Gerber

[304SHINER]

Bought a new pot so I had to try something easy/fast just to get the hang of it. I used a turkey fryer as a heat source and was worried that it was not going to put out enough heat when I bought it. Trukey fryer was best option for me since it can serve a dual purpose (food and booze). After starting my first batch of this recipe, I wish I could find a turkey fryer that would turn down enough because right off the bat i boiled it over and ran a little mash through my pipes..lol.. Oh well, cleaned it all out real good I guess.

First run of this is as follows:
Fermented mash(multigrain instead of barley, 4 cups cereal, 16 cups sugar, 3/12 oz fleishmans yeast, 1/2 tsp epsom salts) for 3 1/2 days and could have probably went a little longer since it still had a few bubbles while I was potting it up
Collected and disposed of my first 150ml or so as foreshot
Collected 1 pint as a head
Collected around 1 1/2 quarts as hearts
Collected 1 pint as tail
For a total of 3 quarts (unproffed)

Since this is my first ever run of any recipe I have never cut or tried to cut anything, so this is all trial and error for me. I read the article on how to cut but it makes no real sense to me so im trying it as a 20/60/20%. My still is a 5 gallon pot still with a condensor (not a worm). The guy I bought it from said that it should produce at least 2 quarts of very high % alcohol and the rest would be tails suitable for mixed drinks. Heads taste pretty much like I had expected (extremely strong). The hearts (or at least I called hearts) was still plenty strong but managable to sip not drink. Tails tasted pretty much like what I had read about, weaker, slight aftertaste but good enough for mixing with oj or gingerale for company..lol..

Pretty much just wonering if I am on the right track with all of this before I start trying anything different. Also wondering if there is any ideas on how I did my cuts and how much to dilute it for straight sipping? The first quart of what I called hearts is rather strong, but OH MY GOD good and it only takes around 2 shots to feel the kick in the ass.

[rad14701]

304SHINER, you'll have far better luck if you slow down a bit... It can be hard to sit on your hands and wait, but it's worth it in the end...

If you didn't wait for the wash to finish fermenting then the wash also didn't have a chance to clear... What that means is that you potentially ended up with unfermented sugar as well as yeast in the boiler... The unfermented sugar contributes to foaming... The yeast contributes to off smells and flavors...

As for cuts, you can't go by volumes or percentages, you have to go by smell, taste, and feel, with smell being the primary indicator... Collecting in multiple small jars, allowing them to air for 24 - 48 hours, and then blending by smell and taste, is the preferred method at least until you have a good grasp of how a specific recipe performs for you...

You're well on your way and it sounds like you had a relatively successful first run... And now that you've done this run I'd suggest going back and re-reading everything and I'm sure some portions will make a lot more sense... The learning process is ongoing for all of us, regardless of how many times we've been through the practical application...

I've had the itch to do another Gerber wash for a while now and hope to get one going soon...

[rad14701]

I am going to start another batch fermenting tomorrow to hopefully be ready by next monday. this batch came out clear as water but does have a little bit of smell to it. Not bad but not odorless. I will go back and read the cut pages again and may be able to get a little more out of it this time..lol.. Im just glad that what I got was drinkable. and as far as sitting on my hands, I didnt mind it at all today, because when I started it was 42 degrees and when I quit almost 4 hours later it was 47 so I did a lot of sitting on my hands..lol.. But I know what you are talking about and I plan on slowing my pot down a bit more next time and going to wait until all the little bubbles quit on my mash. The mash I used this time I left open to air with the lid of my bucket just sitting on top of it, is an airlock a must or is that just the easiest way of telling when the mash is ready for potting?

[ShovelHead]

Rad

A few pages back, you mentioned that you boiled your Gerber baby cereal first in order to release the nutrients. How long did you boil it?

[rad14701]

Rad

A few pages back, you mentioned that you boiled your Gerber baby cereal first in order to release the nutrients. How long did you boil it?

I've done from 5 to 15 minutes but 5 or so should be more than enough... Just a low simmer, not a hard rolling boil... Can't say for certain if it makes any real difference or not, I just like thinking that it does...

[ShovelHead]

Awesome. Thank you, Sir!

[RedTopMtn]

Rad

A few pages back, you mentioned that you boiled your Gerber baby cereal first in order to release the nutrients. How long did you boil it?

I've done from 5 to 15 minutes but 5 or so should be more than enough... Just a low simmer, not a hard rolling boil... Can't say for certain if it makes any real difference or not, I just like thinking that it does...

I have tried to take it slow while getting started in this new hobby.
I did an experimental mash a week ago and played around with doing 3 runs. Product was fair at best. I did learn a lot.

Now to a bigger project which I think I have totally messed up.
Started with 3 gls of water in a pot.
-Added 12 cups of Gerber barley, yeah I know to much
-Added 12 cups of brown sugar.

Brought everything to a boil about 10 minutes.

Took contents to fermenter with two additional gals of water.
Added 5 camden tablets
-1 1/2 tbsp of lime juice
tblsp of nutruient

Let cool to around 90 degrees. Air temp about 85 degrees. sg reading of 1.060
Then put 5 cups of bakers yeast......sealed it. vent lock on.
It was purring real nice that night. Sunday.
Yesterday Moring purring like a cat.

Last night came home nothing.........Popped the top stirred with ss spoon and started fizzing a little.
Added about a quart of water, some nutrient and a little more yeast.........stirred it up, sg reading was lower 1.01 . sealed it
This morning nothing. Before I got home last night that if you use camden tablets, crush them and wait 24 hours before adding yeast.

How bad did I screw this up? Anyway to get it restarted? I am thinking no way it has finished in 2 days?
Should I cook some of it.

Sorry for the long note, I am sure there are some who can help me.
Thanks in advance for any help.

[JERSEYSHINER]

Looking to do two 5gal buckets of this recipe. I want to do a cracked corn, barley and wheat any suggestions on amounts of each and how much sugar. THANKS.



JS.

[rad14701]

Looking to do two 5gal buckets of this recipe. I want to do a cracked corn, barley and wheat any suggestions on amounts of each and how much sugar. THANKS.

Are you referring to doing a combination wash using Gerber or something altogether different...??? I'm not quite following what it is you want to do so I can't give much guidance without more information...

[JERSEYSHINER]

Appologies rad. I am wanting to use cracked corn and the Gerber barley and the Gerber wheat with sugar. Just needed some guidence on using these ingredients in two seperate 5gal buckets. Trying to get some sort of Bourbon and do not want to use rye. Hope this helps

[rad14701]

Appologies rad. I am wanting to use cracked corn and the Gerber barley and the Gerber wheat with sugar. Just needed some guidence on using these ingredients in two seperate 5gal buckets. Trying to get some sort of Bourbon and do not want to use rye. Hope this helps

Ok... That clears things up... Don't rely on much flavor out of Gerber unless you use a lot... The Gerber is used more for the fortification of vitamins and minerals that yeast need... You'd have to play with ingredient ratios if you're looking for a mixed grain type of bourbonesque...

[JERSEYSHINER]

I'm pretty new so I'll just get me some sweet feed. Thanks rad