Season 1, Episode 7. An in-depth survey of American sake podcast hosts has concluded that "Nama" sake is awesome. Well, that survey was just Timothy and John, but if you don't know about Nama yet, you are in for a treat and you are welcome in advance.  Nama literally means "raw" and refers to sake that is unpasteurized.  Skipping the pasteurization heat-treatment step of sake production leaves sake in its "fresh from the press" state, but the trade off is that it is not shelf stable outside of refrigeration.  The characteristics of nama sake are generally rich, full, brassy flavors and most commonly higher alcohol percentages.  This type of sake is not about subtlety or restraint, but rather in-your-face exuberance.  So buckle up and get ready for a deep dive into the bold, brash world of nama.

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