【醸造①】Brewing Sake①

蒸す!コメからごはんへ -米を処理する-

The Rice Processsing

精米 Rice polishing

竪型精米機  Rice pollishing machines

精米 目的:周縁部のたんぱく質の除去→酒にした時の雑味の低下

           方法:竪型精米機(金剛砂ロールの回転)

           期間:70%精米=約11時間、60%精米=約22時間、50%=約45時間、40%=約70時間

Rice polishing : To mill away the outer part of the grain, including the husk. Surrounding the starchy center are lipids, proteins and minerals that cause off aromas and flavors. 

2.)枯らし Karashi

枯らし 目的:白米温度の低下、水分量の均一化→米が割れるのを防ぐ

    方法:放置

    期間:20~30日

Karashi :In order to lower the temperature and level the amount of water within the rice, rice is stored in a cool dark place for two or three weeks. This act called karashi. 

3.)洗米 Washing

洗米機 washing machine (出典:日の丸醸造株式会社 https://hinomaru-sake.com/)

洗米 手洗い washing by hand (出典:株式会社 喜多屋 https://www.kitaya.co.jp/)

洗米 目的:糠の洗い落とし、2次精米

   方法:洗米機(今では8割近くの蔵で導入。流水と気泡でより糠をきれいに落とせる)、手洗い

Washing : After the rice has been polished to the designated degree, the rice is washed to remove the nuka(rice bran)  and rice rumbs still clinging to it from the polishing process.

4.) 浸漬 Soaking

袋による。 Soaking (出典:日の丸醸造株式会社 https://hinomaru-sake.com/)
限定給水 Soaking (出典:佐野屋酒店 jizake.com https://www.jizake.com/index.html)
水切り Draining (出典:佐野屋酒店 jizake.com https://www.jizake.com/index.html)
 
目的:給水、方法:、時間:吸水-秒単位(約5分~2時間)、水切り1~8時間 
Soaking : The wasehed rice is moved to the shinseki tank and soaked in water to prepare for the steaming process.
 

5.) 蒸し Steaming the rice

甑 Steaming vat
 
蒸し 目的:でんぷんのアルファ化。麹が増殖しやすいよう外硬内軟とする。
   方法:甑。
   期間:40~60分。
 
Steaming the rice : Steaming the rice is another crucial step in the sake making process. The rice is not mixed or cooked with water, but instead, it is steamed. The steamed rice should be firm on the outside and soft on the inside. The condition of the steamed rice will affect every brewing step down the line.

6.)放冷 Cooling the steamed rice

甑取り The rice is finishing steaming.
放冷 Cooling the steamed rice
 
放冷 目的:温度の低下、熱で水分が奪われることを防ぐ。
   方法:すのこ上で自然放冷。あるいは放冷機。
   期間:数時間。
 
Cooling the steamed rice : The steamed rice is cooled by spreading it out on large straw mats like in the old days or on a conveyor belt with a fan.