Shiwa Shuzoten (株式会社紫波酒造店)

What kind of brewery is Shiwa Shuzoten?

In December 1903 the first owner, Kiheiji Hirota, took over a well-regarded sake maker in Shiwa and founded the brewery, which continued after the war as Hirota Shuzoten. It moved to its present site in 1905, was barred from production in 1943 because of the war, and resumed in 1947. In October 2022 it changed from a sole proprietorship to a corporation, renamed Shiwa Shuzoten Co., Ltd. The current owner is the fifth generation, and since the 29BY brewing year the brewery has taken up the sanki amazake-moto method.

Water

The brewery uses water from the spring system at Mizuwake Shrine in Shiwa, which is soft and mild.

Ingredients

It uses Iwate-grown rice and grows the sake rice Yui no Ka in fields behind the brewery.

Master brewer

The toji, Ono, is the first woman toji of the Nanbu tradition and leads the brewers.

Style

It brews with sanki amazake-moto, a kimoto-related method in which lactic acid bacteria are added to steamed rice saccharified with hot water to make the starter.

Yeast

The Sisora series uses the Iwate original yeast Giovanni no Shirabe.

Can you visit Shiwa Shuzoten?

• Tours

  Tours are free and by reservation, from one person, about 20 minutes, between 9:00 and 16:00. Closed Sundays, year-end and New Year, and the Obon period.

• Shop

  The on-site shop sells sake and offers tastings.

Hours and booking rules change, so check before you go. Official website

Other brewery tours in Iwate

Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: shiwa-shuzoten.com