HYDE PARK — Experience the beauty of cherry blossom trees as you enter the new sake brewery by Asahi Shuzo, a renowned Japanese sake producer known for the brand Dassai. This extraordinary brewery, worth $80 million, is not located in Japan but rather in the scenic Hudson Valley, thousands of miles away.
Unlike other Japanese sake producers who have established breweries on the West Coast, this massive facility is the first major sake brewing facility in the Northeast, marking a significant milestone in the industry.
Nestled at 5 St. Andrew Road, the Dassai Blue sake brewery is conveniently situated only a mile from the renowned Culinary Institute of America (CIA). With plans to enhance its sake education program, the CIA has played a pivotal role in the development of the brewery. Its strategic location near the CIA and New York City was a key factor in the selection of the former Stop & Shop location, as stated by Henry Sidel, the Chief Operating Officer at Dassai.
After six years of dedication, the construction was completed in April. This ambitious project began with the property’s acquisition in 2017, followed by the groundbreaking two years later.
Dr. Tim Ryan, the President of the CIA, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Because we are local, we were able to help Asahi Shuzo make the acquisition and gain the appropriate approvals. In addition to being great for Asahi Shuzo and the CIA, the new facility is a big win for the town of Hyde Park. It will bring more visitors.”
Alongside the brewery’s grand opening, Asahi Shuzo is launching a new U.S. brand called Dassai Blue. This expansion comes at a time of growing American interest in Japanese sake. In 2022, Japan exported more sake to the U.S. than any other country, and since 2012, the volume of exported sake has more than doubled, according to the Japanese Sake and Shochu Makers Association.
An Unforgettable Sake Experience
Spanning an impressive 55,000 square feet, the Dassai Blue brewery comprises two buildings: a brewery and a rice polishing facility. The goal is to offer visitors an immersive education in sake, including retail space and opportunities for touring and tasting, which will be available next month. Additionally, Dassai officials are planning various installations that educate visitors about the sake brewing process and its pairing potential with different foods. This includes captivating photography, video displays, and even an acoustic guide, allowing visitors to embark on a self-guided tour resembling a museum experience, according to Sidel.
As part of the project, up to $588,235 in performance-based tax credits were granted through New York’s Excelsior Jobs Program. At least 10 new employees have already joined the operation, with plans to create a total of 32 jobs.
This partnership also brings exciting opportunities for CIA students, including a new sake curriculum, certification programs, workshops, special events, tastings, and potential future internships. Several CIA graduates have already been hired by Dassai. One is part of the management team, and three others joined the experienced brewing staff brought over from the Dassai brewery in Japan. They successfully brewed their first batch on May 23.
With an annual capacity to produce 140,000 cases of 9 liters (2.37 gallons) of junmai daiginjo, a premium sake, the Dassai Blue brewery is well-equipped to cater to the growing demand for Japanese rice wine.
Known as Japanese rice wine, sake is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting polished rice. The brewing process is meticulous, taking 75 days to complete, and the sake is crafted in small batches. Sake can be served warm or chilled, offering versatile options for enjoyment.
Established in 1948, Asahi Shuzo has a rich history, with its roots tracing back to a brewery founded in the 1700s in southern Japan.
Regarding the new brewery, Sidel emphasized, “We really want the brewery to be the ultimate destination for learning about sake and tasting it. To be able to see that, to visit and to get the kind of educational experience that we’re going to deliver, there’s nowhere like it in the world, even in Japan.”
Embark on a Tour of the Brewery
Starting on October 19, visitors can take advantage of tours and tastings at the Dassai Blue Brewery on Thursdays and Fridays from 1-4 p.m. However, it is crucial to make reservations through the company’s website to secure your spot.
In a statement, Asahi Shuzo Chairman Hiroshi Sakurai expressed his excitement about this historic milestone: “The expansion of production to the United States is a significant step towards realizing the desire I had when I started Dassai 30 years ago, which was to have Dassai enjoyed all over the world.”
