Thanks, jib71! Am already a big fan of Awamori. Will look out for Nihede.
I wasn't clear, but it was beer recommendations I was really after (appreciate your suggestions though!). I find the packaging and advertising for beer impenetrable - have literally no idea what I'm looking at.
LapGirl is keen to sample mozuku as well as umi budo as she has a real love affair with seaweed. She saw a BBC documentary on Japan showing how underwater fields of mozuku were harvested with vacuum hoses and she was sold.