ABE - BLACK JUNMAI GINJO ORIGARAMI NAMAZAKE

Brewery Information

Abe Shuzo is a family brewery from Kashiwazaki, Niigata, where sake has been brewed since 1804. Under the guidance of Yuta Abe, the sixth generation and head of production, that history is given a contemporary interpretation. His philosophy, “Enjoy Fermentation,” invites people to keep exploring, experimenting, and tasting.

At Abe, flavor takes center stage. The brewery aims to craft sake in which the umami of rice and lively acidity enhance one another. The result is a style that is fresh and approachable, yet still offers enough texture and depth to remain captivating at the table.

ABE Black is one of the core, year-round expressions in the Abe Classic series. Its name refers to the black label, which sets this sake apart within the range.

The brewery produces ABE Black throughout the year in successive batches. It is released both as Nama, an unpasteurized version, and in a version that is pasteurized once.

For ABE Black, the brewery always uses local rice from Niigata. The rice variety and polishing ratio may vary from batch to batch, depending on growing conditions and the harvest. Abe therefore works with a flexible recipe, allowing the characteristics of the available rice to help shape how the sake is brewed.

Depending on the release, ABE Black is offered as Junmai or Junmai Ginjo. This particular expression is a Junmai Ginjo with a polishing ratio of 60%. This means that 40% of the original rice grain is milled away, leaving 60% remaining.

That flexibility makes each batch slightly different. The recognizable interplay of rice umami, fruitiness, and fresh acidity remains the common thread, while the exact expression can shift subtly. That is the pleasure of ABE Black: discovering again and again what the rice and fermentation reveal in the glass.

This expression has an alcohol content of 12%, reflecting the brewery’s move toward a lighter style while preserving flavor and texture.

In the glass, ABE Black opens with aromas of melon, juicy pear, cucumber peel, and citrus zest. The palate starts fruity and smooth, followed by a rounded rice umami that gives structure to the mid-palate.

Lively acids reminiscent of grapefruit and mandarin bring tension and keep the fruit beautifully balanced. The finish is fresh, clean, and refreshing, giving the sake an elegant lightness.

This Junmai Ginjo Origarami Namazake has a slightly cloudy appearance due to the fine lees. Especially just after opening, a gentle spritz may be present, adding extra liveliness.

Serve chilled with grilled chicken, shellfish, white fish, or a fresh green salad. It also pairs beautifully with a soft cheese such as Camembert, where the interplay of fruitiness, umami, and fresh acidity creates a harmonious match.

ABE Black is a vibrant introduction to Abe Shuzo: deeply rooted in its local origin, flexibly brewed, and always in search of balance between rice character and freshness.