New era dawns as sake brewery opened at Fordham Abbey

A ceremonial barrel breaking marked the official opening of the Dojima Sake Brewery in Fordham.

The brewery was originally founded 500 years ago in Osaka, in Japan, but will now be producing sake using Japanese sake rice and water drawn from the ice age strata which sits below the abbey.

Based at Fordham Abbey, the brewery owned by the Hashimoto family, will open to the public from October 1 to coincide with International Sake Day.

Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the production areas and learn some of the secrets of how rice is turned into sake as well as trying the product for themselves.

By introducing visitors to the brewing process, the brewery owners hope to lay the foundations for a planned brewing academy to nurture a new generation of brewers.

Other plans for the 75-acre estate include a visitor centre reflecting both the history and culture surrounding sake and featuring an education centre and cafe, a venue for functions and cultural and educational activities and a Japanese restaurant.

The newly re-furbished Fordham Abbey will be used by members of the Dojima Sake Owners’ Club and for special events. There are also plans to develop a spa using a range of sake cosmetics.

Among the 250 guests at Friday’s opening were Fordham MP Lucy Frazer, the Japanese ambassador to the UK Mr Koji Tsuruoka and Cllr Peter Cresswell, chairman of East Cambridgeshire District Council.