Search found 65 matches

by Sk8brew
Wed Sep 29, 2021 11:02 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: When to bottle
Replies: 9
Views: 624

When to bottle

I have several batches of whiskey that have been aging in glass with oak staves for 9mo to 1.5 years. At what point do you proof and bottle? Are ther advantages or disadvantages of bottling once you get enough wood in the spirit vs leaving it on wood?
by Sk8brew
Wed May 05, 2021 3:34 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Rye with barley or corn?
Replies: 20
Views: 1540

Re: Rye with barley or corn?

Thanks for all of the help with this. I racked off the clean stuff and ran it without scorching. I am still trying to determine if I am going to add in the first stripping run that scorched. If has a slightly different taste to it, but not disgusting or anything. It is a bit tough to tell though on ...
by Sk8brew
Tue May 04, 2021 8:21 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Rye with barley or corn?
Replies: 20
Views: 1540

Re: Rye with barley or corn?

I typically heat up at 100% (2800W), then dial it back to 60% once the column heats up.. I keep it there for the first 20mins to avoid puking, collect foreshore and then ramp it up to 100% for the rest of the stripping run. Does a slow heat up help with scorching? Does the risk of scorching go down ...
by Sk8brew
Mon May 03, 2021 10:39 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Rye with barley or corn?
Replies: 20
Views: 1540

Re: Rye with barley or corn?

Again, often the scorched taste won’t be eliminated in the spirit run. Maybe you’re luckier than others have been, but I’d advise keeping it separate from your good low wines....just in case. Will it be obvious after the stripping run whether it is scorched and should be left out of the spirit run?
by Sk8brew
Mon May 03, 2021 7:14 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Rye with barley or corn?
Replies: 20
Views: 1540

Re: Rye with barley or corn?

Here is a pic.
carboys.JPG
by Sk8brew
Mon May 03, 2021 6:51 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Rye with barley or corn?
Replies: 20
Views: 1540

Re: Rye with barley or corn?

So I went with 34lbs malted rye, 10lbs pilsner malt, added water to bring temp up to 110F, rest for 20 minutes, added more water to bring up to 148F. Came up a bit short at 143F, so I added another gal boiling water and ended at 144F. Insulated it and left if for several hours. Starch test passed an...
by Sk8brew
Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:34 am
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: CCVM RC coil lift mechanism
Replies: 26
Views: 2193

Re: CCVM RC coil lift mechanism

Wow, nice find. I am not sure how thwy can sell the whole assembly for 9.99, but I am not complaining.
by Sk8brew
Tue Apr 27, 2021 5:59 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: CCVM RC coil lift mechanism
Replies: 26
Views: 2193

Re: CCVM RC coil lift mechanism

Butch27 wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:46 am How about a rack and pinion.
I like it. I might give a 3d printed version a try just for fun. And no, I won't put any plastic in the column.
by Sk8brew
Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:10 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: CCVM RC coil lift mechanism
Replies: 26
Views: 2193

Re: CCVM RC coil lift mechanism

Beyond OCD. Attempting precision in the “imprecise process” is going to challenge you beyond frustration. But heck....get creative! ss I am not looking for precision, just repeatability. Turn a crank around 3 times to move the coil up an inch. Oops, flow is too fast, back it down a turn. I am using...
by Sk8brew
Mon Apr 26, 2021 6:49 am
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: CCVM RC coil lift mechanism
Replies: 26
Views: 2193

CCVM RC coil lift mechanism

I searched the site and came up empty. Has anyone made a mechanized way of precisely setting the RC coil height on a ccvm? I was thinking of using a linear gear drive or threaded rod or lead screw to be able to repeatedly set and move the coil during the run. The hope is to more precisely dial in th...
by Sk8brew
Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:09 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Rye with barley or corn?
Replies: 20
Views: 1540

Re: Rye with barley or corn?

If I am fermenting on the grain is there any advantage to doing a rest before getting up to mash temp? I know it helps for sparging, but not sure if there is a need if fermenting on the grain.
by Sk8brew
Mon Apr 19, 2021 6:46 am
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Odin's Easy Gin
Replies: 1332
Views: 342168

Re: Odin's Easy Gin

I made a batch a while ago from a gumballhead off a bourbon mash. It has an off flavor that my wife identified as Brie cheese rind. Not terrible, but does not go well with G&T. I am pretty sure that it is from bad cuts on my neutral. Any idea if this will age out? If not, can I redistill, either...
by Sk8brew
Fri Apr 16, 2021 8:05 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Rye with barley or corn?
Replies: 20
Views: 1540

Re: Rye with barley or corn?

Awesome, thanks. That will make the mashing easier too.
by Sk8brew
Fri Apr 16, 2021 6:44 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Rye with barley or corn?
Replies: 20
Views: 1540

Rye with barley or corn?

I am planning to do a rye whiskey. I went to my LHBS and they only had a partial bag of rye malt, 35lbs. My fermenter can hold 44lbs. I have some barley and corn meal also and am looking for some input on flavor changes by adding 9lbs of barley or corn meal. Would this be a subtle difference or some...
by Sk8brew
Tue Apr 06, 2021 4:56 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Modular CCVM build
Replies: 23
Views: 4454

Re: Modular CCVM build

Lower the height of the packing so that it say 150mm below the bottom edge of the offtake. This will reduce the risk of condensate being splashed or sprayed out the offtake. When you have a sightglass immediately below the offtake you may notice the fairly turbulent interaction between the rising v...
by Sk8brew
Thu Apr 01, 2021 6:14 pm
Forum: Grains
Topic: 260 lbs of rye.what would you do
Replies: 23
Views: 1812

Re: 260 lbs of rye.what would you do

What does corn add to a rye whiskey? I am trying to decide whether to do 100% rye vs. Rye corn mix
by Sk8brew
Thu Apr 01, 2021 11:37 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Modular CCVM build
Replies: 23
Views: 4454

Re: Modular CCVM build

Sk8brew How much space do you have between the top of your ceramic packing and the bottom of your RC at it's lowest position? I read that at least 60mm is require. I have at least 50mm. The only thing I have read about this is to just make sure you don't touch the packing. What is the reason for 60...
by Sk8brew
Wed Mar 31, 2021 3:20 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Modular CCVM build
Replies: 23
Views: 4454

Re: Modular CCVM build

I am struggling with getting clean neutral out of this column and am looking for some guidance from those more experienced. As suggested by Bluefish, I bumped up the power on this last run to get more reflux. Just to the point where I am not getting any product out with the RC fully down. This was a...
by Sk8brew
Thu Mar 18, 2021 6:43 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Ferment/distil in boiler
Replies: 62
Views: 5866

Re: Ferment/distil in boiler

Fermenters are usually a lot cheaper than boilers. If you are doing stripping run and spirit run, you typically want your fermenter 3x the boiler volume. So, doing it all in the boiler, may save some time, but you will end up with 1/3 of the finished product. So, did you really save time?
by Sk8brew
Sun Mar 14, 2021 5:14 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Modular CCVM build
Replies: 23
Views: 4454

Re: Modular CCVM build

So maybe run it some where in between where I have so far?
by Sk8brew
Sun Mar 14, 2021 8:11 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Modular CCVM build
Replies: 23
Views: 4454

Re: Modular CCVM build

I need some help with this. I have run the same batch of low wines 3 times and am getting very little clean neutral. My setup changed a bit from above. I found that the 10" spool on top was too long for my condenser as I had only a few coils and some product was going over when it was fully dow...
by Sk8brew
Tue Dec 15, 2020 7:56 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Honey Bear Bourbon
Replies: 1197
Views: 192603

Re: Honey Bear Bourbon

I have a batch at 5 months. Getting really good. It is amazing how well the honey flavor comes through. Great recipe Shine.
by Sk8brew
Fri Nov 06, 2020 2:32 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Odin's Easy Gin
Replies: 1332
Views: 342168

Re: Odin's Easy Gin

From the 3rd post. Yes, with herbs in the boiler goes faster. I didn't put it in, since most have an electrical elelement, but if you can heat indirectly, macerate for just 12 to 24 hours and distill with herbs in the boiler. It will get you over a bit more taste compared to maceration (2 weeks) and...
by Sk8brew
Fri Nov 06, 2020 1:34 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Odin's Easy Gin
Replies: 1332
Views: 342168

Re: Odin's Easy Gin

I've been through most of the thread, but need some clarification. If I am going to put the botanicals in the boiler after macerating for 24hours and put the citrus in the vapor path. Do I put the citrus in the maceration also and then remove it?
by Sk8brew
Thu Nov 05, 2020 8:40 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Condenser Controlled Columns
Replies: 378
Views: 155857

Re: Condenser Controlled Columns

I am a bit confused by the operation guidence I read earlier in the thread to take off the foreshots off before putting the column in 100% reflux. Won't reflux furthur compress the foreshots ensuring that more will be removed in the first runnings?
by Sk8brew
Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:39 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Modular CCVM build
Replies: 23
Views: 4454

Re: Modular CCVM build

Thanks, appreciate the input. Next run I will try some insulation and see what difference it makes.
by Sk8brew
Mon Nov 02, 2020 5:49 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Modular CCVM build
Replies: 23
Views: 4454

Re: Modular CCVM build

Now an update on my first CCVM run. Overall, I am really happy with how it went, but there were some things that happened that I need some guidance on. I started with a sacrificial run of 30% low wines. Started up at full power (2800W). Once the column started heating, I turned on the RC. After a li...
by Sk8brew
Mon Nov 02, 2020 5:13 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Modular CCVM build
Replies: 23
Views: 4454

Re: Modular CCVM build

An update on my build. Here it is in pot still mode:
Mod_still_pot_mode.JPG
And in CCVM mode:
Mod_still_CCVM_mode.JPG
by Sk8brew
Sun Oct 18, 2020 7:02 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium
Replies: 192
Views: 24880

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

How are you cleaning this packing prior to filling the column? Hot water rinse, boiling, vinigar? I have a new colunm and will be doing a sacrificial run, but just want to see if I should do anything prior to filling the column.
by Sk8brew
Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:12 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Converting a pot still to reflux?
Replies: 18
Views: 1734

Re: Converting a pot still to reflux?

I am doing something similar except going to 3" for the ccvm.

[https://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtop ... 17&t=80258]