Noah Sain at the CL TV studio in Tampa, Florida on Sept. 17, 2026. Credit: Jarrett Haas/Palm Tree Content for / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay/CLTV
For the last five years at In Between Days, Noah Sain has spent his nights turning people into sake nerds—or, at the very least, appreciators. A wellspring of knowledge, the 27-year-old is a veteran of the St. Petersburg hospitality scene who’s been working in the area since 2012. He’s also a certified sake sommelier and sake educator, who’s traveled to Japan to be immersed in the craft.
“Sake is just as expansive as wine, and the flavor profiles can reach anywhere from wine-like acid fruity notes to a really deep, rich whiskey-like state that’s complex and higher alcohol,” he told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay during a CLTV taping.
Next Thursday, together with the Morean Center for Clay, Sain stages Sake Bock, perhaps the nation’s first-ever sake and ceramic festival.
Sain added that he wanted the festival to be appealing to people who simply don’t drink anymore, so there’s a live jazz band, a DJ to pay homage to In Between Days’ listening room vibe, and even gyotaku fish printing. And since folks drink sake out of ceramic, tin and glass, there will also be live pottery firing.
“Just like sake in Japan, ceramics is also regional, and there’s a terroir to it. You could say sake is very localized, and you’re going to have breweries in small towns all throughout Japan, and they drink from their local brewery,” Sain said. “Based on what they’re drinking, they might choose a certain type of cup based on the materials that are local and what they think pairs best with it.”
Sain said some of his sake brewer friends from Japan will be among the 10 sake vendors in St. Petersburg on Oct. 1 so that attendees can massage their curiosities, too. “I love asking questions, it’s one of my favorite things. If anyone loves learning and wants to try something new or learn something new, it’s a great place to do it,” he added.
The festival—happening on World Sake Day, which marks the start of the brewing season—includes an early-admission VIP tasting, plus five hours of tasting for everyone else. General admission tickets include 10-sake passports and access to a bottle shop with discounted prices. “The idea really is to be able to try at least 10 different sakes and go home with a bottle or two that you can then share with your friends or bring to a dinner party,” Sain added.
And yes, you can get lubricated at Sake Block, too.
Sain, who’s done his fair share of drinking after working in restaurants his entire adult life, says a sake buzz is the best kind.
“I find now that sake is definitely my favorite way to consume alcohol. It’s the healthiest way to consume alcohol,” he said, noting that the simple ingredient list (rice, water, koji, yeast) means it’s cleaner than so many other things that go into our body. “You wake up the next morning feeling like you’re ready for another bottle of sake instead of I’m never drinking again.”
At the end of the day, Sain, who hosts monthly sake clubs, is mostly trying to share another kind of warmth with his hometown.
“There’s just kindness and respect. Everyone’s really nice,” Sain said about the sake scene. “The cool thing about the sake community is it’s not really gatekept at all.”
More food & drink events happening across Tampa Bay Sept. 24-Oct. 1
Barks and Brews Friday, Sept. 25. 6 p.m. Bayboro Brewing Co., St. Petersburg. friendsofstrays.org
Cigar Night at Southshore Bay Lagoon Friday, Sept. 25. 7 p.m. $5. Southshore Bay Lagoon, Wimauma
Beginner’s Sourdough Workshop Saturday, Sept. 26. 11 a.m. No cover with registration. New Tampa Regional Library, Tampa
Afternoon High Tea Sunday, Sept. 27. 1 p.m. $85. Lilac at Tampa Edition, Tampa. editionhotels.com
Cocquito Pop-Up Sunday, Sept. 27. 8 a.m. No cover. Lara, Ybor City. tampalara.com
Her Pour: Wine & Spirits Showcase Sunday, Sept. 27. 12 p.m. $99 & up. Cipresso at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa
Heritage Recipe Swap Monday, Sept. 28. 6 p.m. No cover. Centro Asturiano de Tampa, Tampa. centroasturianotampa.org
Omakase Dinner Tuesday, Sept. 29. 5:30 p.m. $150. Ro, Hyde Park
26th Annual Oktobeerfest Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 1-4. 7 p.m. No cover. Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin. dunedinbrewery.com
Savor the Bay: A Chef’s Table Pairing Dinner Thursday, Oct. 1. 6:30 p.m. $95 & up. Birch and Vine, St. Petersburg. thebirchwood.com
This article appears in Sept. 17 – 23, 2026.
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