Looking for a little variety for the weekend in Berlin? From waterfront restaurants to an Asian café serving Thai bingsu to one of Europe’s largest music festivals —the options are endless. But it’s not every day you get to experience a piece of authentic Japan. That’s exactly what Markthalle Neun is bringing to Berlin starting Thursday: The Our Sake Market takes place from July 16 to 18. The focus is on artisanal sake from Japan and Berlin, as well as the people and stories behind the breweries.
On Thursday, July 16, the market will be open from 5 to 10 p.m.; on Friday, July 17, from 12 to 6 p.m.; and on Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A special highlight awaits visitors on Friday starting at 12 p.m. That’s when “Meet Sake: Tasting & Discovery” begins — an open tasting event where visitors can sample a wide variety of sake. Visitors will have the opportunity to speak directly with breweries, importers, and sake experts to learn more about the different styles and production methods.
Four breweries are traveling all the way from Japan to Berlin especially for the festival. In addition, several sakes will be served in the capital for the first time. In total, visitors can sample dozens of artisanal sakes—ranging from floral and elegant to naturally cloudy and experimental varieties. Also in attendance will be an official Sake Samurai as well as numerous producers and importers.
Participating breweries and exhibitors include Abe Shuzo, ENTER.Sake, Haccoba Brewery, Kuramoto Brewery, Reigen Brewery from Berlin, Our Sake Club, Sakejump, Sake Kontor, Sui Sui, and Ueno Gourmet.
The program continues even after the tasting. On Friday, the “Heinzelcheesetalk – Cheese & Sake” with Ursula Heinzelmann will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. This will be followed by a sake dinner session hosted by the Our Sake Club in collaboration with Zum Heiligen Teufel from 6 to 9 p.m.
The event will be held at Markthalle Neun, located at Eisenbahnstraße 42/43 in Berlin-Kreuzberg, just a few minutes’ walk from the Görlitzer Bahnhof U-Bahn station.
