Join us for a conversation with Katrina Matthews (marketing director) and Hector Meier (head brewer) of Wetlands Sake in New Orleans, LA moderated by Patrick Shearer of Ben’s American Sake in Asheville, NC. Hear about some of the new products and approaches that Wetlands Sake is bringing to the industry.

This webinar features the world premier of SBANA’s animated video illustrating sake’s unique tradition, craft, and range of enjoyment for sake newcomers. The video is followed by a panel discussion with three SBANA member brewers relating their passion for sake and sake-making: Mr. Andrew Centofante of North American Sake Brewery (Charlottesville, VA); Ms. Euka Isawa of Katsuyama (Miyagi, Japan), and Mr. Patrick Shearer of Ben’s American Sake (Asheville, NC). The March 23 event will be held in conjunction with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the nation’s greatest springtime celebration commemorating the enduring friendship between the people of Japan and the United States.

Bernie Baskin, founder, former President, and current Board Member of the Sake Brewers Association of North America speaks with Jamie Graves (Skurnik Wines), Sachiko Miyagi (Tippsy), and Andrew Centofante (North American Sake Brewery) about the challenges and opportunities ahead in the sake industry, specifically with regard to laws and regulations.

This engaging exploration of sake shines a spotlight on the launch of the North America-Japan Sake Dialogue, an initiative designed to foster cooperation and information-sharing between sake brewers on both sides of the Pacific about common challenges and opportunities in the industry. Featuring an all-star lineup of some of the most dynamic innovators in the sake industry in Japan and the United States in a discussion moderated by sake expert Justin Potts of Sake On Air and with introductory remarks by Kosuke Kuji, master brewer and president of Nanbu Bijin. Dialogue participants include:

Japanese sake representatives:

Mr. Katsuhiko Miyasaka (Miyasaka/Masumi; Nagano, Japan)
Mr. Hiroyuki Karahashi (Aizu Homare; Fukushima, Japan)
Ms. Euka Isawa (MiCURA/Katsuyama; Miyagi, Japan)

North American sake representatives:

Mr. Brian Polen (Brooklyn Kura, Brooklyn, NY)
Mr. Troy Nakamatsu (Sawtelle Sake, Los Angeles, CA)
Mr. Byron Stithem (Proper Sake Co., Nashville, TN)

Andrew Centofante, owner of North American Sake Brewery, sits down with Josh Hembree from Setting Sun Sake Brewing Company to talk sake.

Daisuke Utagawa is a partner-owner of Sushi-ko in Chevy Chase, MD, Daikaya, an izakaya/ramen restaurant, and Haikan, Bantam King, and Hatoba in downtown Washington, DC. Born and bred in Tokyo, Utagawa took over the original Sushi-ko, Washington’s flagship sushi restaurant, in 1988. It was there that he pioneered the idea of pairing red burgundy wines with Japanese food—a practice that is now considered a norm. At Daikaya and his other ramen-themed restaurants, Utagawa brings the essence of the izakaya sake-drinking experience to Washington. He has appeared numerous times in the PBS show, Rudy Maxa’s World, and filmed a six- part series with Maxa on food and travel in Japan and other parts of Asia in 2017 and 2018. The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington awarded Utagawa and his partners at Daikaya the prestigious Restaurateur of the Year award for 2020.

Bernie Baskin, President of the Sake Brewers Association of North America, sits down (virtually) with journalist Brian Ashcraft on October 13, 2020 to discuss Brian’s latest book, the Japanese Sake Bible – out now from Tuttle Publishing. Brian Ashcraft is a senior writer for the video gaming site Kotaku and a columnist for The Japan Times. He was previously a contributing editor at Wired magazine. His work has appeared in Popular Science, the Guardian, the design journal Metropolis, and many other publications. He is the author of Japanese Whisky as well as many books on Japanese culture, including Japanese Tattoos and Japanese Schoolgirl Confidential. Originally from Texas, he has called Osaka home since 2001.

A dialogue between Brandon Doughan (head brewer of Brooklyn Kura) and Patrick Shearer (head brewer of Ben’s American Sake) two of the top sake brewers in the United States. Hosted by Bernie Baskin, Executive Director of the Sake Brewers Association of North America.

A dialogue between four of the top sake experts on building a successful sake program, educating your customers on sake, and driving sales. Hosted by Bernie Baskin, Executive Director of the Sake Brewers Association of North America.

A dialogue between Byron Stithem (head brewer of Proper Sake) and Andrew Centofante (head brewer of North American Sake Brewery) two of the top sake brewers in the United States. Hosted by Bernie Baskin, Executive Director of the Sake Brewers Association of North America.