Search found 282 matches

by Avo
Wed Feb 24, 2021 4:40 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?
Replies: 38
Views: 5702

Re: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?

As a follow up to my last post: I got my glass vase through the post today. A belated update. I purchased a total of three glass tubes/vases. I have now completed several successful runs with this setup. It works perfectly, keeps my fermentation's at a steady 26 deg C glass tube.jpg buckets.jpg
by Avo
Thu Feb 11, 2021 4:15 am
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: GO-Ferm & Fermaid 'O' Yeast nurient
Replies: 2
Views: 1224

GO-Ferm & Fermaid 'O' Yeast nurient

I decided to move away from D.A.P. as a main nutrient, I thought I would try the Lalvin family of products - I already use EC-1118; the merits of using these products are explained in the technical specs. I have made 6 x 25 litre (6 kg) sugar washes using these products so far. I use the finished pr...
by Avo
Sun Sep 20, 2020 9:35 am
Forum: Fruit and grain season is here
Topic: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit
Replies: 13
Views: 2738

Re: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit

Something I’ve done is taken fresh or frozen raspberries and filled a glass jar 2/3 full with the berries. Then topped off the jar with 50% vodka. Let it sit for a month, then drain it off through some clean cheesecloth. I add a little simple syrup and it makes a good sipper. If you use frozen berr...
by Avo
Sun Sep 20, 2020 3:00 am
Forum: Fruit and grain season is here
Topic: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit
Replies: 13
Views: 2738

Re: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit

Looks good! But does it pass the “panty dropper” test? 👍😄🎱 I have just purchased the 'Still spirits' raspberry vodka sachets - I thought this had to be reasonably good; I wanted to make up some batches for my son. Alas, it is no 'Panty dropper' it has no colour; like a lot of the commercial product...
by Avo
Wed Sep 16, 2020 11:28 pm
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?
Replies: 38
Views: 5702

Re: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?

Check the temperatures at the top and bottom of the fermenter. I did as you suggested this morning. I set the thermometer probe at the bottom, recorded the temp, then raised the probe to the top. Naturally, the surface temp was 3 deg C higher. I did not think this too big a fluctuation. The bucket ...
by Avo
Wed Sep 16, 2020 7:56 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?
Replies: 38
Views: 5702

Re: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?

As a follow up to my last post: I got my glass vase through the post today, it's a perfect cylinder. I thought I would try it out in a 25 litre fermenting bucket. It's a perfect fit. The lid actually holds down the cylinder, you can see the silhouette through the lid. I set my Inkbird & aquarium...
by Avo
Mon Sep 14, 2020 5:09 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?
Replies: 38
Views: 5702

Re: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?

Focus on "yeast happiness" as part of my drive to produce neutral spirit with minimal heads and off-flavours. I am concerned about direct exposure of the fermenting wash to the aquarium heater. Even when the heater is fully submerged the temperature of the outer glass body is too much for...
by Avo
Sat Sep 12, 2020 8:35 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?
Replies: 38
Views: 5702

Re: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?

Did a very similar thing to keep my last angel yeast ferment cosy and warm. Put the fish tank heater in a cheap tall glass vase full of water. Put some gravel in the bottom of the vase as ballast to hold it down......worked like a charm. :thumbup: Hi Saltbush Bill, Excellent idea, better than mine....
by Avo
Wed Sep 09, 2020 11:42 pm
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?
Replies: 38
Views: 5702

Re: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?

That sounds like a lot of trouble to go to compared to insulating the bucket to stop the heat the yeast creates from escaping. I appreciate your comment Chris. I am a bit of an experimenter, and seek to get absolute temperature control. I already have the heating kit and tube, so something for me t...
by Avo
Wed Sep 09, 2020 12:28 pm
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?
Replies: 38
Views: 5702

Re: Aquarium heaters - yeast stress with direct wash contact?

Hey guys, I've been using an aquarium heater to maintain the temperature of my washes to date. Temperature control as measured with a stick-on thermometer has been good. I have however started to focus on "yeast happiness" as part of my drive to produce neutral spirit with minimal heads a...
by Avo
Sat Sep 05, 2020 9:51 am
Forum: Fruit and grain season is here
Topic: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit
Replies: 13
Views: 2738

Re: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit

Avo wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 8:07 am
8Ball wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 8:00 am Looks good! But does it pass the “panty dropper” test?

👍😄🎱
image.jpg
by Avo
Sat Sep 05, 2020 8:07 am
Forum: Fruit and grain season is here
Topic: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit
Replies: 13
Views: 2738

Re: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit

8Ball wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 8:00 am Looks good! But does it pass the “panty dropper” test?

👍😄🎱


Well, I dropped mine, does that count :lol:
by Avo
Sat Sep 05, 2020 8:04 am
Forum: Fruit and grain season is here
Topic: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit
Replies: 13
Views: 2738

Re: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit

Sounds like it might work. Give it a shot and let us know how it turns out. 🎱 8Ball & NZChris I was going to dehydrate the mush and see what amount of waste there would be. I did actually dehydrate the filtered waste, it amounted to 2 grams of solids from 5 grams of powder. But the 45% abv inst...
by Avo
Sat Sep 05, 2020 7:04 am
Forum: Fruit and grain season is here
Topic: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit
Replies: 13
Views: 2738

Re: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit

NZChris wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2020 10:50 pm There are a lot of tricks you can do with raspberries, but I haven't found the powder to try ... yet.

I suspect you would have to do something really bad to make bad liquor or liqueur with the powder, like a mismatched base spirit.
:thumbup:
by Avo
Sat Sep 05, 2020 6:51 am
Forum: Fruit and grain season is here
Topic: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit
Replies: 13
Views: 2738

Re: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit

Sounds like it might work. Give it a shot and let us know how it turns out. 🎱 8Ball & NZChris Just made up a sample :D It actually came out quite well. I tried a few dilutions and came up with 50 grams to a litre of good neutral. This makes it reasonably economical. I can smell & taste the ...
by Avo
Fri Sep 04, 2020 6:49 am
Forum: Fruit and grain season is here
Topic: Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit
Replies: 13
Views: 2738

Freeze dried raspberry powder. 100% fruit

Raspberry vodka/gin are becoming popular beverages. I wonder if any readers have tried freeze dried rasberries in a concoction. The powder contains all the original goodness, flavour, colour, vitamins etc, in fact it is stated as being 100% fruit. I am expecting to get a 100 gram sample today to tri...
by Avo
Tue Jun 16, 2020 8:05 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Three Word Story
Replies: 8002
Views: 461331

Re: Three Word Story

Like Humpty Dumpty
by Avo
Mon Jun 15, 2020 2:47 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: T500 - anyone extended the column?
Replies: 9
Views: 3598

Re: T500 - anyone extended the column?

Thanks for that Avo, very helpful! Your welcome. You can find spool tubes on AliExpress (Distillex) You can interchange the spool tube with a sight glass if required. Extensions work well on the T500. I sold mine quite some time ago and put together a good still using seperate parts from AliExpress.
by Avo
Mon Jun 15, 2020 2:14 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: T500 - anyone extended the column?
Replies: 9
Views: 3598

Re: T500 - anyone extended the column?

Incidentally does anyone know the specs for the thread at the bottom of the column? Thanks for any insights you may be able to share! Hi Alcophile, I have posted a link. You need two bulk head adapters, one with nut for the T500 lid. One bulk head adapter without nut for the T500 column. You can de...
by Avo
Mon Jun 15, 2020 1:55 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Three Word Story
Replies: 8002
Views: 461331

Re: Three Word Story

Dicks, lucky newt
by Avo
Wed Jun 10, 2020 7:12 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Three Word Story
Replies: 8002
Views: 461331

Re: Three Word Story

Newt got pissed
by Avo
Sun May 17, 2020 9:11 am
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: 3” to 2” reducer
Replies: 8
Views: 1660

Re: 3” to 2” reducer

Trying to find a 3” to 2” reducer with a thermoport or female adaptor to screw in a thermometer. Can only find it in 4” or larger. Any suggestions?? I guess your trying to do things economically, otherwise you could get a standard 2" - 3" reducer and couple it with this 2" thermocoup...
by Avo
Sun May 17, 2020 3:12 am
Forum: My First .....
Topic: Bombay Sapphire Gin
Replies: 43
Views: 7087

Re: Bombay Sapphire Gin

For those Bombay Sapphire fans, here's an article about the distillery. Although owner Bacardi doesn't divulge percentages, the article does mention that brand extension Sapphire East (my favorite) adds Thai lemongrass and Vietnamese peppercorns to the 10 botanicals (also listed) in Bombay Sapphire...
by Avo
Sat May 16, 2020 6:48 am
Forum: My First .....
Topic: Bombay Sapphire Gin
Replies: 43
Views: 7087

Re: Bombay Sapphire Gin

I'm thinking a double distillation prior to the Gin run, then drop (most) of the oats, and increase a few botanicals especially juniper and angelica. I do two runs prior to the 'Vapour infussion' gin run, a strip run, then a spirit run. I normally carbon filter twice to get the best neutral. Recent...
by Avo
Thu May 14, 2020 4:18 am
Forum: My First .....
Topic: Bombay Sapphire Gin
Replies: 43
Views: 7087

Re: Bombay Sapphire Gin

I have just come across this post, I found this myself, and started off my first gin based on the 'Instructables' recipe; a mock 'Bombay Saphire', I must say it came out very well. I've worked through five variations/recipies to date. My conclussion was that the original recipe was on the light side...
by Avo
Mon May 11, 2020 11:22 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Three Word Story
Replies: 8002
Views: 461331

Re: Three Word Story

Where Aliens lurk
by Avo
Sat May 09, 2020 6:34 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Three Word Story
Replies: 8002
Views: 461331

Re: Three Word Story

Sukiyaki nooki naki
by Avo
Mon May 04, 2020 3:49 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Three Word Story
Replies: 8002
Views: 461331

Re: Three Word Story

Feast of yeast
by Avo
Sun May 03, 2020 3:17 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Three Word Story
Replies: 8002
Views: 461331

Re: Three Word Story

Kermit beats Jerry
by Avo
Tue Apr 28, 2020 11:30 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Getting rid of that bread flavor...
Replies: 43
Views: 6897

Re: Getting rid of that bread flavor...

Let it sit for a little while with PBW, rinse, then fill it with citric acid until the copper is a bright color, then rinse it. I had the same issue. I do this every 5-10 runs. I believe as NZChris said it's tails. I run really deep into the tails for wash/stripping runs. As quoted above, do a good...