Search found 1133 matches

by Durace11
Wed Jan 23, 2013 10:08 am
Forum: My First .....
Topic: My first still etc...
Replies: 64
Views: 6614

Re: My first still etc...

Have you tried to triple carbon filter it? Brita filters work great for small batches. Aquarium carbon pantie hose 3 sponges and a pvc pipe work best for big batches. Before you suggest using PVC pipe or plastic water filters, please read the "Rules we live by". Also, if you are carbon fi...
by Durace11
Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:55 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: How much malt
Replies: 10
Views: 1244

Re: How much malt

Yeah it could but then you get people like the other day someone was asking why the malt extract didn't convert the corn. And how much the abv is going to be boosted by adding more corn because the malt extract is going to convert all that corn starch to sugar, right?!? I guess I could have worded i...
by Durace11
Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:35 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: How much malt
Replies: 10
Views: 1244

Re: How much malt

This has come up a lot lately:

water
corn
sugar
malt
yeast

Someone somewhere is making this crap up and saying it's the starter recipe of the year. Don't do it people, just go sugar or go malt, not both!
by Durace11
Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:33 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: SuperStart distiller's yeast not taking off...
Replies: 16
Views: 2344

Re: SuperStart distiller's yeast not taking off...

Could also be emzymes, hell it could be almost anything! The yeast will do it's thing, if the lag phase is over they are going to start working their magic. I'd say if it appears to be working then let it work. Always have bread yeast on hand for cases like this. it costs like $0.50 for a few packet...
by Durace11
Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:28 pm
Forum: Distilling News
Topic: Father, son arrested after moonshine still discovered
Replies: 26
Views: 5113

Re: Father, son arrested after moonshine still discovered

I bet that silver box is ten feet deep, or more judging by the barrels next to it and behind it. Likely the boiler. Here's a clue criminals...if you are involved in illegal activity, any illegal activity, don't act like a gangsta. Don't threaten your neighbor or burn down their property right after ...
by Durace11
Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:02 pm
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: mash barrel build
Replies: 12
Views: 2744

Re: mash barrel build

What was in them before you got them?
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:21 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Can you distill fermented tea?
Replies: 4
Views: 1561

Re: Can you distill fermented tea?

Well, since you can distill plain water I guess the technical answer is "YES" you can distill anything, what you get out of it is a different story. What exactly are you looking to get out of it?
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:16 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Baker's Yeast Question
Replies: 21
Views: 4089

Re: Baker's Yeast Question

Just sit on your hands, if you can't do that, then whip up another batch to keep you busy until it finishes. if it's under airlock & you used decent sanitation it should last for a really long time. Over a year easy so don't worry about it "going bad".
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:11 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Solder globs inside piping?
Replies: 2
Views: 707

Re: Solder globs inside piping?

The globs would have to be pretty big to interfere with the operation. You should be fine after the initial cleaning runs. I wouldn't even bother trying to file them down. If they are from safe solder, you are fine.
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:02 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: yellow corn malt?
Replies: 9
Views: 1767

Re: yellow corn malt?

The malt part converts the starch to sugar, the yeast part converts sugar to alcohol. Malt and yeast are very different things. Malted corn is pretty rare so if you want to make a corn liquor I'd say go for a corn sugarhead. Something like UJSSM. Sugar makes alcohol & the corn adds flavor of corn.
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:59 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Cleaning after the build
Replies: 13
Views: 2005

Re: Cleaning after the build

Probably want to go bigger on the cooling bucket. 5 gallons is really small. Try a trash can if you have one around that you can use. If it's dirty just line it with a trash bag and fill it up. That should keep your pump clean.
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:57 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Maximum boiler size for hobby???
Replies: 101
Views: 10442

Re: Maximum boiler size for hobby???

thecroweater wrote:(tobacco wine maybe)
off topic but yeah, Perique Tobacco Liquor is really good stuff.
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:47 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Cleaning after the build
Replies: 13
Views: 2005

Re: Cleaning after the build

1 gallon is kind of small, I'd suggest just running all of it to be safe, it's just sugar. Better to clean it well and not have a future run get dirty. Plus it will give you practice on the volume of a full run.
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:41 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Newbie Notes - two runs
Replies: 13
Views: 1750

Re: Newbie Notes - two runs

Don't use chips; use cubes, blocks, staves, sticks, spirals, planks or whatever, but don't use chips. Chips are very thin and have been toasted all the way through. They will give off a lot of color and little flavor. The flavor will be very one dimensional. If you want complex oak flavor you want s...
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:33 am
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Buried Treasure
Replies: 46
Views: 7061

Re: Buried Treasure

Yeah, don't bury a wooden barrel. If you are going to bury it put it in wine bottles, corked with wax over the top of the cork. Wrap those bottles in cloth or plastic and place them in a container so they don't get crushed or broken if someone digs them up. Bury that and forget about it. Otherwise, ...
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:17 am
Forum: Related Electric Accessories
Topic: phase angle controller
Replies: 107
Views: 12969

Re: phase angle controller

Heck, find a local electrician and tell him you want to make beer and need a heating tub. Let him wire up the element/wires/potentiometer seperately and then when you take them home, screw the element into your still! That's a really good route to go. Just find someone local who will source the par...
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:09 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Defhlagmator
Replies: 6
Views: 1114

Re: Defhlagmator

If you are asking if the dephlagmater would work as a reflux coil in a boka I'd say sure, just run it balls out to ensure no vapor was passing it but I don't see how any coil is going to lessen the amount of runs you need to do to get a clean product. I think the standard coil is easier to build for...
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:00 am
Forum: Fruits & Vegetables
Topic: Recipe for apples?
Replies: 29
Views: 5117

Re: Recipe for apples?

Apples are easy, juice them and add yeast, hell you could probably skip the adding yeast part if they are picked fresh. All fruit wash have a lot of heads so make careful cuts. Also, if you have any rotted fruit or close to rotting then you might want to consider camden before you pitch yeast. Other...
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:57 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: High proof neutral-liqueur-base for better result
Replies: 10
Views: 2643

Re: High proof neutral-liqueur-base for better result

I agree with the "Just buy a nice 40% store bought alcohol". You are flavoring it anyway so the results will still be a mass produced neutral with flavoring.

Check out the Lemoncello thread.
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:51 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: SWEET FEED MASH NEED HELP
Replies: 9
Views: 1986

Re: SWEET FEED MASH NEED HELP

Plain old store bought bread yeast.
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:49 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: lid gasket?
Replies: 8
Views: 1181

Re: lid gasket?

Tortilla, premade pie crust, home made flour paste...
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:48 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Cornmeal specifics
Replies: 4
Views: 1693

Re: Cornmeal specifics

Maybe, malt extract will ferment but it will not convert starch to sugar like all grain mashing. They were probably going for a faux whisky where they make it taste like whisky but use the sugar to bump up the alcohol to reduce the grain cost. The darker the extract the less fermentable it is so goi...
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:42 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Store bought "moonshine"
Replies: 9
Views: 5762

Re: Store bought "moonshine"

IMO nothing store bought can compare to homemade until the store bought gets into the high end, sometimes the really high end.
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:38 am
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: sweetfeed whisky
Replies: 4220
Views: 670914

Re: sweetfeed whisky

Well, I hope this isn't a stupid question... I hate to sound like an idiot... but, My generation 2 sweet feed has been in my fermenter for 7 days now. It started at 1.072. Today when I checked it it was at 1.000. It is still very active as in big bubbles rolling every second or so. Today would be a...
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:32 am
Forum: My First .....
Topic: First...everything
Replies: 3
Views: 659

Re: First...everything

It all sounds good to me, except this: It took 30 mins. to get wash to 88 degrees..1 minute later it shot to 180. I don't really see how your temp could jump almost 100 drgrees in 1 min. If this is accurate I'd look at getting a new gauge. What you have now is either sticking or just plain broke.
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:27 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Cornmeal specifics
Replies: 4
Views: 1693

Re: Cornmeal specifics

First off I'm going to suggest you switch to a Tried & True recipe . From what you are writing I can tell you don't quite understand the process of how the "cooking" goes. You are making what looks like a sugar head but also talking about mashing grains. These two things aren't exclusi...
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:14 am
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Small Barrel Aging - Two Schools of Thought?
Replies: 25
Views: 7017

Re: Small Barrel Aging - Two Schools of Thought?

How many batches can you run through before needing to re-char/toast the inside of the barrell again, and does the previous likker impart its flavor onto the immediate next batch(rum-whiskey or something similar)? Depends on how long each batch stays on the wood, if you age for years it is going to...
by Durace11
Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:04 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Adding Sugar to continue ferment?
Replies: 5
Views: 950

Re: Adding Sugar to continue ferment?

Step feeding is great for high ABV in something you are going to drink, but for distilling you are always going to have sugar left in the wash. That last dose will always not fully ferment. So, you are wasting sugar and chancing scorching, foaming & puking. IMO just aim for a 10-12% and stick to...
by Durace11
Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:23 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Maximum boiler size for hobby???
Replies: 101
Views: 10442

Re: Maximum boiler size for hobby???

thecroweater, or anyone else in OZ or another legal distilling country, is there a legal description you can research to show exactly what the law says about boiler size or output volume. I think this is the type of description that would be used in the USA for describing distilling if/when it becom...
by Durace11
Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:41 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: How to run a Flute ?
Replies: 7
Views: 4636

Re: How to run a Flute ?

When the head temp creeps up to 79deg and the bottom 2 sight glasses reduce bubbling i switch to a tails container and usually end up with only a single 330ml stubby bottle. Sound OK for other flute owners? One thing you might want to try next run is when the bottom plate(s) start to dry up put it ...