Chanties in the Chemical Components and Microorganisms in Sogokju-Mash during Brewing

소곡주의 양조과정중 술덧성분과 미생물의 변화

Sogokju, an old Korean rice wine, was brewed in laboratory scale in February, 1978, and the changes in chemical component and microorganisms in wine mash were investigated during brewing. In the course of first-mash brewing, lactic acid bacteria became the most predominant microflora in 3 days of fermentation lowering the pH of mash to 4.2. But at 7 days, the most predominant microorganism was changed from lactic acid bacteria to least, pH reached 3.6, and the saccharogenic activity of mash was reduced from initial 10 to 3.6. During second-mash brewing, remarkable changes did not occurred in pH and acidity, maintaining 3.5∼3.7 of pH and 8.0∼8.8 of acidity. Ethanol fermentation was proceeded vigorously until 20 days of fermentation, but it reached stationary state with 18.5% ethanol after 40 days, leaving reducing sugar unfermented in mash. Even if saccharogenic activity continued all during fermentation, it was thought to be too weak. The final product of Sogokju filterate, fermented for 60 day, contained 18.8% ethanol, 5.0% reducing sugar,0.4:1 total acid, 0.057% volatile acid, 0.206% amino acid and 7.3% extract. In sensory test, Sogokju scored good marks with similar level to commercial Bupju or Chungju. It had pale yellow color, gentle Nuluk-flavor and acid taste just a little strong.