noun
brewer; distiller; vintner
Refers to a person or household engaged in the production of alcoholic beverages such as sake, shochu, or wine. Often used for traditional sake brewers.
彼の祖父は地元で有名な酒造家だった。
His grandfather was a famous brewer in the local area.
杜氏 is the master brewer or chief sake-making expert, whereas 酒造家 is a broader term for the brewer or owner of the brewery.
Compound of 酒造 (shuzō, 'sake brewing') + 家 (ka, 'person engaged in a profession'). The term straightforwardly denotes a person whose occupation is brewing alcoholic beverages.