Question or two about AG sweet feed

[ThumperKing]

So I have a 50 pound bag of Producer's Pride all grain feed. I did a couple runs following the generic "sweet feed" recipes that are everywhere online. As I learned more I realized that I was basically just making a sugar water mash with feed sittin on bottom! I want to make REAL sweet feed whiskey!!! Last night, I used a cheap electric coffee bean grinder to "break up" all the whole grains in the feed. Didn't grind it to a powder, just enough to ensure almost all of the grains are cracked and/or broken apart. I would REALLY appreciate any help/advice as to how I can use this to make some real whiskey. I've had FANTASTIC results with several sugar wash's and the generic sweet feed recipes. I run an 8 gallon pot still with a 1 gallon thumper. EVERY "run" has come out right at 170 proof. I've used turbo yeast, baker's yeast, EC-1118, etc. White sugar, brown sugar, black strap molasses, agave nectar, etc. I done quite a bit of experimenting with different recipes and ingredients, yet virtually EVERY SINGLE run comes out RIGHT at 170 proof! Crystal clear, all looks the same, smells the same, tastes the same! I'm certainly not complaining! I've (and all my friends) been very impressed at how smooth and drinkable even at very high proof! Even better, I've always got really high yields as well. But.....now I'm ready to dig in to the wonderful world of AG. Thanks in advance for any help!!

[Jimbo]

Thumperking,

Congrats on your successes to date, sounds fantastic. I made an AG out of a bag of sweet feed a friend gave me. Turned out incredible. I added some smoked malt also to give it a smokey kick.

You need to make sure you have enough enzymes. Read up on DP, diastatic power. To get started just use 20% 2 row or 6 row malt and you'll be fine. Plan for 2 to 2.5 lbs grain total per gallon. Heat up the water to near boiling, pour it over the ground up sweetfeed and stir occasionally until the temp drops to 152F or so. Then dump in the 20% milled malt and wrap it up in blanket for 90 minutes to hold the temp in the 140's.

The rest is as you know, cool, pitch bla bla.

Good luck, and welcome to AG land. You may never go back.

[firewater69]

Thumperking, my first few runs were exactky what Jimbo just told you. it makes a very good drop, my sweetfeed was corn, oats & i added 2row. give it a whirl, you'll love it.

[Flon Klar]

So wait, I'm confused. The SF recipe posted in Tried and True makes no mention of cracking grains or adding enzymes. Are we supposed to be doing that? I've been a bit disappointed at the overall yield of my 4 batches of SF Whiskey. Now I guess I know why- I've just been making chunky sugar wash?!

[corene1]

So wait, I'm confused. The SF recipe posted in Tried and True makes no mention of cracking grains or adding enzymes. Are we supposed to be doing that? I've been a bit disappointed at the overall yield of my 4 batches of SF Whiskey. Now I guess I know why- I've just been making chunky sugar wash?!

The sweet feed recipe in the tried and true section is a sugar head with the grain used only for flavor where the alcohol comes from the sugar added and the grain flavors the spirit. This modified recipe is using enzymes to convert the starches in the grains to sugar and then ferment the natural sugars to alcohol. It gives a slightly different flavor profile, and typically a little less yield in my experience but a better flavor.

Just an addition to the OP a 1 gallon thumper on an 8 gallon still is very much on the small side and not recommended.

[Tokoroa_Shiner]

Just an addition to the OP a 1 gallon thumper on an 8 gallon still is very much on the small side and not recommended.

Hopefully it's not also a glass jar :-/

[S-Cackalacky]

For an AG SF I think I would grind my own mix without the molasses in it. I can't imagine what the molasses might do to your grain mill. At the very least, it would seem very difficult to clean out. Maybe add the molasses to the wort before pitching the yeast.

[bearriver]

For an AG SF I think I would grind my own mix without the molasses in it. I can't imagine what the molasses might do to your grain mill. At the very least, it would seem very difficult to clean out. Maybe add the molasses to the wort before pitching the yeast.

This is the only way to go, even with sweet feed sugarheads. Buying wet cob is convenient, but there is no control and I find it often has preservatives in it. Building your own cob lets you control the proportions of corn, oats, barley, molasses, and the ability to omit or replace anything you don't like. Oh, and you can mill it. Win, win, win.

Any good feed store will have all you need.