北安醸造株式会社、それは大町市街の北部、大黒町にある小さいながらも心温まる酒蔵だ。大正12年、大黒天にちなんで「大國正宗」という名前で清酒の製造をスタートさせたんだ。その後、「北安大國」と名前を新たにし、小谷杜氏をはじめ、蔵人や社員たちが一丸となって、地区でも一番小さな酒蔵として切り盛りしているんだ。

この酒蔵はね、「仁科の里」に位置していて、北アルプス後立山連峰の鹿島槍、爺ヶ岳、蓮華岳といった秀峰を望むことができるんだ。山麓から湧き出る澄み切った伏流水と、地元安曇野の大地が育んだ良質の酒米、それに蔵の伝統的な卓越した技が合わさって、北アルプス山麓の地酒「北安大國」が生まれるんだよ。

北安醸造の「北安大國 純米無濾過 生原酒」は、出来立てをそのまま瓶に詰めた、まさに贅沢な一本。最近は低アルコールや甘い日本酒が流行っているけど、北安醸造は、ふくよかな味わいと旨味が広がる、王道を行く日本酒を醸し出しているんだ。アルコール度数もしっかりしていて、おじいちゃんやお父さん世代にはたまらない味わい。若い世代や外国人には少し飲みづらいかもしれないけど、10年後にはその深い味わいがきっとわかるようになるはずさ。

ラベルには大黒様と打ち出の小づちが描かれていて、縁起が良いデザイン。贈り物にもぴったりだよ。北安醸造の日本酒は、伝統と地元の自然の恵みを感じさせる、思わず飲みたくなる味わいがあるんだ。

Hokuan Brewery Co., Ltd. is a small but heartwarming sake brewery located in Daikoku-cho, north of Omachi City. In Taisho 12, they started producing sake under the name ``Okuni Masamune'' after Daikokuten. After that, the name was changed to ``Hokuan Daikoku,'' and the brewer and employees, including the brewer Kotani, worked together to run the brewery as the smallest sake brewery in the area.

This sake brewery is located in Nishina no Sato, where you can see magnificent peaks such as Kashimayari, Mt. Jigatake, and Mt. Renkadake in the Tateyama Mountain Range of the Northern Alps. The combination of the clear underground water that gushes from the foothills, the high-quality sake rice grown in the local Azumino land, and the traditional craftsmanship of the brewery creates Hokuyasu Daikoku, a local sake from the foothills of the Northern Alps.

Hokuan Jozo's ``Hokuan Daikoku Junmai Unfiltered Raw Sake'' is a truly luxurious bottle that is bottled straight from the brewing process. Low-alcohol and sweet sake have become popular these days, but Hokuan Jozo produces classic sake with a rich flavor and umami. The alcohol content is also high, making it an irresistible taste for grandparents and fathers. It may be a little difficult for younger generations and foreigners to drink, but I'm sure they'll be able to appreciate its deep flavor in 10 years.

The label depicts Daikoku-sama and a small hammer, an auspicious design. It's perfect as a gift. Hokuan Brewery's sake has a taste that makes you want to drink it, with a sense of tradition and the blessings of local nature.