Arkansas’s first sake production facility has officially started brewing. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held last week at Origami Sake, located in Hot Springs at 2360 E. Grand Ave.
Ben Bell, Origami’s vice president of operations, spent two years brewing sake in Japan at Nanbu Bijin brewery. Origami President Matt Bell, a former partner and co-founder of Entegrity Energy Partners, has an extensive background in construction, solar and energy production. In addition to being the largest U.S.-owned sake brewery, it will also generate all of its power with renewable energy solar panels onsite, Matt Bell told us in September of last year. Additionally, Isbell Farms is using solar energy to produce Origami rice, “which will make it one of the most sustainable beverages probably made in the U.S.,” Matt Bell said.
The Hot Springs brewery was featured in a story published by The New York Times earlier this year about the sake boom currently underway in the U.S.
Origami Sake is not yet available in stores, but follow along on Facebook for announcements. A recent post said tours of the brewery will be offered in July.
