Iinuma Meijo is a small brewery in Nishikata-machi, Tochigi Prefecture, situated along the ancient cedar-lined road toward Nikko in a region prized for its water, rice, and natural environment. The Sugata label, named after a legendary mirror pond called Sugata-mi, represents only about 10 percent of the brewery's production and reflects a philosophy of unfiltered, unpasteurized sake: freshly pressed sake is the best; no filtration, no pasteurization. The nama-genshu expressions are particularly sought after for their powerful umami, tropical fruit aromatics, and concentrated, high-alcohol character.
