Mod 3 Raw Materials Flashcards
All water used during the production process in the Scotch whisky industry is
derived from
Rain or snow
The basic requirements of
water supply are that it is
adequate and available
water sources
- springs
- burns/rivers
- lochs
- wells
- boreholes
- mains
Water is used in several key phases of the
production process (3)
- steeping & mashing - ph microbiological purity
- cooling - volume temp
- dilution - ph,hardness, volume, temp, microbiological content.
why is it good to know the mineral content and ph balance of water when steeping and mashing
steeping and mashing are
basically biochemical processes, they can be
affected by the mineral and ion content - and by
the pH - of the water.
Why know hardness level
The mashing water used can influence the
fermentation, depending upon the hardness levels
and ions present.
soft water
heavier new make
Harder water
cleaner/sweeter new make
spirit
Cool Water
cool water is required for the
condensers, therefore the quality parameters here
are simply volume and temperature
Dilution
For cask filling. Water must pure
in terms of lack of solids and microbiological
content. Quality parameters that can be measured
therefore are pH, hardness, volume used,
temperature and microbiological content.
Once sourced, that water is used at four
key parts of the production process
steeping, mashing, cooling & dilution.
Main raw material in the production of single malt
Barley
Malting barley moves through 3 key stages in the pre production process
- growth & harvesting,
- variety development
- testing
Growth and harvesting
- malting barleygrown predominately on east side of uk
- lower rainfall than the west
3 . preferable soil - Harvesting takes place in the second half of July
and August in Southern England and East Anglia
and can start four to six weeks later in Scotland
Variety development
Each barley variety has different characteristics
and morphological features
some features are
1. grain shape
2. rachilla in ventral crease
3. Nerve pigment and colouring
Shape of grain
Is it bold, thin, or flat
Rachilla
a structure in the ventral crease, can be short or long.
Can have hairs that can be short and wolly or long and straight
what maltsters like in malting barley
Cost effective
* Bold grain
* Appropriate nitrogen level
* Good germinative ability
* Varietal purity
* Reliable supply
* Suitable storage
Best malting barley
homogenous bulk, with bold and even grains.
Grains of the same size will hydrate and process at
the same rate, leading to more homogenous malt.
Homogeneous Malt
Homogeneous simply means of the
same kind or alike. In malting, the
term is often used when describing a
sample of barley at intake.
Numerous samples, for example,
are taken from across the load and
mixed thoroughly to ensure, overall,
the sample is homogenous. Physical
features such as rachilla hairs and
spicules are assessed.
Agriculture and
Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
Testing and breeding system in the UK
produces a recommended lists of barley varieties
and recommends those to use in the various
industries.
Agriculture and
Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
Testing is done
prior to maltsters buying barley
5 test on barley
- Nitrogen
- Moisture
- Screenings
- Germination
- Varietal purity