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A big addition to Tennessee’s growing brewery and distillery community is getting ready for its public debut, as Proper Saké Co., the state’s first saké brewery and tasting room, will hold its grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 12 to 9 p.m.
Located at 628 Ewing Ave., the brewery is the passion project of owner Byron Stithem, who previously spent time working at Husk Nashville and Clover Club cocktail bar in Brooklyn, as well as with the now defunct Dinner Lab before branching out into the saké business.
Stithem tells Eater that he will feature unpasteurized versions on draft of the three sakés currently found at local restaurants such as Husk, Bastion and Otaku Ramen. But not too far in the future, he plans to offer “large format, beta project bottles plus a cocktail option and some saké hybrid beer” as well.
The approximately 900-square-foot tasting room, which features booth and banquette-style seating, as well as an eight-seat bar and drink rail, can hold about 49 customers and will have five taps running initially.
To help kick things off at the grand opening, Trevor Moran (previously executive chef at The Catbird Seat) will be on hand making kakigōri, a Japanese shaved ice dessert, with fellow Catbird Seat alum Colby Landis handling the live fire grilling.
Tasting room hours going forward will be 4 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and 12 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays.