Birdwatchers sugar wash recipe

[Prairiepiss]

Heads and tails shouldn't be used for a drink. There is a reason we cut them out. If you use them it will taste like crap. And give you an instant headache/hangover.

That's not to say there isn't good hearts mixed in with it. So you need to dilute them and run them again. Making cuts again.

[MrMuffin]

Heads and tails shouldn't be used for a drink. There is a reason we cut them out. If you use them it will taste like crap. And give you an instant headache/hangover.

That's not to say there isn't good hearts mixed in with it. So you need to dilute them and run them again. Making cuts again.

Thank you, sir.

[rollmeown]

I have a question. Been using tried and true recipes and wanted to branch out to birdwatcher's for nuetrals. Like Odin's cornflake whiskey he shots for 8.5% abv wash. Does birdwatcher's have a sweet spot? If boiled yeast is used for a yeast nutrients can I use brewers yeast instead since its dead yeast? Does it need any other additive nutrients other than dead yeast. Wasn't too stay away from dap or gypsum or tomatoes paste although it works very well. Just curious.

Thanks.
Odin's cornflake whiskey is a awesome recipe haven't tried anything else other than birdwatcher's for a sac run.

[Prairiepiss]

Personaly I think all sugarwashes would benefit from shooting for around 8%.

Brewers yeast would work in place of boiled yeast. But last I checked. It's more expensive then bakers yeast. So if you already have it use it. I just wouldn't go buying it just for this purpose.

And brewers yeast or boiled yeast. Isn't enough nutrients for a sugar wash.

If you like Odins cornflake recipe. You should try Rad's all bran recipe. It lighter on the flavors. More wheaty of course. But Refluxed makes a really nice neutral. In these recipes. The cereal provides the nutrients the boiled yeast doesn't have. Actually it the other way around. Since the cereal is the base ingredient.

[rollmeown]

Thanks Mr. Piss, I will definitely be shooting for around 8% wash. That will just make my sugar go a lot further. When using the birdwatchers calculator 8gal. Wash tells me 14lbs. Of sugar. 14lbs will give me like 12%. Anyway basically what cornflakes whiskey is 10 lbs. To 8 gals. Should I use the same amount of tomatoes paste as birdwatcher's calculator recommends?

[Undies]

Thanks Mr. Piss, I will definitely be shooting for around 8% wash. That will just make my sugar go a lot further. When using the birdwatchers calculator 8gal. Wash tells me 14lbs. Of sugar. 14lbs will give me like 12%. Anyway basically what cornflakes whiskey is 10 lbs. To 8 gals. Should I use the same amount of tomatoes paste as birdwatcher's calculator recommends?

The BW calculator gives exact amounts for all ingredints except the sugar. The sugar amount is the maximum you would need. IE how much you should have on hand before mixing and measuring, etc.. You'll see this written under the calculator... As a helpful hint, don't add all the sugar at once, this is just the MAXIMUM amount you'll need.


Good luck!

[Ormlår]

Cheers! Made a batch last thursday, and its running like a dream.
50L total
10kg sugar
600g tomato pure'
1/2 tsp epsom salt
Juice from 2 lemons
120g dried bakers yeast

Started with an OG at 1.080-85
Today, 4 days after its at 1.020 apx. Keeping it in the bathroom at apx. 25'c.
Its funny when things are going smooth!

[Bushman]

Cheers! Made a batch last thursday, and its running like a dream.
50L total
10kg sugar
600g tomato pure'
1/2 tsp epsom salt
Juice from 2 lemons
120g dried bakers yeast

Started with an OG at 1.080-85
Today, 4 days after its at 1.020 apx. Keeping it in the bathroom at apx. 25'c.
Its funny when things are going smooth!

Looks like everything is progressing the way it should, don't be surprised if it's still working after a week!

[joe harp]

Tater. I would like to try the perfect ethenol recipe. I have used Birdwatchers version and it works well for me.
I have been buying sugar getting ready for spring.

Joe harp

[rad14701]

Tater. I would like to try the perfect ethenol recipe. I have used Birdwatchers version and it works well for me.
I have been buying sugar getting ready for spring.

Joe harp

And...???

Please stop the Welcome Center and provide us with a proper introduction, including your experience in the hobby as well as what equipment and recipes you have been using...

[T-Pee]

Wonder if this one got stuck?

Starting SG 1.090, SG stopped at 1.015, clarifying, no evidence of yeast still working, temp of wash always >80 degrees using Red Star baker's. Log book shows it went in the fermenter on 2/5. Nothing's changed in a week. Smells good though!

tp

[bearriver]

My guess is the pH of your wash is 4.0 or lower TP. Baking soda might fix it, but I bet the yeasties would get all stressed out if they aren't already.

I've done 4x 50 gallon ferments of this so far. (Yes, my family drinks alot) 12 gallon runs at a time. I'm lucky to have expensive PH monitoring equipment, and I still had one get stuck around there due to having to much lemon juice. I probably could have saved it, but it wasn't worth it to me because I couldn't find any food PH buffers to raise the alkalinity.

[T-Pee]

Yeah, it was. Buffered, finished, cleared and run!
tp

[T-Pee]

Started another wash exactly half of the recipe on 2/27. Wash started out with a decent Ph then it quit fermenting decently earlier today. Took a strip reading and found a Ph of 3.2. Jeez, that dropped quick! That happen often with this recipe? Happened to the last one I did too so I spun up 10 Tums in the Bullet with water and dropped it in the ferment. Brought the Ph back up to >4.5. Lessee what happens.
------------------------------

*3/3/14 edit*
SG now down to 1.010 and still fizzing.

tp

[T-Pee]

Ran this recent ferment that I had some trouble with and it turned out perfectly!
I ran the CM as a reflux still this time and the finished product is SO much cleaner than the first collecting from 92% down to 88% when the tails showed up. Wound up after cuts and blending with 3 liters of a very delicately flavored spirit at 40%.
I'm gonna have to make this one a habit!

tp

[planethax]

Ill be honest and say I haven't read every post in this thread. First page or two and last.

My question is......
What product would this be classified as? I see in the links on first page mention Gin?
I'm not a fan of Gin but a fan of a simple wash to learn.

[T-Pee]

This would be a neutral. Great for vodka, infusions and gin.

tp

[planethax]

This may seem stupid but
Does that mean not great for a pot still?
Thought Vodka etc needs to be 96% then diluted?
Or did I read that wrong?

[rad14701]

This may seem stupid but
Does that mean not great for a pot still?
Thought Vodka etc needs to be 96% then diluted?
Or did I read that wrong?

You would need to run at least 2 or more times through a pot still for a true neutral but I have taken the center hearts from a single run and added the rest in with the next run, done the same, and then refluxed what was left after that... When I was running Birdwatchers regularly that was my standard routine... Your palate will tell you how many times you need to run it to get it to your liking...

[planethax]

Well I generally only drink vodka in a ceasar

Something to keep in mind but I think ill start with UJSSM for now.

Thanx Rad

[rad14701]

Well I generally only drink vodka in a ceasar

Something to keep in mind but I think ill start with UJSSM for now.

Thanx Rad

My All Bran works well both with pot stills and reflux columns...

[planethax]

Well I generally only drink vodka in a ceasar

Something to keep in mind but I think ill start with UJSSM for now.

Thanx Rad

My All Bran works well both with pot stills and reflux columns...

I will definitely check that out.

I haven't spent to much time in this section yet, once my rig complete ill really go though them all.

[dendog33]

If the lemon juice is forgot till the second day, can it be added then or is it ruined

[rad14701]

If the lemon juice is forgot till the second day, can it be added then or is it ruined

Leave it out and see what happens... All it will do is lower the pH prematurely at this point... I never use it...

[T-Pee]

If the lemon juice is forgot till the second day, can it be added then or is it ruined

Leave it out and see what happens... All it will do is lower the pH prematurely at this point... I never use it...

I too was wondering about the lemon juice as to whether it was used as a pH control or did something for the flavor/feel.

tp

[Harvester]

making my first big batch of bwsw 27 gal and first try with the meter from what I see its reading 1.067 should more water be added or more sugar to bring it to the ideal spot witch is 1.090 any tip on this would help thanks a lot

[T-Pee]

The higher the SG, the better chance of off-flavors.
You could add a little more sugar but for subsequent runs, I'm personally not going to take this one much higher than 1.070.

tp

[Harvester]

oh ok ,so it all good right were its at you think then sweet thanks a lot

[Hammerhorn]

Using Rad's modified BW recipe (below) that was posted in WPOSW. Everything is going fine with my wash, but I wanted to ask what temp range should I follow, BW's or something a little less? Seems BW's is a little to high from what I have been reading. Also, I let my starter sit for an hour, too long for this recipe? I am also using Red Star Active Dry Yeast, I can't find any documentation of ABV with this.

Recipe

5 gallons water
10 pounds white sugar
6 oz can of generic tomato paste
2.5 tbsp Fleischmann's dry active yeast
2.5 tsp Epsom Salt
3.5 tsp baking soda
2.5 tsp Peters 30-10-10
10 tbsp white vinegar


Process

Inverted sugar in 5 quarts of water using white vinegar
Mixed Epsom Salt, 30-10-10, and baking soda
Mixed everything into the carboy
Topped to a total of 5 gallons of water and allowed wash to cool
Prepared a yeast starter using 1 cup wash and 2 cups warm water
Pitched yeast, aerated, and airlocked 2013-11-09 @ 8:00pm


Comments

Potential yield of ~12% ABV
The airlock started bubbling immediately
2013-11-09 @ 08:00 pm - OG = 1.086
2013-11-12 @ 10:30am - SG = 1.000 (11.094% ABV)
2013-11-14 @ 10:30am - FG = 0.994 (11.868% ABV)

[OlympicMtDoo]

Red Star works great, good choice.