Once your sake has been pressed and it is sitting in a secondary container in most cases you will want to increase its clarity prior to pasteurization and bottling. This can be done with different methods and to various degrees. The simplest method and least effective is to simply rack the sake off the lees several times keeping only the clearest of sake. This relies on the yeast and other matter suspended in the sake to naturally settle to the bottom. Given time, however, this method works well and leaves the sake with its natural color, taste and aroma. Sake made this way is Muroka (無濾過), unfiltered sake.
To take it to the next level, finings can be added. Finings are substances that are added to capture organic compounds in the sake. Finings can drag the organic compounds down to the bottom or hold on to them while being filtered from the sake. Two of these fining substances are powdered activated charcoal and bentonite.
The highest degrees of clarity are obtained through the use of activated charcoal. A fine black powder of activated charcoal is mixed into the sake creating an ink black sake. This sake is then forced through filters to remove the charcoal, leaving it lighter and brighter. This is the chief method used in commercial production. However, filtering is difficult on the small scale practiced by most homebrewers. Bentonite is more practical for the homebrewer.
Bentonite can be hard to work with but with a little know-how it is pretty easy. It is best to use a blender and ONLY add the bentonite AFTER adding the boiling water and turning the blender on. The mix ratio is one tablespoon bentonite to one cup of boiling water. This is used to make a slurry. Begin with the boiling water in the blender and the blender on. Slowly add the bentonite to the boiling water as the blender continues blending. After all the bentonite has been added let the blender continue for 2 minutes. Then take it out and let it set for an hour for the bentonite to fully absorb the water.
The slurry will look similar to a creamy split pea soup and after setting for an hour will have a smooth feel. There will be some sandy material that settles to the bottom of the slurry but this can be ignored. It is not needed.
Two to four tablespoons of this slurry is added per gallon of cold sake, 50F. The sake could be room temperature but cold works best. Stir the slurry in smoothly making sure you disperse it evenly. Stir it a few times over the next 3 to 6 hours to give it lots of time to attract yeast, proteins and the likes. Add it after the second to the last racking before your final racking for bottling.
Bentonite can affect the taste just as charcoal filtering can. You can try it both ways and see which you prefer or use it only when you want that effect.
New to all of this and in the research phase. After reading, and reading and reading I have one question about the filtration process. Could you use something like a Brita, or Pure water filter container to filter the final Sake step before pasteurization?
Hey Rob,
Yes, you could use a filter like that if you like. I’d suggest that you do part of the batch unfiltered to compare with the filtered to see the difference. The filters will likely remove some of the flavor that you may not want to remove so the comparison should help you adjust the process to your liking. You could even just do this comparison with a small amount a few days prior to doing the rest of the batch using your preferred method.
Thanks,
Will
I’m going to try and use an easy homemade filter with active charcoal, based off this:
https://www.instructables.com/id/Alcohol-Filter-A-Giant-Brita-for-Whiskey-Vodka/step2/The-not-quite-Lincoln-County-Process/
I used a similar polycarbonate halogen light tube (the kind with a cap, at home depot, for about 4 dollars), a drip coffee ceramic filter, hose clamps, rubber bands, string, and paper coffee filters. I have yet to add the activated charcoal.
https://i.imgur.com/t35FUwG.jpg <– a collage of the build I made.
Very cool! How did it work? I might try making one of these.
those bucket filters look interesting as it might make “drip pressing” easy to do.
I was thinking of using a 200 micron filter then a 25 micron filter like these
https://www.amazon.com/Gallon-Strainer-Filtering-Biodiesel-Vegetable/dp/B002VMCMYW/ref=sr_1_8_m?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1422575409&sr=1-8&keywords=Strainer+Bags#productDetails
for removing the lees. Or is a coarse nylon brewing bag all that is needed? Or is there a better bag for Shizuku method?
The nylon brewing bag works pretty well. The tighter the weave the more pressure you’ll need to force the sake out of the lees and through the filter.
Thanks,
Will
When and how to work with the Bentonite.
Ok I found the answer to my question…
Hey good luck and let us know how you do!
Will
I was under the impression that activated carbon filtering is used to remove off flavors from the sake and will cause the sake to lose its yellowish color. I have used bentonite to clarify nama genshu and it does not appear to affect the finished color.
Also, how much activated carbon should you use? I have heard that 50 to 200 grams is used per kiloliter but is that true? That’s not very much when you scale it down to a 2.5 gallon homebrew.
Ron,
Activated carbon does, as you say, remove both flavor and color compounds. The amount of activated carbon used is scaled for the desired effect. However, I am not sure of the amount or the range of amounts used. If I can get this information I will post it.
Thanks
Hey Ron,
Did you ever find out what ratio of carbon to liquid?
Will,
Same question to you?
Dillon, Hi,
Sorry, no I have not.
Will
I’m in the latter stages of a batch right now. I pressed the entire batch through a nylon mesh bag and collected about 2.5 gallons over 36 hours of drip pressing.
The first gallon had lots of lees, the second much less, and the last half gallon was mostly clear. After letting it all settle, I decanted about half a gallon off the first gallon and another half gallon off the second.
I combined the lees, hoping they might settle further, but after a couple days all I have is about three quarts of fine lees with about a half inch of clear sake on top. Of course, I also have a gallon of beautiful, pale yellow sake and a half gallon nigori!
Thanks for the update Jeff. Sounds like you will be drinks some of your own sake soon! 🙂