I wish I could give this place 10 stars! Phenomenal! Went on a Friday night, it wasn't too crowded, which is perfect! We sat at the bar (they have the cutest, coolest booths, too!) and had the best experience. Peter is super knowledgeable and friendly, he walked us through everything we tried and told us a little about how each was made. Highly recommend trying the flights if you're new (or even not new) to sake. We got a couple of bottles to go - they bottle most of them right when you order it. We even went back two days later for another bottle. The sushi truck out front is very tasty, too! *the don't take cash* read more

This place was awesome! I'm an out of towner and I've never had too much sake aside from ordering a "hot sake" from sushi restaurants, which I've always enjoyed. When I heard about this place, I couldn't wait to try. We got there at dark, and it looked unassuming aside from some lights hanging overhead, a few picnic tables, and a cornhole set up, and even the inside isn't too different from what you'd expect from a basic distillery. I ordered the sample flight of sake so I could try a bunch of different things and actually learn something about sake while I was there. The staff that was working was super friendly and great about answering any questions we had. When he brought out the flights, he explained what each one was like and what to expect from it. Despite my five star review, I didn't like all of the sake on the flight, but the point was to try a bunch of different types! The sample flight came with four different types of sake - Junmai, Nigori, Nama, and Oak. My two favorites were the Junmai and the Nigori, with the Junmai being most similar to the basic "hot sake" I'd always had before and the Nigori being a really smooth sake. The Nama, in my opinion, was really strong, so it wasn't really for my tastes. The Oak also felt a bit strong, but it was tempered by the oak-y taste that came with it. We were also offered a taste of their Blood Orange CBD infused sake, which had really intrigued me. It didn't taste like I had expected any sake to taste like, but I really enjoyed it! I would definitely love to come back the next time I'm in town and try the tour to learn even more! read more

Texas Sake - Breweries Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My first visit to Texas Saké Company (TSC) was such a delight I could not wait to share it. I had no idea we had our own secret saké brewery (or kura) here in Austin! While originally founded in 2011, the place re-launched in December 2015 under new ownership (including some of the guys behind Strangeland Brewing). Since March 2016, they have been serving happy customers in the onsite TSC tasting room, as well as selling bottles of its small batch productions to local stores, restaurants, and anyone else who enjoys the diverse world of saké. If you shop at Central Market, HEB, or in.gredients, you can pick up a bottle or two there, too. I was fortunate to recently attend a special event at TSC (Thanks, Amy D. & Our ATX!) in which we were able to taste a flight of 4 different types of saké (each one more delicious than the last), as well as to tour the brew room. Toji (brew master) Jeff explained the TSC brew process and schooled us all in Saké 101. A surprise to me was the oak-aged junmai, which immediately had me thinking of smoke and bourbon - I'd love to show up to the next BBQ picnic with this one. If you are new to saké, don't be scared! The flavors of the TSC brews are intended to appeal to a wide range of palates and adventurous drinkers are sure to find one to like. FYI, TSC is a local, small biz, craft operation, so retail hours can be sporadic (or have been during the recent transition to new owners & processes). Current tasting room hours are Fri-Sat, 6p-11p, but it's always best to call 844.438.8392 and/or check social media for any scheduling changes and special tasting events onsite and around town. https://www.facebook.com/txsake https://www.instagram.com/texassakecompany/ https://twitter.com/txsake Finding the place is a little tricky. Follow your map to Book Woman on North Lamar just south of Koenig. Turn onto Nelray Blvd and park on the street or in the lot just behind the Book Woman building (next to Travis County Strength gym). The small door into TSC is right next to the number 115 on the wall of the large, tan warehouse-looking structure. read more

Texas Sake - Current tasting hours (Sept 2016) are Fri-Sat 6p-11p. Check social media for special events & schedule changes! - Breweries Near Me - Austin, Texas

This review is for 3.5 stars. As far as a unique experience goes, Texas Sake Co hits the marks. Random Japanese centric spot in the middle of the Yard. Sumo on tv, umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, and sake galore. Nice outdoor seating area out front adds an Austin flare. But the sake was just not good. Ordered the flight and only finished 1 of the 4 5oz pours. About $20 for high quantity, but there was so much oak and smokiness that it didn't resemble any type of sake I've had in my life. The cloudy unfiltered sake with yuzu on special for the day was edible but the rest were actually off. And on top of that, the booths are just impossible to get in and out of. Supposed to be the old school Asian variety but they're not built for people with long legs and there's zero room to scooch in. Experience was fine and love the vibe of the Yard, but just couldn't get down with the drinks or seating. read more

In town for the weekend and went to get coffee and discovered this gem! Shout out to Pete for being so friendly and knowledgeable. He took time to explain the menu and our options. The ambiance and hospitality was great! Only downside was that we didn't have more time in our day to spend here. read more

Texas Sake - Texas flight - Breweries Near Me - Austin, Texas

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A small batch sake distillery in Texas?!?!? YES! I really wanted to like this spot, but our visit was just OK. The staff didn't know where their rice was sourced and seemed disorganized. Surprisingly, there are rice farmers in Texas along the lower Colorado river (https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/tag/texas-rice-farming/). They started farming rice in the 19th century. Unfortunately, no one was knowledgeable enough to confirm or deny the rice's source. The spot is hard to find. Just drive to the back of all the strip mall (behind Book Women), and you will finally get there. There is plenty of parking available. The tasting room is small, dingy, and dark. You can peer into the production facility in the back of the tasting room. There are only a couple of seats around the tasting room bar, and some standing tables. Thankfully there was a makeshift outdoor seating area in the parking lot area with tents and picnic tables. You can select from a tasting flight, Sake cocktails, or a shot glass size of their sake. Bottle purchase are also possible. We tried their clear, and milky white sake. It came with a bowl of pretzels. The clear sake was OK. The milky white sake was unique, and actually better than the first. But, both were subpar to other sakes that I have had. We were supposed to take a tour. They offer tours at 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm on Friday and Saturday. We showed up in time to attend the 7pm, but as it got closer to 8pm, we asked about the tour. There is only so long you can nurse an OK glass of sake. They said it would happen in 3 minutes. By the time 8:16m rolled around we peaced out. The one thing that we learned was that the ownership had changed a couple of years before, and it was now being run by the same people who own StrangeLand Brewery. Wonder how that changed the experience and quality. Was surprised to see this place rated so highly. read more

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Great spot for some good sake, had the regular flight and it was bomb. My dad tried the rice beer and it was so refreshing, but didn't make you feel heavy or bloated. My friends had the sparkling flight and they were okay (a bit too sweet for us). The place was relatively clean, but we had to clean up a table to make room for ourselves. Overall, a fun place to grab a good drink. read more

The Sake here is only out done by the amazing food truck. Texas Sushiko has some of the best Sushi Rolls we have ever had. Worth the trip here alone. read more

Texas Sake - The bar at Texas Sake - Breweries Near Me - Austin, Texas

Texas Sake Company is a neat concept insomuch as domestically brewed craft sake is a rarity. I got a texas flight of 4 sake varieties. Junmai- Smooth. Not much depth of flavor. Off finish. Not enough alcohol content. Junmai Nigori- Milky mouthfeel. More alcohol content. Slight sweetness. Smooth. Junmai Nama- Some effervescence. Not very sweet. Not much flavor. Lacking nuance. Junmai Oak Aged- Sweetness is odd. Taste almost smokey. Caramel note. Oaky finish. The nigori sake was definitely the standout for tasting like sake, and having the proper milky feel and alcohol taste one expects from sake. The nama is also a satisfactory take on sake, Again, I appreciate having a domestic sake producer that wants to take a craft approach. However, I am sad to say the sake comes off as amateur. The classic junmai is missing an alcoholic undertone, which is a common symptom of homebrewed alcohol. The oak sake is ambitious but really needs to be aged in an oak barrel. Adding wood chips makes is a shortcut that makes it taste cheap. If you visit Texas Sake Company, I recommend sticking with the nigori and nama sake. read more

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I love this place! Like most people I know, I'm not a huge sake drinker, but I appreciate it for what it is. As soon as we walked in here, I was drawn to the huge mural and the Japanese-style seating. I love that they have flights to really give you a chance to try some different flavors. Ordering at the bar was easy, and the bartender explained things well and gave us good explanations. We even purchased some snacks to eat with our sake. Although I probably won't choose this place as a destination in itself, I hope to be back when I am over in this complex (which has so much to offer!). read more

Okay, I never ever leave revJews, but this place was incredible. First off I thought that I hated sake, I went with my husband because he enjoys sake. I was blown away, not only did I enjoy all of the sake that I tried but I LOVED it! This place would be a perfect place to bring out of town guests but also to make a cool staple of your own. The bartender is really nice and very knowledgeable about all of the different sake and even its origins. I can't recommend this place enough, really. So glad that I tried this place out!!! Will be back soon! read more

Enjoyed the flights of sake! Great space and atmosphere. Enjoyed the Japanese snacks with my sake. Great place to wind down after dinner. read more

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Wowza. This was about a million times better than I expected. We got an awesome little back room tour by one of the employees and learned all about the making of the sake. I preferred the sweeter versions of the sake - the gingery one - but everyone else preferred their normal one. But damn, that was strong, so I couldn't really drink it. When my friend was trying to convince me to come here - I was like "but I don't like sake" - well, I had never had this kind of sake. It was really fun! Would totally recommend this little hole-in-the-wall to locals or people who have a little extra time while in Austin. I'm not sure I would go super out if my way to visit - but it was a fun experience. The ambience is a little lacking, but they work with what they've got. read more

Really awesome concept, great selections and people! Make sure to check the address here as they are on the south side not the north! read more

Texas Sake - This was the sake flight! Really delicious, and great people that work here! - Breweries Near Me - Austin, Texas

Super excited we have a south location. Sadly they opened the same week of covid-19 restrictions. They are taking carry out sake and food truck orders. The staff is there and ready to help you out. The location is beautiful and the people are amazing. I'm so ready to patronize this spot. read more

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This is one of the stranger ways to drink in Austin, but I mostly mean that in a good way. First, though: what took everyone so long? It isn't as if rice does't grow in the US or you couldn't import the knowledge of how to brew sake, so everyone having the stuff flown over the ocean for the last million years or so instead of making it stateside seems remiss. In other words, points awarded for the overdue concept. So, Texas Sake is basically on the back side of a giant building and is thus facing away from Lamar and hidden from the general public. It both makes for lousy views but a speakeasy kinda vibe that feels like you're in on a secret. The sake is delicious and quite reasonably priced, available by individual pours or flights for newbies/experimenters. Styles vary considerably from creamier unfiltereds through lighter styles, from sweet to dry, and from mild to boozy. Come to think of it, the flight really might be your best way in if you're new to this. The interior of TS is tiny, but there is a small outdoor area. You will inevitably buy the rice crackers and other snacks on sale if you sit there drinking sake for more than an hour. This will run up your bill but make you feel whole again, so I recommend it. Servers are cool and nice. There was an issue with the credit card machine on our last visit, but it got sorted out. Anyway, organic sake is your friend and I want you to try this place so it succeeds but also don't because I want it to remain a well-kept secret. It's confusing. read more

Very okay sake. Not horrible for a Texas Sake distillery. High alcohol content but the taste is lacking. I've had better sake (bottles at 750ml) for about $11. It's a cool spot and still worth a try. Just don't expect taste to hit the high notes. Still feels like a very Americanized Sake Distillery and the taste of the sake follows. read more

Really enjoyed the ambiance of Texas Sake! I live close by so we walked over. We tried the Sample Flight, but didn't like the flavors of those options. 2nd round I had the Berry Poppins and my friend had the sparkling Ginger Lime Sake. We both preferred our 2nd options. Definitely made me want to learn more about Sake. Bartender was friendly but busy! read more

I love this place and I fully support this establishment. I've only been here twice but I've bought their saké at grocery stores several times. I just really enjoy the taste of saké and I love the variety that they have at the distillery. Additionally, they have a ton of fun cocktails and everything is fairly priced. It is a pretty small and chill place and there is only 1 bartender so please be patient when waiting for your drinks. Last night I had the peach junmai and the oakey old fashioned. I love me a good old fashioned and this one is pretty good. They also have an apple pie cocktail and matcha cocktail on the menu. You can also get a saké flight so you can try 4 different types. They do distillery tours but I've never been on one. Definitely give this chill place a shot and support this business! read more

Texas Sake - Peach junmai - Breweries Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Organic saké made in Texas. It's delicious and served at a quaint little Japanese-style bar. The friendly barmaids at Texas Saké Company are super informative and will gladly have you try the different types of saké they serve to help you figure out what's the best match for your palate. The only pity is that their North Lamar location only opens a couple of nights a week on Friday and Saturday. But as the saying goes, quality over quantity. Texas Saké Company does this well. read more

Texas Saké Company stakes claim to a lot of firsts. They are the first organic Saké Kura in North America, first maker of saké from Texas rice and also boasts the first organic alcohol made in Texas. During the Texas Wine and Food Festival I had the pleasure of meeting young entrepreneur Yoed Anis. Yoed was one of three saké experts that spoke during the saké & sushi panel tasting at Uchiko. His enthusiasm for his new company and quality products were almost as contagious as his smile. In April my husband won a saké tasting from Texas Saké Co. and the two of us along with a couple friends were treated to a casual informative evening of sake and laughs. Yoed explained each type of saké and discussed Japanese customs associated with saké. One of those customs I am a BIG fan of. You are to never pour your own saké and you should never let any ones glass be empty. This may sound like a drinking game of sorts but the thought behind it is more so social etiquette. If you are giving your company undivided attention, you will be aware of when they need a pour. Texas Saké Co.'s grand opening ribbon cutting was held October 1 of this year. The date coincided with international saké day. The event was held at their Kura (sake brewery) where they had live music, saké tasting, food vendors such as Sushi A-Go-Go and a pottery silent auction benefiting the the Japanese Tsunami Relief Fund. I bought a couple bottles last week as the Kura was open to walk ins. One of of the brewers, Lino, gave me a taste of their Rising Star and Whooping Crane. Both are Junmai (pure sake made from only rice), the Rising Star is nigori and the Whooping Crane is filtered. Both are great but I am a fan of unfiltered sake so I purchased a couple bottles of the Rising Star. Loni explained that their filtered Whooping Crane pairs well with foods. They do not have set days and times that the brewery is open but if you sign up for their email updates they email out such information. In the meantime you can order on-line and there are three restaurants that currently carry their saké. You can find their saké at Komé, Shoreline Grill and Fleming's at the Domain. They anticipate that the restaurant list to grow. read more

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Tried a flight and liked 2 of 4. Oak junmai- didn't like Junmai- liked Some milky one- didn't like Sake marg which was a pre made mix - liked Ordered at the food truck, texas sushiko. Flavor and food was good. The price for the quantity was a rip off. Ordered: Salmon Fatty tuna Oyster mushroom $36 Expensive and not a lot of food. At least when I do rolls I feel full. Split with my family and was hungry after. Limited menu. read more

I think the previous reviews are fair. It was fun for the experience; staff super cool and knowledgeable; the actual sake nothing was a stand out for me. It is definitely a unique experience in Texas and worth the adventure. We did the groupons but didn't get souvenir glasses. But then again, we didn't ask. They did have some flavored ones- this one was coconut sake. Bitter at first sip, nutty on the back. read more

Texas Sake - Breweries Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Love this place; definately one if the friendliest bars I've ever been to. The personally think the sake taste great and the decore inside is a refreshing change frim you normally find in Austin. There is also a sushi tryck out front that is a perfect way pair your sake with. Definately a must to stop for anyone in Austin. read more

My husband was thrilled with his flight! I'm not a big sake drinker, but I enjoyed the snacks that came with the drinks!

What upsets me the most about my experience is that I wanted to like this place because a Sake distillery is supposed to be a fun place to go. What ruined my impression of this place was how the male bartender's demeanor changed once I put in a custom tip amount instead of issuing the preconfigured tip amount. I did not find it appropriate for him to confront me immediately after about the service quality he provided. My point of view of the service went like this: I walked into the place excited and knowing exactly what I was going to order. The place was self seated and you just order at the counter. The bar tender does not deliver the drinks to your table. "This seemed fine to me". I walk up to the counter ordered my flight and he gives the brief one minute storyline he would give every customer who walks in about what drink is what. He places the flight on the counter and you pay right on the spot. This is where he called out/ tip shamed me in front of my group. I was taken a back from this as I remembered the time I worked in the food industry where a tip was earned and never expected let alone we would never be so rude to call a customer out on a tip amount which was optional. If the tip amount offends you so much why not notate an automatic mandatory tip on the menu instead of tip shaming that makes your guest feel uncomfortable? Have I wronged you of your "hard labor"of filling the flight with the drinks on tap by not giving a 25% tip? Perhaps wait till the end to charge so the customer has the opportunity for a good experience or don't comment anything regarding service quality after looking at the tip. read more

Cute place! Interesting sake flavors. We got a couple of bottles to go as gifts. The bartender was super nice and friendly. I wish the inside area is bigger to accommodate more seating. read more

Texas Sake - Breweries Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place was cool and located in an area that seemed like it had lots of potential. I realized though that I do not like sake. My hubby and I shared a small flight and honestly couldn't finish them because we just did jot like the flavor. Also, it was quite warm in the space which made it a bit uncomfortable to stay for a long time. Basically given it 4 stars for the experience. read more

Great place to experience sake for the first time. This is a hidden gem to visit in Austin! My first visit here was 2 weeks ago with my boyfriend. I bought 2 group on deal for me and him, Included sake tour, 4 shots (Junmai and Nigori), and texas sake glass for only $16. Worth the price! The sake are all good but my personal favorite was definitely the Nama (Unpasteurized sake). It has a brighter, fruitier and fresher taste. They will let you try it during the tour and I believed you can buy it from the bar for $3. Also, most of all, the staff here are very friendly, knowledgeable and clearly love what they do and care about the quality of their product. Obviously we enjoyed our first visit so we went back again last saturday and we brought our friends with us! They also had amazing time. Highly recommend! Note: They are only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 6-11PM. read more

Texas Sake - Breweries Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Five stars!...Although I must admit I don't really have much else to compare it to. I went on a very cold day on a short visit to Austin and while I had a hard time actually locating it in the parking lot, it was a nice place to spend an hour or two. We had the sake flight and I really enjoyed the wood aged version that is particular to Texas Sake. The head brewer (I'm sure there's a different name for it for sake) was more than willing to share his knowledge, and gave us a pretty in depth tour. They also had a dj spinning tunes, a couple snacks for purchase, and even a couple sake cocktails. The lady who worked there was very welcoming and knowledgable as well. It's a tiny place so I don't know how they might handle crowds once they get more well known but I enjoyed my visit and will be going back! Just keep in mind their taproom is pretty new and they're a tiny operation so support them and help them grow! read more

Excellent staff. Your was simple but fun and personable. Very quaint little place that had a fun selection of items and unique flavors. Ended up buying several bottles as gifts as We really enjoyed the taste and flavor. Liked all their sake flavors! Only issue is the small size as it'll get crowded real quick. But hey maybe you'll start a new conversation and meet new people? read more

Started coming here after a friend invited me and it's quickly become one of my favorite places to chill and get a drink with friends. The sake is great and my favorite cocktail is the caffineator (coldbrew, sake, condensed milk). The location is kinda hard to find, but the service and aesthetic inside are nice. Definitely going to be coming back. read more

While the sake was fun and decent tasting our tour on the other hand was a little scary. Our female tour guide was drunk like gone drunk lol. It was bad. We still had fun and played a little corn hole and messed with their typewriter. Groupon was worth it for a fun stop. We grabbed uchiko HH before hand to complete the evening Japanese style! read more

I was super excited to discover the Texas Sake Company last Saturday, and was even more excited to be able to get in for a tasting the same day! The area where they do the tastings is really intimate, and only seats maybe 8-10 people. Although it's not mandatory, I'd definitely recommend making a reservation, since it's such a small space. The tasting room is only open on Saturdays. My boyfriend and I each ordered a flight of their four sakes ($9), as well as samples of two of their in-process, unpasteurized sakes ($3). It was really interesting to be able to compare the taste of their finished product to something more raw. They also offer food pairings ($7). The woman conducting the tasting was friendly and very knowledgeable! I'm a total newbie when it comes to sake, but I really enjoyed everything I tasted there, with the Whooping Crane being my absolute favorite. If you like what you taste, bottles are available for $24-$38, depending on the size. If you enter from N. Lamar, the tasting room is going to be at the far back end of the parking lot. Luckily, they've got "Texas Sake Company" painted in huge letters on the building, so it wasn't very difficult to locate. read more

This was my first time coming here. I was so excited as I've not heard of any sake places anywhere I have lived. I approached the bar and the bartender came up to me. I told him that it was my first time here and what should I do - order at the bar, sit at table, wait to be seated, etc.... His reply, "Buy sake". That was rude to me. I ordered a flight and sat down annoyed. Then, the sake. It was VERY watered down. I did not taste well. Great space but that's all it's got going for it. read more

Two words: Passion and craft. The team at the Texas Sake Company to their core appear to love what they do. On a Saturday stop by the tasting room (note it is easy to miss - it is hidden on the back of a building in a parking lot) to try one of their four blends. Slip on some paper bootie shoes to shuffle around their distilling room on a private tour (maximum 4 people at a time) to learn more about the sake process. Keep an eye out for their product in Whole Foods or the downtown farmer's market on Saturdays. They have a whooping crane on a red label on their bottles. Also check out their site for upcoming events. They mentioned hosting community movie night in the parking lot with complimentary tastings. Sounded fun! read more

Great place! Namasake was my favorite. Also tried the cinnamon apple sake. Take the tour. Also there is a groupon-- get it!

Super small, hole in the wall bar/sake distillery, but the only one in Texas! They have two sizes for the flights, so something for the less adventurous too. Fun place to drop by after I eat at Titaya's! read more

We had a very nice experience at Texas Sake! My husband tried the "White Walker" and loved the fruitiness of the drink. I had the "Rose" Sake and liked the crispness of it. The atmosphere is laid back and inviting. They have an outdoor space as well for guests to enjoy. read more

Very cozy, intimate place to grab some good sake and have a good conversation. Definitely became one of my favorite places to hang out in town. My friend and I had a Texas flight and a seasonal sake called Winterfelt I think. I will buy a bottle from them next time. read more