The well-known Japanese sake brand Dassai has opened a brewery in New York, and they are offering tours. I visited Dassai Blue, located about a two-hour drive north of Manhattan in Hyde Park. Dassai is such a famous brand in Japan that it’s unlikely you’ll find anyone who hasn’t heard of it. The sake is known for its clear, yet rich taste, and it’s one of my favorites.

Making a Reservation

Tours at Dassai Blue typically run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. They generally require an advance booking. The weekend slots fill up quickly, so I recommend booking as soon as possible. I booked a tour for a Friday afternoon. While it's a two-hour drive from Manhattan and possible to do in a day trip, we decided to enjoy the alcohol thoroughly and also do some sightseeing, so we went for a 2-night, 3-day trip.

Arriving at the Brewery

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a modern, stylish building that gives off a Japanese vibe. Inside, there was a reception area next to a fridge filled with Dassai bottles, available for purchase to take home. There was also a tasting area.

Starting the Tour

The tour lasted about 20 minutes. There were eight other participants that day, with three children. I thought children might be turned away from an alcohol tour, but they were allowed to join without issue. The guide explained the sake-making process in detail while we looked through the windows into the various rooms. Although we couldn’t see the sake being made that day, you might witness different stages depending on the time of year.

Tasting Time (about 30 minutes)

After the tour, we had a tasting session. Cheese and pickles were provided as snacks, but it seems they now also offer Japanese-style snacks. On Sundays, they even offer sushi, which I’d like to try next time. We tasted Dassai 50 and the newly created Dassai 23. The numbers represent the rice polishing ratio; the smaller the number, the less rice is remaining after polishing, meaning more rice is required to produce the same amount of sake. And then came the fresh sake! Namazake (fresh, unpasteurized sake) is typically difficult to find outside of its origin due to the need for refrigeration. I love fresh sake and was thrilled I could drink it here, as I had never had Dassai's fresh sake even in Japan. I’ll definitely try it when I go back to Japan. It was delightful with a rich aroma, easy to drink yet full of depth. It was also fun to enjoy it in such a pleasant setting.

Purchasing

On our way out, I decided to buy two bottles of Dassai 50 and two bottles of the fresh sake. You can find Dassai at some stores in New York, but it was cheaper to buy it there. Since sake, unlike wine, is recommended to be consumed relatively quickly—especially the fresh type within a week—it's best to buy only as much as you can drink.

In Conclusion

I was a bit worried about whether it would be fun to bring children, but everyone was very kind, and it was a comfortable and enjoyable environment. They also seem to offer walk-in options for a drink, which I’d like to try if I’m in the area again.

Surrounding Area & Activities

The surrounding area is rich in nature; we enjoyed some light hiking with the kids at the famous rock climbing spot, the Gunks. The trails are paved, so they’re accessible with a stroller. Additionally, nearby is the CIA, a culinary school where you can eat at restaurants and cafes run by the students at a good price. We had dinner at American Bounty and apple pie at the Apple Pie Bakery Café. We went two weeks into the new semester, so the service was a bit slow as the students were still learning. The wait was a bit tough with kids, but the food was delicious.

On our way back, we stopped in the town of Beacon and visited the modern art museum Dia Beacon, which I had wanted to see for a long time. The town was very charming, and we enjoyed just walking around. We stumbled upon a Himalayan restaurant, MOMO Valley, which was incredibly delicious. We stayed in the town of Poughkeepsie, where there’s a bridge over the Hudson River, offering beautiful views of the autumn leaves.

It was a fulfilling 2-night, 3-day trip, thoroughly enjoying upstate New York.

Dassai Blue Sake Brewery
5 Saint Andrew Road
Hyde Park, NY 12538

Tour and Sake tasting: $50
Tour and non alcoholic tasting: $20

Tour & Tasting Hours:
Friday: 12 PM to 5 PM
Saturday: 12 PM to 5 PM
Sunday: 12 PM to 4 PM

Walk-in / By the Glass Purchases
Wednesday: 5-8 PM
Thursday: 5-8 PM
Friday: 12-8 PM
Saturday: 12-8 PM
Sunday: 12-5 PM