Minakuchi Shuzo’s concept

Man’yoshu, the oldest collection of Japanese poetry as far back as the 8th century, contains a poem by Princess Nukata, “Awaiting the moonrise to put our ships to sea at the port of Nikitatsu, with the moon the tide comes in. Now let’s row out .” We reinterpreted the port of Nikitatsu in the poem as the “port filled with joy of benevolence” infusing local sake of Dogo “Nikitatsu” with the new meaning.
Minakuchi Shuzo was founded by Daishichiro Minakuchi in 1895. Since then, we have gone hand-in-hand with Dogo Onsen Honkan, standing as the only brewery not only in Dogo, but also in Matsuyama and Ehime. Time changes, but our commitment to taste remains unchanged. Seishu “Nikitatsu,” derived from the ancient name of Dogo, which is referred to in Man’yoshu, is a gem created through the brewing tradition and brewery workers’ art that have been refined over 100 years from the Meiji, Taisho, Showa to Heisei eras.

Brewery workers produce sake of Dogo in the brewery that is in the state of tranquility. For the mother water that is essential for sake brewing, the quality water of Nikitatsu is used. The underflow water from Mount Ishizuchi and Mount Takanawa, known as the highest mountains in Western Japan, contains the right amounts of mineral, producing a mellow and mild taste. For rice, “Sizuku Hime” and “Matsuyama Mii,” Ehime-grown sake specific rice, are mainly used.
Carefully grown in Ehime, which is warm and rich in nature, they are characterized by large grain, being resistant to rice milling, and being highly suitable for sake brewing as low protein rice.

Ranging from premium sake including high-quality sake “Nikitatsu,” which means “the port filled with joy of benevolence,” and “Dogo Kurazake,” another brand that stresses sake of Dogo on the label, to ordinary sake, we treasure the brewing tradition and art for all sake, offering the flavor of Iyo Dogo through prestigious local sake of the Dogo Onsen hot spring with a history of 3,000 years of the initial opening.
Compatible with seafood from the Seto Inland Sea and the Uwa Sea, which face Ehime, the sake of Ehime has savory taste, light with a clean finish, designed to suit bland diet centered on white-fleshed fish of the Seto Inland Sea. In addition, as “Dogo Shochu,” which is highly appreciated in the Annual Japan Sake Awards every year, is based on refined ginjo sake lees, naked barley, of which Ehime is the largest producer, and Matsuyama agricultural, forestry and fishery brand products produced in Matsuyama city, which is warm and rich in nature, we engage in manufacturing with the Dogo story in mind.

“Dogo Beer,” the oldest hot spring village Dogo-grown beer. Cold enough to refresh you after your bath. We started to produce the beer in 1996. The beer was born as local beer of the Dogo Onsen hot spring, which is known nationwide as the oldest onsen. Recognized as the refreshment beer after taking a bath, the beer is known as a representative prefectural product, leading in production and sales volume in the Chugoku and Shikoku region.
Craft beer that respects cool sensation and smoothness in throat with a scene of cooling his/her perched throat after taking a bath imaged. In addition to Kolsch, Altbier, Stout and Weizen, we produce sparkling liquor using Ehime-grown fruit juice. Using our sake brewing techniques with a history of 120 years of our foundation, we engage in a short-term and low-volume production (2 weeks) by top fermentation, ending a single production process within around one week for delivery. By this, the product contains freshly squeezed wort (malt-boiled liquid) alone, maximizing malt richness and sugar component.
Because there is neither filtration nor heat sterilization when barreled or bottled after the completion of brewing, you can enjoy the draft beer containing nutritious yeast rich in B vitamins, minerals, protein, and food fiber.

Why don’t you have our original gift set that conveys the history and appeal of Dogo? We offer a lot of products including a gift set that contains local sake of Dogo “Nikitatsu,” refreshment beer after your bath “Dogo Beer,” and some reginal products manufactured in the place that is warm and rich in nature. For your memory of trip, someone very special, and reminder of the unforgettable Dogo, our gift set is a must.