RICE WINE BREWING WITH SPROUTING RICE, SPROUTING RICE INFECTED WITH ASPERGILLUS-ORYZAE AND RICE KOJI

Fermentation tests were performed with sprouting rice, sprouting rice infected with koji mold, i.e. Aspergillus oryzae and rice koji, as saccharifying agent. Characteristics of the various rice wines were compared by gas chromatography and organoleptic testing. The rice wine made with sprouting rice was colorless and had light and refined characteristics in terms of both aroma and taste. The rice wine made with sprouting rice infected by Aspergillus oryzae was rich in isoamyl alcohol, isoamyl acetate and acetaldehyde; it was faintly yellow in color and had rich and mild characteristics. This rice wine had something in common with conventional Japanese sake as compared with the sprouting rice wins, and it might be a transitional intermediate between ancient sprouting rice wine and conventional Japanese sake. In accordance with the traditional method for sake brewing, starchy materials, tap water and sprouting rice as the saccharifying agent were added to the initital mash as first and second additions. The rice wine was somewhat improved by these additions, as assessed by organoleptic testing. The body of the resultant rice wine was fortified with dextrin and its acidic taste was masked by sugar and dextrin.