Former Dinner Lab Employees Launch Saké Brand and Brewery, Plan New Orleans Expansion

Two former employees of the infamous startup Dinner Lab have set out to bring craft saké to the masses through a brand new company and brewery.

Proper Saké Co. celebrated its grand opening in Nashville on October 28. Founders Byron Stithem and Bryson Aust said they plan to expand to New Orleans by the end of the year if all goes well.  

Stithem shared that they had been discussing the idea of a saké brand for the last few years and it’s something he has been wanting to do for the better part of the last decade. His background is in culinary science and food and beverage consulting and wrote thousands of menus at his time at Dinner Lab. Aust’s background is in tech and finance and he was the chief financial officer while at the startup.

Proper Saké’s mission is to break Western stereotypes of the beverage and highlight its hard to find flavor in the U.S. “Americans don’t know much about saké, so breaking through the stereotypes and preconceived notions of what, when, and how it should be enjoyed is at the top of the list,” Stithem told Silicon Bayou News.

“We believe our approach will peak the Western palate and shatter the preconceived notions of when, where and how sake should be consumed.”

Find out more about what Proper Saké does next by visiting propersake.co.

This article is brought to you by Ragusa Consulting and Pollo Con Leche, sponsors of the Silicon Bayou Startup Showcase. The Showcase will take place on November 15 at The Shop at the CAC.