WINEMAG.COM | 634O under 4O I 2019
Brian Polen, 38
Cofounder/President, Brooklyn Kura
Brooklyn, NY
Saké brewed in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Kura, New York’s original saké
brewery, began as experimental home brew
in the separate kitchens of Polen and busi-
ness partner Brandon Doughan. Aft er the two
met by chance and discovered a shared love of
saké, they spent years doing research on the
beverage and breweries throughout Japan and
the United States. In 2016, Polen quit a nearly
decadelong career with American Express to
form Brooklyn Kura. Through a combination of
traditional craft smanship and modern inno-
vation, the company now produces local craft
sake that rivals Japanese selections.