Kitamura Jozojo

Kitamura Jozojo is a long-established brewery founded in the Tenpo era (1830-1844), located in Tojo-cho, Shobara City, in the northeastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture. It is a small family-run brewery, and currently, the president, Mr. Yoshiyuki Kitamura, serves as the Toji (master brewer), preserving traditional handmade sake brewing.
The biggest feature of this brewery is that it uses "hard water" for brewing, which is rare in Hiroshima Prefecture. The mineral-rich hard water springing from the Taishaku Karst Plateau containing limestone produces a crisp and sturdy taste, different from the "soft water brewing" that is mainstream in Hiroshima.
The representative brand "Kikubunmei" is characterized by its "savory dry" taste unique to hard water. While the rich and mellow umami spreads, the aftertaste is refreshing, making it an excellent match for fatty dishes such as steak. It is a sake of rare terroir that continues to be loved locally.