Artisan Sakemaker Studio Reviews

Gerbeer	3.7 Osake Junmai Nama Sake 375 ml bottle. Pours a very pale hay/champagne color. Aromas of pears and alcohol. Soooth almost creamy flavors of musty white grapes, light melons, and a bit of wood. Nice Saturday, October 23, 2021
DeanF	3.6 Osake Fraser Valley Renaissance Junmai Earthy sweetness comes across, nice balance of flavour. Mellow and balanced, not overtly cloying. Very nice. Sunday, November 3, 2019
DeanF	3.7 Osake Junmai Nigori Sparkling Soft caramel lightness aroma, great unique fog in the body. Flavour is fully rounded sweet rice. Nice and full, semi-sweet, well balanced. Sunday, November 3, 2019
DeanF	3.8 Osake Junmai Sparkling Sake Herbal grass on the nose, clear body. Flavour is smooth, vague champagne notes, solid sweetness but not too overbearing. Full and rounded, nicely done. Sunday, November 3, 2019
Ferris	2.6 Osake Fraser Valley Renaissance Nigori Bottle - Cheese and marzipan. Light soured notes and nutty. Very odd and earthy with sherry notes. Saturday, October 7, 2017
KyotoLefty	3.9 Osake Junmai Sparkling Sake Glass at the brewery. Yellowish, bubbly. Bright, fruity, minerally nose. White grape, rice, koji, pear. Semi-dry flavor, light sweetness, creamy, some vanilla. Excellent stuff that no one would turn a nose down to in Japan (if tasted blind, that is!) Saturday, September 16, 2017
KyotoLefty	3.7 Osake Junmai Nama Genshu Sake Taster at the brewery. Full and ricy flavor, more than the junmai. Creamy, fruity: apple, pear, peaches. nice peppery finish. Spicy. This was very nice. Saturday, September 16, 2017
KyotoLefty	3.5 Osake Junmai Nama Nigori Sake Taster at the brewery. Creamy vanilla nose, white grapes, rice. Pretty milky white color. Creamy, spicy flavor, berries. full not not thick or chalky. Great balance, nice acidiy. Saturday, September 16, 2017
KyotoLefty	3.5 Osake Junmai Nama Sake Taster at the brewery. A bit creamy nose, some smoke and alcohol, pear, nectarine. Nice rice flavor, creamy, good fruit, lightly tropical. Lightly spicy finish. Decent stuff. Saturday, September 16, 2017
KyotoLefty	3.7 Osake Fraser Valley Renaissance Junmai Bottle pour at the brewery. Light yellow; thick looking. Salty, umami-laden nose, a bit smoky, miso, apples, cheese, cream. Pushing koshu status, this is a very interesting and original aged sake that is full of umami and would be great with rich foods. Saturday, September 16, 2017
mcberko	3.1 Osake Fraser Valley Renaissance Nigori Bottle sampled at Osake, pours a cloudy white. Aroma brings out lychee, booze, creaminess and white wine vinegar. Flavour is very creamy, with lots of booze, creaminess, and white wine vinegar. Finishes hot with lots of lychee. Solid but very hot and lacking some depth of their other products. Thursday, December 29, 2016
mcberko	3.1 Osake Fraser Valley Renaissance Junmai Bottle sampled at Osake, pours a clear pale blonde. Aroma brings out lots of booziness, some white vinegar, and rice. Flavour is quite fruity, with lychee, booziness, and white wine vinegar. Boozier than I recollect the other products here but it’s solid enough. Thursday, December 29, 2016
fiulijn	4 Osake Junmai Junbaishu Plum Sake Bottle onsite a lot of sediment, light brown color. Wonderful Ume aroma, deep, woody, fresh walnuts. Moderately sweet, well balanced by the acidity of the Ume and the strong tannins, woody in the final. This is a very pleasant drink. Thursday, May 26, 2016
fiulijn	3.5 Osake Junmai Nigori Sparkling Bottle onsite Cloudy white color. Lychees dominate the aroma, melon, fruity, very soft, nice sweetness. Very pleasant. Thursday, May 26, 2016
fiulijn	3.2 Osake Mirai Traditional Method Sparkling Bottle onsite Cloudy white. Very strong aroma, a bit winey, maybe vinegar, watermelon; a freshly opened bottle is more similar to champagne; meaty, yeast. Strong alcohol feeling, some melon flavor, a bit too warm; a bit of tropical fruits; more wine than sake, not very gentle. Thursday, May 26, 2016
northropfrye	3.6 Osake Junmai Nama Nigori Sake Bottle sample at sakemaker Vancouver. Cloudy milky body. Sweet. Smooth. Some lactose, creamy. With a dry vinous finish. Nice sake. Friday, April 22, 2016
northropfrye	3.6 Osake Junmai Nama Genshu Sake Bottle at sakemaker Vancouver. Brighter and maybe a little crisper than the Nama but not as sweet. Still nice notes of banana, even Apple. A touch of booze. Nice sake. Friday, April 22, 2016
northropfrye	3.9 Osake Junmai Nama Sake Bottle sample at sakemaker studio, Vancouver. Clear slight yellow body. Sweet but not cloying, notes of banana. Vinous. Not boozy. This may have been my favourite of the sakes we sampled. Friday, April 22, 2016
Ferris	3.5 Osake Junmai Nigori Sparkling Bottle - Pear and yeasty rice sweetness. Cloudy white, no bubbles. Sweet citrus, bright with carb and light yeast in the finish. Quite interesting and nice, Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Ferris	3.5 Osake Mirai Traditional Method Sparkling Bottle - Lychee and cantaloupe with some green apple. Pale yellow with fine bubbles. Effervesent, green apple and melon. Nice for a sparkling. Wednesday, March 30, 2016
mcberko	3.4 Osake Mirai Traditional Method Sparkling Bottle sampled at Osake, pours a hazy white with a small bubbly white head. Nose brings out notes of honey, tropical fruits and pears. Flavour is much like a champagne with all the carbonation, with dry pears, light tropical fruits and fairly low residual sweetness. Very nicely done. Thursday, March 24, 2016
mcberko	3.6 Osake Junmai Nigori Sparkling Bottle sampled at Osake, pours a cloudy white. Nose brings out loads of lychee, medium sweetness and light stone fruitiness. Flavour brings out tons of lychee once again, followed by stone fruits and medium-high sweetness. Extremely smooth, with no harsh edges. Dynamic and wonderfully balanced. Really nice. Thursday, March 24, 2016
gnoff	3.7 Osake Junmai Sparkling Sake 50 cl bottle, 13.5%. On June 19, 2015. At Osake Craft Sake Brewery, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Clear pear color, no head, oily residue, no legs. Sweet, pear, clean scent. Sweet, pear, refreshing taste. Pear aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel, sweet a bit alcohol finish. Monday, July 6, 2015
gnoff	3.2 Osake Junmai Nama Nigori Sake 75 cl bottle, 14%. On June 19, 2015. At Osake Craft Sake Brewery, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Cloudy white color, thick legs. Pear, smooth scent. Pear, alcohol taste. Smooth mouthfeel, semi tart finish. Monday, July 6, 2015
gnoff	3.1 Osake Junmai Nama Genshu Sake 75 cl bottle, 18%. On June 19, 2015. At Osake Craft Sake Brewery, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Clear inside of pear color, no head, plenty of thick legs. Pear, alcohol, buttery scent. Tart, vinous, alcohol taste. Warming alcohol. Alcohol aftertaste. Medium mouthfeel, tart wood finish. Monday, July 6, 2015
gnoff	3.3 Osake Junmai Nama Sake 750 ml bottle, batch 65. 15%. On June 19, 2015. At Osake Craft Sake Brewery, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Clear watery color, no head. oily residue, sporadic legs. Sweet, pear, alcohol, clean scent. Sweet and tart, wood taste. Warming alcohol. Alcohol aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel, no bitterness. Medium sweet finish. Monday, July 6, 2015
mcberko	3.9 Osake Junmai Junbaishu Plum Sake Bottle sampled at Osake, pours a cloudy orangey amber. Nose is sweet like a brandy, with notes of sweet caramel, dark fruits, and sugar. Flavour is intensely sweet, with cloying caramel sweetness, overripe fruits, and lingering sweetness. Doesn’t strike me as a sake, but this sure is a nice dessert liqueur of some kind. Excellent in small doses. Saturday, November 22, 2014
mcberko	3.7 Osake Junmai Ginjo Nigori Genshu Bottle sampled at the brewery, pours a cloudy white. Nose and flavour is on the yeasty side, with overripe fruits and banana. ABV is well-hidden. Very nice stuff. Saturday, November 22, 2014
mcberko	3.7 Osake Junmai Ginjo Genshu Bottle sampled at Osake, pours a clear faded beige. Nose brings out notes of pear, lychee, and rice. Flavour is similar, with lots of booze, lychee and pear. Very fruity compared to the other offerings and also a tad boozier. Very pleasant. Saturday, November 22, 2014
Ferris	3.5 Osake Junmai Sparkling Sake Bottle - Sweet melon and some apple. Clear light yellow. Sweet Apple and melon with a pear finish. Sweet and light, very desert like. Very sweet. Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Ferris	3.7 Osake Junmai Ginjo Nigori Genshu Bottle - Melon and sweet ripe fruit, dried pineapple with some creamy yeast. Cloudy white. Creamy melon and pear. Light booze but very easy drinking and flavourful. Very nice. Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Ferris	3.1 Osake Junmai Ginjo Genshu Bottle - So e pear and tons of yeast notes. Clear pale yellow. Raw rice, yeast, milky notes and booze. An almost creamy finish. Lots of Perfumy yeast and rose water. Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Ferris	3.2 Osake Junmai Nama Nigori Sake Bottle - Sweet pear and melon with a mild citrus note. Cloudy white. Melon and booze with a bit of dust and rind in the finish. Nice mellow yeasty notes throughout. Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Ferris	3.4 Osake Junmai Nama Genshu Sake Bottle - Strong melon and dried pineapple and blue cheese notes. Light pale yellow. Dried sweet fruit, more cheesy notes. Robust and nice for my abused palate. Nice. Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Ferris	3.4 Osake Junmai Nama Sake Bottle - Dust, pear, light grass and some acidity. Clear very pale yellow. Light pear, rice and a boozy finish. Outside the booze and nice pleasant sweetness. Bit of yeasty notes as well. Tuesday, November 18, 2014
mcberko	3.6 Osake Junmai Nama Nigori Sake Sampled at Osake, pours a cloudy white. Aroma brings out honey melon, glutinous rice and medium sweetness. Flavour brings out notes of melon, a tinge of coconut, and light honey sweetness. Well-constructed and likely the most interesting of the four I tried. Sunday, August 31, 2014
mcberko	3.4 Osake Junmai Nama Genshu Sake Sampled at Osake, pours a clear yellowish white. Nose is sort of vinous, with white wine and a touch of fruit. Flavour is fairly boozy, with white wine and light melon fruitiness. Not as good as the Junmai Nama, but still quite nice. Sunday, August 31, 2014
mcberko	3.5 Osake Junmai Nama Sake Sampled at Osake, pours a clear yellowish white with no head. Aroma brings out pears, light melon and moderate sweetness. Flavour is similar, with melon and pear, along with moderate alcohol burn and light-to-medium sweetness. Nicely constructed. Good one. Sunday, August 31, 2014
mcberko	3.6 Osake Junmai Sparkling Sake Sampled at Osake, pours a a cloudy faded white with a couple bubbles. Aroma is lightly sweet and moderate alcohol. Flavour is fairly sweet, with moderate alcohol and a glutenous quality. Seems very nice and complex. Very good one. Sunday, August 31, 2014
brokensail	3.2 Osake Junmai Nama Genshu Sake Bottle @ Artisan Sake. Clear off-white/pale yellow. Fumey. Alcohol, apple peels, grape, and rice milk. Slight licorice. Flavor is kind of assertive. Milky flavor, almost creamy. Dry, sort of floral and acidic. Green apple and unripe berry. A touch hot in the finish. My least favorite of the four I tried. Saturday, August 30, 2014
brokensail	3.6 Osake Junmai Nama Nigori Sake Bottle @ Artisan Sake. Milky white pour. Sort of whey-like. Aromas of pear, rice, and melon. Rather fruity and a touch spicy. Flavor has a lot of sweet rice and sugar. Some pear and baked apple. A hint of melon, black pepper, and alcohol. Kind of on the sweet side. Slight vanilla on the finish. Saturday, August 30, 2014
brokensail	3.5 Osake Junmai Nama Sake Bottle @ Artisan Sake. Clear pour with minimal legs. Sweet banana and gelatin on the nose. Some rice cake, baked crackers, and a bit of grape skin. Flavor has a strong toasted rice character. Sweet vanilla and banana bread. A little bit of yeast and mineral. Saturday, August 30, 2014
brokensail	3.4 Osake Junmai Sparkling Sake Bottle @ Artisan Sake. Clear off-white pour. Good legs. Licorice/twizzlers on the nose. Some banana, sweet pear, melon, rice, sugar, and white grape. Sort of sweet smelling. Flavor has some strawberry twizzlers, gelatin, and banana. A hint of alcohol, some banana cream pie, and white grape. Not bad. Saturday, August 30, 2014
fiulijn	3 Osake Fraser Valley Junmai Bottle at the brewery; vintage 2012 Very pale hue of yellow. There is some alcohol aroma, light fruits, but mostly a bready aroma. The mouthfeel is a bit oily; light fruity notes, watermelon and lychee, with light final bitterness, and some alcohol. Nice. Wednesday, April 30, 2014
fiulijn	3.6 Osake Junmai Sparkling Sake Bottle at the brewery This one is based on the Junmai Nama. Pale color with yellow hue. The aroma is very strong, fruity initially, melon and honeydew mainly, later a curious note of hard cheese rind. Medium sweet mouthfeel with soft carbonation, thick body; strong fruity presence, melon and some pear, with a slightly bitter finish. Nice. Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Oakes	3.4 Osake Junmai Sparkling Sake Very pale and bubbly. Slightly woody, yeasty sake aroma. The effervescence brings out apricot, cantaloupe - bright fruits. Interesting. Carbonation is soft, allowing for this transformation of flavour. Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Oakes	3.1 Osake Fraser Valley Nigori Cloudy and pale. More rounded, soft bready and a bit yeasty. A bit of acidity late, not all that clean. Rustic sake. Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Oakes	3.1 Osake Fraser Valley Junmai Made with local rice. Clear. Floral, melon notes, woody accent. Sweet, bit sugary, woody...overripe fruit. Tuesday, April 22, 2014
tiggmtl	3.5 Osake Junmai Sparkling Sake Quite sweet and lightly fruity with some mild spice notes in the gentle aroma. Clear, fizzy, sparkling body is rather pale in colour. Flavour offers more than the aroma suggests - sweet light and fruity up front with some underlying earthy quality and spice in the finish. Alcohol is subtly notable especially in the long aftertaste. Very refreshing with excelent carbonation that clears the palate for the next sip. Paired well with salmon tuna and sashimi for me. Bottle purchased at the studio on Granville Island. Monday, January 9, 2012
JoeMcPhee	3.4 Osake Junmai Sparkling Sake Bottle. Very pale straw-coloured pour. The nose is like tapioca topped with white pepper. Subtly sweet with a touch of light sweet rice flour. A lovely savoury koji character. Very light carbonation - soft and sweet with a little bit of soft peppery character. Light fruit and melon. Clean and lovely. Saturday, April 2, 2011