The story behind the star

Clockwise from top left: Nick serving, goofing, teaching, and visiting the ol' rice mill for sake

Food and beverage have been my life for as long as I can recall--starting as a cashier in my mother's deli (thanks mom!) before moving to the liquor store next door just as craft beer was beginning to boom. Armed with a degree in Food Science, I then spent the early years of my career in a variety of roles in food and dietary supplement manufacturing–including regulatory inspections, quality certification, training, and supplier assurance.

Across almost a decade in sake--as Lead Brewer at moto-i and Operations Manager at sister-company MN Rice & Milling (R.I.P.)--I worked on almost every facet of sake planning, production, and service. Those efforts brought me around the globe, introduced me to an amazing community, and ultimately led to moto-i's first international awards for its sake.

In early 2025, I launched Kitano Sake to put my decades of brewing and food experience to work for others. My goal is simple: to be Sake’s North Star. Through consulting, teaching, and research, I'll light a path toward better sake from wherever people begin. Whether you’re a homebrewer going commercial, a beer brewer branching into sake, or a seasoned maker raising your game, Kitano Sake is here to guide the way.

Credentials (if you need 'em)

B.S. Food Science; University of MN--Twin Cities
Advanced Sake Professional, Certified Sake Professional; Sake Education Council
Sake Scholar; Michael Tremblay
Advanced Sake Brewing Certification Course; SBANA & Gakkogura
Certified Forklift Operator; St Paul College (lapsed, but I can still hang)
Best Dad Ever; Ronin (Age 5.5)

Awards (Someone likes me)

"Silver", Tokyo Sake Challenge - Another Dalliance, 2025
"Commended", International Wine Challenge - Takenda, 2022/23
"Rice Daddy", Justin Potts - briefly April 2025

Be kind
Be brave
Have fun

まだまだです

At the foundation of my work are three values: be kind, be brave, & have fun. They started as a daily mantra I shared with my kids at preschool drop-off, and they’ve since become my own guideposts in professional life.

I also hold to the phrase まだまだです (mada mada desu / still not yet), as a personal balance between perfectionism and patience — a reminder that progress matters more than perfection, and that each day is a chance to leave the world better than I found it.

In the world

See my work and what others are saying out in the ether

heavy Table

Sake Brewers Guild - Sake Building Seminars

I sat down with Sake Brewers Guild founder Lucas Smolic to define quality and explore the systems, tools, and metrics you can consider when building a sake-specific program.

Sake Revolution - Live! at the 2023 American Craft Sake Fest

I and moto-i founder Blake Richardson chat with John and Tim of Sake Revolution on the origins, sake, and goals for moto-i, its sake, and the broader sake community. Featuring loads of taiko drums in the background.