Tamamura Honten launches NEW ENGI in a first 300 ml bottle
Tamamura Honten, the brewery behind Shiga Kogen Beer in Yamanouchi, Nagano, has released a new 300 ml version of its NEW ENGI sake line. It is the series’ first small-format bottle, designed to be easier to try while reflecting local demand for compact bottles.
Hop BroHere’s a fun one: Tamamura Honten’s new release. The brewery known for Shiga Kogen Beer just launched the first 300ml bottle in its sake brand, NEW ENGI.
MugiWait, the brewery behind Shiga Kogen Beer makes sake too? And 300ml sounds perfect for a low-commitment try!
Hop BroThat’s the smart part. It’s NEW ENGI’s first small bottle, based on the 300ml size long loved at local inns and hotels, but way easier for newcomers to pick up.
MugiOhh, so it’s a beginner-friendly size. Big bottles always create my 'what if I love it and accidentally finish it?' problem!
Hop BroAnd the rice story is serious: estate-grown pesticide-free rice. The brewers grow it themselves, using only minimal organic fertilizer, then turn it into sake.
MugiWhat, blended sake rice? That sounds like coffee beans. I thought sake was always one rice, one dramatic pose!
Hop BroPretty close, actually. The first batch is a Yamake Nishiki-led blend with about 30% Kinmon Nishiki. Think green apple, firm peach, pear, plus acidity and a sturdy body.
MugiHold on, acidity and body? You just switched into full tasting-note mode. What does that mean for a normal person drinking it?
Hop BroIn plain language, it’s made for meals. Fruity but not sweet, clean on the finish, and specs like a 55% polishing ratio and Nihonshudo +4 help shape that crisp profile.
MugiNow I’m in. At 990 yen tax included, and with a printed bottle that looks good too, I’d totally want to try it alongside Shiga Kogen Beer.
Hop BroExactly. With beer bundle shipping, the route is obvious: beer first, NEW ENGI with food after. That sounds like the kind of night where I want both.
Tamamura Honten, based in Yamanouchi, Nagano, has released a new 300 ml bottle of its NEW ENGI sake brand. The brewery is best known among beer fans as the maker of Shiga Kogen Beer, but it also produces the sake line Enki and the NEW ENGI series.
This is the first 300 ml format in the NEW ENGI lineup. Until now, 300 ml bottles of Enki were mainly used by local inns and hotels, with some demand from travelers looking for souvenirs. According to the brewery, many visitors first encounter Enki at dinner during their stay, and that experience often becomes a gateway to learning more about the brand.
NEW ENGI is brewed from rice grown by the brewery’s own brewers. The rice is cultivated without pesticides and with minimal use of organic fertilizer. For this 300 ml release, the brewery chose to use a blend rather than a single rice variety. The goal was to ensure stable supply and to present a broader picture of the NEW ENGI style.
The first blend is led by Sankenishiki, with roughly 30% Kinmon Nishiki. The brewery describes the flavor as having fruity aromatics reminiscent of green apple, firm peach, and pear, with a fresh, dry impression. Kinmon Nishiki adds acidity and a stronger body, giving the sake more depth. The specifications are 55% polishing ratio, +4 sake meter value, 2.3 acidity, 1.4 amino acid level, and 15.3% alcohol. The rice is grown in the Kutsuno and Yokokura areas.
The bottle is a printed design by Noriyuki Tanaka. It is priced at JPY 990 including tax and can also be shipped together with Shiga Kogen Beer. For beer drinkers, it offers a straightforward way to approach the brewery’s sake side alongside its familiar beer lineup.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHere’s a fun one: Tamamura Honten’s new release. The brewery known for Shiga Kogen Beer just launched the first 300ml bottle in its sake brand, NEW ENGI.
MugiWait, the brewery behind Shiga Kogen Beer makes sake too? And 300ml sounds perfect for a low-commitment try!
Hop BroThat’s the smart part. It’s NEW ENGI’s first small bottle, based on the 300ml size long loved at local inns and hotels, but way easier for newcomers to pick up.
MugiOhh, so it’s a beginner-friendly size. Big bottles always create my 'what if I love it and accidentally finish it?' problem!
Hop BroAnd the rice story is serious: estate-grown pesticide-free rice. The brewers grow it themselves, using only minimal organic fertilizer, then turn it into sake.
MugiWhat, blended sake rice? That sounds like coffee beans. I thought sake was always one rice, one dramatic pose!
Hop BroPretty close, actually. The first batch is a Yamake Nishiki-led blend with about 30% Kinmon Nishiki. Think green apple, firm peach, pear, plus acidity and a sturdy body.
MugiHold on, acidity and body? You just switched into full tasting-note mode. What does that mean for a normal person drinking it?
Hop BroIn plain language, it’s made for meals. Fruity but not sweet, clean on the finish, and specs like a 55% polishing ratio and Nihonshudo +4 help shape that crisp profile.
MugiNow I’m in. At 990 yen tax included, and with a printed bottle that looks good too, I’d totally want to try it alongside Shiga Kogen Beer.
Hop BroExactly. With beer bundle shipping, the route is obvious: beer first, NEW ENGI with food after. That sounds like the kind of night where I want both.
