Processes for producing ethanol

A process for producing ethanol from starch-containing material comprising:

• i) liquefying the starch-containing material at a temperature above 80-90° C. using:
• a thermostable bacterial alpha-amylase and
• a thermostable bacterial protease having a thermostability value of more than 20% determined as Relative Activity at 80° C./70° C.;
• ii) saccharifying the liquefied material obtained in step i) using a glucoamylase;
• and
• iii) fermenting the saccharified material obtained in step (ii) using a fermenting organism.