Sake Flashcards
Kura
Sake brewery
What were the first 2 GI’s awarded for sake production?
- Yamagata GI (the entire prefecture)
- Hakusan Kikusake GI (a town in the Ishikawa prefecture)
(2016)
*these are the only 2 internationally recognized GI’s. Nagano, Hiroshima, Saga, Hokkaido, Niigata, and Kochi are all domestically recognized with their respective standards
High quality sake is made from what 5 ingredients?
Water
Rice
Yeast
Koji Mold
Brewer’s spirit
“junmai” translation?
Pure Rice
What is the maximum ABV allowed for jozo-alcohol?
95%
Shinpaku
The heart of the sake rice
What is the maximum ABV allowed for sake?
22%
Kasu
Lees: unwanted residue left behind after the fermented sake mixture has been pressed
Kasubuai
a term referring to the percentage ratio of leftover sake “Kasu” (leftover pomace) to the original volume of polished rice used to create the sake
*cooler years = more soluble shinpaku which means less kasubuai and a more round, distinct rice flavor
**warmer years with more sunlight = less soluble shinpaku which means higher ratio of leftovers and a leaner profile
How does the warmth of a vintage affect the flavor of sake?
Cooler years with less sunlight produce more soluble rice grains with a higher kasubuai (ratio of leftover pomace to starting rice amount). The sake will have a rounder, more distinct rice flavor
Hot years with more sunlight = less soluble rice grain with a starchier shinpaku. Higher kasubuai = leaner flavor
**northern Sake are typically more delicate and lean. Southern are richer and mellower
Seimaiki
name of the machine used to mill sake rice
What variety of mold is most commonly used in production of sake?
Aspergillus Oryzae
(yellow koji)
Semaibuai
amount of rice remaining after polishing
**if the rice has a semaibuai or 70%, it means 30% of the outer proteins etc have been polished away
(Semai is the name of the actual milling process)
Honjozo
- definition
- semaibuia
- purpose
Brewers alcohol added
The semaibuia standard is 70%
A type of sake brewed with the addition of a small amount of distillered pure alcohol to lighten the body and add texture. It creates a more mineral driven beverage.
Junmai
Sake made with nothing but rice, water, koji-mold, and yeast. No added alcohol.
Semaibuia is required on the label.
Tokubetsu
“Special”: Honjozo or Junmai
* Semaibuia of 60% or less
* “divergent method”: semaibuia then can be up to 70%, but the method must diverge from usual practices and be noted on label
(ex: special bottling made via the Kimoto Method at semaibuia of 65%)
Ginjo
Denotes a Semaibuai of 60% or less.
If the Junmai prefix is missing, then you’ll know brewers alcohol is added
Junmai Ginjo would indicate it is undiluted with a Semaibuai or 60% or less
Junmai Ginjo
Semaibuai of 60% or less without brewers alcohol added
Daiginjo
Semaibuai of 50% or less with brewers alcohol added
(With Junmai prefix, it indicates that the sake has no brewers alcohol added)
Junmai Daiginjo
Semaibuai of 50% or less without brewers alcohol added
Kaori
the smell or fragrance of sake
Indicates an aromatic, fruity, floral style
Explain koji’s role in the process of sake production.
Aspergillus Oryzae
Koji is the catalyst for fermentation - the bacteria converts the rice grain’s starch into sugar.
Polished/steamed rice is sprinkled with koji in the koji muro. It is applied to 20 - 40% of the batch.
What is the Kimoto Method?
A step in the moto making process
*utilizes lactic bacteria from the environment to create lactic acid
- sterilizes the yeast, water, rice, and koji mixture
** Ambient bacteria is introduced through “yama-orishi” - a process of grinding the rice with a paddle. Basically a batonnage.
*** Lactic acid keeps unwanted bacteria away, helps the yeast do its thing, and encourages fermentation. Important since sake is an open top fermentation.
2 terms for the “yeast starter” in the production of sake?
Moto
Shubo
* mixture of rice, koji, yeast, and water in which an extremely high concentration of yeast cells is cultivated
Sokujo
the modern/commonly used method of introducing lactic bacteria to create lactic acid in sake production
(modern equivalent of the Kimoto method - uses artificial lactic acid)
- critical step in the moto making process (aka to prepare the yeast starter)
Yamahai vs Kimoto Method?
The Kimoto Method is centuries older. Both involve the moto making process/ introduce lactic bacteria to the process.
The Kimoto Method is very labor intensive, using paddles to grind the steamed + koji rice mixture.
The Yamahai Method omit the yama-oroshi step - in 1909 it was found that there was no discernible difference
Yamahai Sake
A step in the moto making process (yeast starter preparation)
- lactic bacteria is allowed develop spontaneously
[vs Kimoto method which involves grinding the steamed rice/koji to introduce lactic bacteria to create lactic acid]
Modern/most commonly used method to introduce lactic acid to sake production process?
Sokujo
Introduces lactic bacteria to the sake production process - uses artificial lactic acid as opposed to ambient bacteria introduced via the Yamahai or Kimoto Method
*lactic acid sterilizes the rice, water, yeast + koji mixture - it keeps unwanted bacteria out, promotes fermentation, and helps the yeast do its thing
Bodaimoto
The most ancient method of creating the moto in sake production. Dates to the 8th century - steamed rice is added to raw rice & water to create a starter mash that then ferments via yeast
Kakemai
Steamed rice which is added to fermenting moromi (70% of production rice)
Moromi
the fermentation mixture: steamed rice, water, koji and yeast/moto
Assakuki
most common method of pressing in sake production: mash is put in an accordion-looking balloon thing that inflates from the sides to squeeze sake out through a mesh surface
Yabata = modern automatic press
common press method for ginjo/daigiinjo level sake?
Fune - a box press. Fermented mash is hand loaded and pressure is applied to force it through porous cloth.
*More labor intensive, risk of oxidation