A new trade association has formed to represent sake brewers and enthusiasts in North America.

The Sake Brewers Association of North America is the first organization of its kind outside Japan, the group said in a statement. The 501(c)(6) association is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and will focus on consumer education, brewery development and legislative reform.

Sake, sometimes referred to as "rice wine," is an alcoholic beverage from Japan made by fermenting rice. Japan's sake exports reached $200 million in 2018, with the U.S. being the largest export market, the association said. Now entrepreneurs are opening sake breweries in North America.

"We've now reached a tipping point where sake is transitioning from a niche industry to being a core beverage option in North America," SBANA Executive Director Bernie Baskin said. "We're bringing together sake breweries across North America, as well as many over in Japan, along with rice farmers, mineral water businesses, distributors, retailers and the allied trade to offer a voice to one of the fastest growing beverage industries in this part of the world."

Baskin said the legal landscape for sake brewers is "very confusing at the moment." The group hopes to streamline the regulatory process so more sake breweries can open across the U.S. and bring the type of economic benefits seen by the rise of the craft beer brewery industry.

SBANA plans to appear at the Sake Fest 2019 in Asheville, N.C., on June 1, where the group will sponsor the event's sake brewing seminars.

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