Pre-distillation and Fermentation Flashcards
What is the term used for the fermented liquid produced from base materials that do not require saccharification?
A wine.
What is the term for the fermented liquid that went through saccharification?
A beer.
What is a wash?
A fermented liquid intended to be distilled into a spirit.
What type of sugars are fermentable ?
Monosaccharides and Disaccharides
What are two important examples of monosaccharides?
Glucose
Fructose
What is an example of a disaccharide?
Sucrose
What is another term of Polysaccharides?
Complex Carbohydrates.
What are some examples of Polysaccharides that need conversion before alcoholic fermentation?
Starches (Grains and potatoes)
Fructans (Agave)
What type of environment do yeasts prefer?
Acidic
At what temperatures are yeasts active and able to ferment sugars?
41-86°F (5-30°C)
What nutrients do yeast require?
Fermentable Sugars
Nitrogen
What is an example of a raw material with low levels of nitrogen that may require supplementation?
Sugar Cane
What can happen if the yeast does not receive the nutrients it needs?
Could result in a “stuck” fermentation.
What may happen with a stuck fermentation?
Other microorganisms could start to consume the sugars and create unpleasant aromas (also known as spoilage). Also eat some of the sugar and reduce the amount of ethanol that can be produced.
What are the 3 main outputs of fermentation?
Ethanol
Carbon Dioxide
Heat.
What are some additional outputs from fermentation?
Methanol
Fusel Alcohols
Fatty Acids
Esters
Sulfur Compounds
What is the most widely used strain of yeast in the production of alcoholic beverages?
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae.
How is fermentation usually initiated by distillers?
Distillers add cultured yeast to a small container with sugary liquid. The yeast rapidly divide, and the fermenting liquid is transferred to a larger vessel. The process may be repeated a few times before being added to the fermentation tank.
What are two categories of spirits where ambient/wild yeast is commonly used?
Mezcal and Baijiu
What are the two main categories of fermentation sequence?
Sequential Fermentation
Parallel Fermentation
What is sequential fermentation?
A fermentation process where all of the fermentable sugars that the yeast will ferment are present at the start of fermentation.
What is Parallel Fermentation?
A fermentation process where starch is converted to fermentable sugars while fermentation is taking place.
Is whiskey fermented using sequential or parallel fermentation?
Sequential, however, the conversion of starch into fermentable sugars is generally not complete before fermentation begins.
Why is the conversion of starch into fermentable sugars not fully complete before fermentation begins in whisky production?
The sugary liquid is vulnerable to spoilage while being converted. Once most has be converted, alcoholic fermentation will be started.