drink in the summer time.
Amongst sake enthusiasts, the brewery is famous for their tireless and extraordinary challenges applying both new and traditional brewing techniques. Of all the amazing lineup, "Amagaeru (meaning 'celestial frog')" is part of what they call the "hidden brew" series of small, experimental batches.
What makes it special, besides its wonderful flavor, is pretty technical: it is not diluted to achieve low alcohol content or pasteurized to stop the fermentation process - the fizz is a natural byproduct. Making this type of sake demands not only great brew skills, but also strict care to keep its condition once bottled - it has to be refrigerated at all time or otherwise the excess gas can break the bottle and the flavor changes as the fermentation goes on. But, It's all worth it for this beautifully light and sophisticated sake.
"Amagaeru"
Aramasa Shuzo
http://www.aramasa.jp/top.html