Search found 71 matches

by Hutch-
Fri Dec 26, 2014 2:08 pm
Forum: Fruits & Vegetables
Topic: Pálinka - The Fruit's Spirit
Replies: 140
Views: 86827

Re: Pálinka - The Fruit's Spirit

First batch during the stripping run using clarified butter was a success. Did the second batch and forgot to add the butter :oops:, wound up with a burnt flavor in the stripped wash!!! Anyone know if the burned flavor will carry over during the spirit run? Any tips or tricks to assist with removing...
by Hutch-
Wed Dec 24, 2014 5:56 pm
Forum: Fruits & Vegetables
Topic: Pálinka - The Fruit's Spirit
Replies: 140
Views: 86827

Re: Pálinka - The Fruit's Spirit

SS is to be avoided if you are distilling on the mash; copper is the way to go. Otherwise do as nzchris points out is written in the first post, or put some kind of mat or mesh at the bottom of your boiler, something that will stay put but not totally disrupt the boil. Why avoid SS, I've distilled ...
by Hutch-
Wed Dec 24, 2014 5:51 pm
Forum: Fruits & Vegetables
Topic: Pálinka - The Fruit's Spirit
Replies: 140
Views: 86827

Re: Pálinka - The Fruit's Spirit

Does anyone have any tips for not burning the pulp? I have about 90 gals. of fermented plums ready to go. I do have a copper plate I can added the covers 90% of the bottom of my SS milk can boiler, but I'm still concerned about burning. I'm using a banjo burner as the heat source. Pálinka tells you...
by Hutch-
Wed Dec 24, 2014 8:59 am
Forum: Fruits & Vegetables
Topic: Pálinka - The Fruit's Spirit
Replies: 140
Views: 86827

Re: Pálinka - The Fruit's Spirit

Does anyone have any tips for not burning the pulp? I have about 90 gals. of fermented plums ready to go. I do have a copper plate I can added the covers 90% of the bottom of my SS milk can boiler, but I'm still concerned about burning. I'm using a banjo burner as the heat source.
by Hutch-
Mon Mar 05, 2012 2:01 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Losing a son-in-law
Replies: 17
Views: 1905

Re: Losing a son-in-law

Its worth mentioning the example you're providing to your daughter to keep things civil with the soon to be ex. Right on :thumbup:
by Hutch-
Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:35 am
Forum: Grappa
Topic: Grappa
Replies: 42
Views: 14409

Re: Grappa

thing that I find tricky about it is the blending. I blend to a large batch & then separate to jars, could just be my lack of experience & probably a good part of the still... just seems like its one thing then add a bit & then the complete opposite. its most common for me to do one str...
by Hutch-
Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:52 pm
Forum: Grappa
Topic: Grappa
Replies: 42
Views: 14409

Re: Grappa

Couple thoughts... I've made both brandy (juice only) and grappa (seed & skins). For me they turn out roughly the same, grape varietals being equal. I found that running both the stripping and spirit run hard works best for cuts. It also allows me to run deeper into the tails. I used to keep the...
by Hutch-
Sun Jan 23, 2011 1:19 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Easy Plated column
Replies: 7
Views: 2730

Re: Easy Plated column

OD, so no down comers required? If I were to do a 2" column with 4 plates spaced 4" apart, where do I place the take off?
by Hutch-
Tue Dec 28, 2010 11:23 am
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Peach brandy
Replies: 92
Views: 147645

Re: Peach brandy

I add a moderate amount of sugar to peach or pear ferments, doesn't seem to affect flavor. I'd give your specifics, but I start with pureed fruit so it's impossible to get a sg reading. If I recall correctly, I added 20 lbs sugar to 52 gal. peach mush and topped up with 4 gal. water. Flavor came thr...
by Hutch-
Tue Dec 28, 2010 4:17 am
Forum: Grappa
Topic: Grappa - My first fruit wash
Replies: 12
Views: 3870

Re: Grappa - My first fruit wash

I'll be impolite, to say that in Spain, good Grappа prepare from not dry skins. Skins , that remained after the wines are still around 30-40%grape juice, if specially configured to manufacture grappa - 60% juice. Where my family is from they call such a product lozova rakija or simply loza. This is...
by Hutch-
Tue Dec 21, 2010 12:22 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Run in progress
Replies: 22
Views: 2223

Re: Run in progress

Now I need to try it the right way :roll:, that an learn to read while I'm at it! FYI - rum turned out well in spite of my efforts to the contrary.
by Hutch-
Sat Dec 18, 2010 5:02 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Run in progress
Replies: 22
Views: 2223

Re: Run in progress

My thoughts after the run, this will be a pretty full flavored rum. None of the tails jars seem to be all that nasty, I might end up blending jars 2-7, but we'll see after a couple days airing out. I also have a bit of a cold which doesn't help.
by Hutch-
Sat Dec 18, 2010 4:46 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Run in progress
Replies: 22
Views: 2223

Re: Run in progress

blind drunk wrote:Are you using packing? I found the same when I used a packed pot column.
No packing, but the still does have an 18" column that I didn't insulate this run, so I'm sure I had a little reflux. Stayed in the 80's so long I thought something was wrong with my new parrot.
by Hutch-
Sat Dec 18, 2010 3:47 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Run in progress
Replies: 22
Views: 2223

Re: Run in progress

Apparently there is a mouthy feel that L_L describes as milky or perhaps creamy That's it, thought i'd give it a try. Problem is I don't have a test batch to compare it to. Finished the run with one last jar of 800ml collected down to 18%. Not sure what to set aside as heads, i'll air it out for a ...
by Hutch-
Sat Dec 18, 2010 3:08 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Run in progress
Replies: 22
Views: 2223

Run in progress

Started with 3.5 gal. low wines from a molasses wash which i collected down to 10% leaving the low wines at 50%. Added 1/2 gal. of the original wash plus 2 cups or so of starchy from a boiled potato. I found that running my pot still at full go keeps me from smearing tails throughout the run. Anyway...
by Hutch-
Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:46 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Molasses Wash
Replies: 4
Views: 1008

Re: Molasses Wash

Based on feedback I did a couple of things initially. First was adding some epsom salts, and boiled yeast for protein. Second was adding some ale yeast which are supposed to ferment at a lower temp. All that helped a bit, but I was still concerned with the sluggishness. I finally added a heating pad...
by Hutch-
Sat Dec 04, 2010 12:43 am
Forum: Resources and Reviews
Topic: thick pyrex for sight glasses? where it go?
Replies: 13
Views: 2336

Re: thick pyrex for sight glasses? where it go?

need some more thick pyrex (5.5mm, same as i got from GM) for my new project. any ideas where to get some? net searches have either been sending me to crazy scientific stuff, or cookware, but i can't find a place to buy small quantities of sheet...anyone? i got my first bit from glassman, but for s...
by Hutch-
Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:11 pm
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: Scrubbers
Replies: 5
Views: 1403

Re: Scrubbers

Already tried the hard and fast run with great results as I mentioned. I had a good frame of reference making brandy, something I've done many times. This was the best by far with much clearer cuts, and a cleaner product. I was also able to run deeper into the tails. The only drawback is my condense...
by Hutch-
Mon Nov 29, 2010 11:18 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Molasses wash (x-post)
Replies: 1
Views: 577

Molasses wash (x-post)

(x-post from the Novice forum) I started a molasses wash hoping to produce some decent rum, from everything I've read these often lead to a stuck ferment. Wanted to get everyone's thought on how to keep it going. I started with the following: -2 gal. black strap molasses -10 lbs. sugar -75 g baker's...
by Hutch-
Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:01 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: Scrubbers
Replies: 5
Views: 1403

Re: Scrubbers

I should also make clear, my goal is to remove impurities such as sulphur without stripping any flavor. I will give it a go during my next run - a molasses wash. I'm hoping that it doesn't slow down the vapor too much, I'm finally getting some nice fast runs. On a side note, I recently begin running...
by Hutch-
Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:48 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: Scrubbers
Replies: 5
Views: 1403

Scrubbers

Was thinking of adding a copper scrubber in my 2" pot still column. Considering the 16" column is fully insulated, I'm not trying to induce reflux but add copper to the vapor path.
by Hutch-
Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:22 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Molasses Wash
Replies: 4
Views: 1008

Molasses Wash

I started a molasses wash hoping to produce some decent rum, from everything I've read these often lead to a stuck ferment. Wanted to get everyone's thought on how to keep it going. I started with the following: -2 gal. black strap molasses -10 lbs. sugar -75 g baker's yeast -4 oz. tomato paste -1 t...
by Hutch-
Sat Oct 30, 2010 6:09 pm
Forum: History and Folklore
Topic: Jacopo Poli Grappa Distillery Vids from Youtube
Replies: 5
Views: 2121

Re: Jacopo Poli Grappa Distillery Vids from Youtube

One thing I don't get is if they're heating the pomace directly with steam, don't they get a lot of water mixed with the low wines. Unless I missed something those pressurized boilers used steam injection.
by Hutch-
Tue Oct 26, 2010 5:34 pm
Forum: Grappa
Topic: Grappa - My first fruit wash
Replies: 12
Views: 3870

Re: Grappa - My first fruit wash

SuburbanStiller wrote:Are they good eating afterwards or do they turn nasty?
They're good eatin'. Never used enough to worry about how much alcohol they took up.
by Hutch-
Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:29 am
Forum: Grappa
Topic: Grappa - My first fruit wash
Replies: 12
Views: 3870

Re: Grappa - My first fruit wash

Braz, I've never been one to take measurements or keep detailed records, but for about the same amount of grape brandy I believe I added half a cup of white raisins. I wasn't too concerned as both my product and the raisins were from grapes. For you I would only want to add to the complexity of the ...
by Hutch-
Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:29 am
Forum: Grappa
Topic: Grappa - My first fruit wash
Replies: 12
Views: 3870

Re: Grappa - My first fruit wash

Sounds about right although I tend not to add sugar and distill the whole lot going for a more traditional approach. Clean up is much easier going your route by fermenting and distilling a second run wine. Blending is the tough part, remember your 9th jar may be garbage, but 10 and 11 just fine. The...
by Hutch-
Sat Oct 16, 2010 12:23 am
Forum: Fruits & Vegetables
Topic: pear brandy
Replies: 2
Views: 1671

Re: pear brandy

I did pretty much that same wash last year, single run trying yo be as careful as possible with cuts. Loads of pear aroma, and flavor. I've been double distilling my grappa, might try a sing pass with better cuts based on the success with the pears. FYI - I strained off the juice from the ground pea...
by Hutch-
Mon May 31, 2010 4:19 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Jokes
Replies: 4219
Views: 586643

Re: Jokes

A man was driving through the desert when he sees a Native American man hitchhiking by the side of the road, he pulls over and picks him up. After some small talk, the Indian man notices a brown paper bag next to the driver and asks "what's in the bag?". The driver says, "a bottle of ...
by Hutch-
Sun May 30, 2010 4:02 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: New still build on the way
Replies: 146
Views: 55791

Re: New still build on the way

Great stuff, once again beautifully executed. What are you using for a condensor? I'm was planning to run the cooling lines from the condensor(liebig) to the dephlagmator, but it appears that it would be best to control the two separately.
by Hutch-
Thu May 27, 2010 7:47 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: New still build on the way
Replies: 146
Views: 55791

Re: New still build on the way

Thanks OD, might be a while as I hunt down all the necessary parts. I priced some of pieces new... ouch. The dephlagmater looks like it was a PITA to build, I'm gonna take my time an get it right. I was hoping to one day have a go at your Coffey still design, but it seemed a bit to ambitious. This o...