Americans are developing a taste for sake, leading to a sake revolution in the country. Sake exports to the U.S. reached $78.6 million last year, tripling the figure from a decade ago. As a result, major breweries are producing sake in the United States and introducing new flavors to cater to American palates.
One such sake brewery, Origami Sake, recently started operations in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Known for its rice production and abundance of spring water, Arkansas provides the perfect environment for sake brewing. Origami Sake plans to produce junmai sake and aims for annual sales of 500,000 liters, valued at $10 million.
Origami Sake’s Vice President, Ben Bell, discovered his fascination with sake’s taste 15 years ago when he worked at a local liquor store. He considers sake to be on par with top-quality wine. Bell furthered his knowledge about sake by studying Japanese in Hanamaki, Iwate prefecture, a sister city of Hot Springs, and sake brewing at Nanbu Bijin Co., a renowned sake brewery in Ninohe.
Working alongside Matt Bell (no relation), Origami Sake’s President, Ben Bell plans to launch a new junmai sake called A Thousand Cranes, known for its fruity and refreshing flavor. The retail price for a 750-milliliter bottle is approximately $30. Their ultimate goal is to transform Arkansas into a global powerhouse for sake production.
The trend of large-scale sake breweries is growing in the United States. Asahi Shuzo Co., famous for its popular Dassai brand, recently completed the construction of a new brewery in New York. It plans to start selling locally made sake as early as this summer.
Currently, the U.S. alcoholic beverage market is dominated by beer and wine, with sake accounting for less than 1% of the market share. However, the increasing interest in sake among Americans indicates a shift in consumer preferences.
The Sake Brewers Association of North America reports that there are now over 20 sake breweries across the United States. With the emergence of local breweries and diverse flavors, sake is poised for further growth in the American market.
As Americans continue to embrace the sake revolution, it remains to be seen how this traditional Japanese drink will integrate into the broader American drinking culture. The introduction of innovative flavors and locally produced sake speaks to a growing demand for unique and authentic alcoholic beverages.
With exports on the rise and domestic breweries flourishing, the sake industry in the United States is poised for a promising future. As more Americans raise a glass of sake, the beverage’s presence in bars, restaurants, and homes across the country is becoming increasingly commonplace. This sake revolution has the potential to reshape the landscape of the American alcohol industry, offering consumers new and exciting options alongside traditional favorites.
