Search found 352 matches

by speedfreaksteve
Mon May 01, 2017 6:47 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Best ways to tell when to cut your run?
Replies: 54
Views: 5688

Re: Best ways to tell when to cut your run?

Tater just told me that I should not be that outspoken . I agreed that he was right . You won a battle and lost a war . :) I'm just hear to listen and talk about making booze. I'm not here to battle. Just here to enhance my enjoyment of this hobby. If you want to have some sort of war with ANYONE o...
by speedfreaksteve
Sun Apr 30, 2017 9:49 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Best ways to tell when to cut your run?
Replies: 54
Views: 5688

Re: Best ways to tell when to cut your run?

I was only offering that anecdotal tidbit as some extra insight from an outside source. I do very often accept advice and give advice where I feel I have my advice has merit on this forum. I'm not exactly a novice here. The fact that people in this very same thread are saying that a sacrificial run...
by speedfreaksteve
Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:10 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Best ways to tell when to cut your run?
Replies: 54
Views: 5688

Re: Best ways to tell when to cut your run?

My master plumber friend who started working in 1982 and now teaches plumbing and gas fitting laughed his ass off when I told him about "sacrificial runs". I'm pretty much in the same mindset as I've seen no proof that it's necessary at all. You have heard comments from members I would co...
by speedfreaksteve
Sun Apr 30, 2017 4:51 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: A sign that I was drinking too much in my early stillin days
Replies: 3
Views: 831

A sign that I was drinking too much in my early stillin days

I remember that I would just have a few drinks with my brother and experiment with different column designs. In other cases we'd be pulling leibigs apart continually trying out different designs. So this weekend I had a chance to dig through some old leibigs and columns that we built almost 10 years...
by speedfreaksteve
Fri Apr 28, 2017 6:04 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Fargo
Replies: 2
Views: 731

Re: Fargo

The show is actually filmed in Calgary, Alberta. I love the show and the exaggerated accents and phrases.
by speedfreaksteve
Fri Apr 28, 2017 6:02 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Driving into Canada
Replies: 13
Views: 1807

Re: Driving into Canada

Put them in wine bottles, cork them and declare that you're bringing in one bottle of wine each. That's your safest bet. Canada Border Security can be pretty strict when it comes to booze.
by speedfreaksteve
Thu Apr 27, 2017 9:46 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Best ways to tell when to cut your run?
Replies: 54
Views: 5688

Re: Best ways to tell when to cut your run?

My master plumber friend who started working in 1982 and now teaches plumbing and gas fitting laughed his ass off when I told him about "sacrificial runs". I'm pretty much in the same mindset as I've seen no proof that it's necessary at all.
by speedfreaksteve
Wed Apr 26, 2017 6:06 pm
Forum: Safety and Related Issues
Topic: Shopping safely
Replies: 20
Views: 4020

Re: Shopping safely

The local place where I get propane, often 3 bottles at a time refilled. Sometimes monthly. The guy said one of the last times "you must REALLY like to BBQ a lot!". Funny thing is that my home BBQ is on natural gas. The propane is only for 'stillin.
by speedfreaksteve
Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:18 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: "Put in safety" 700 gallons of wine
Replies: 32
Views: 3603

Re: "Put in safety" 700 gallons of wine

I think a good and simple option would be to just do a slow pot still distillation which should give you around 45-50% alcohol and then store the end product in wine barrels. Ideally throwing away some of the heads and tails. The barrel will smooth out the rest. I don't know how many oak barrels you...
by speedfreaksteve
Mon Apr 24, 2017 7:29 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Top shelf bourbon made cheaply
Replies: 13
Views: 2615

Re: Top shelf bourbon made cheaply

Stargazer14 wrote:Do you need a touch of rye in there to be 'bourbon'?
Makers mark doesn't use any rye. Some say that's how it gets it's distinct smoothness and flavour.
by speedfreaksteve
Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:30 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Top shelf bourbon made cheaply
Replies: 13
Views: 2615

Re: Top shelf bourbon made cheaply

nice touch, malting your own wheat....very nice.... b Two reasons for this: 1) I'm cheap. It costs me over a dollar per # of 2 row malt even when buying in 55lb bags. I figured I could use less of that if I malted some of the wheat. Wheat is less than 1/4 the price for me. I know the DP is less, bu...
by speedfreaksteve
Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:24 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Top shelf bourbon made cheaply
Replies: 13
Views: 2615

Re: Top shelf bourbon made cheaply

bitter wrote:substitute the unmalted wheat with oats and it might smooth it out more..

B
Going to try playing with a mix of corn, oats and malted wheat next.

I'm a little concerned about creating something too smooth. I already have no trouble gulping down the less smooth stuff like it's water.
by speedfreaksteve
Sun Apr 23, 2017 11:04 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Top shelf bourbon made cheaply
Replies: 13
Views: 2615

Re: Top shelf bourbon made cheaply

An update in case anyone is interested. Did 3 batches of this and ran my spirit run from the 3 stripping runs last night. Made a sampler from early hearts that I cut down to around 90 proof and all I can say is "wow". This is a very smooth drink right out of the pipe. I'm very excited to g...
by speedfreaksteve
Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:53 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Distilling Old Bottles Of Liquor ?
Replies: 15
Views: 3437

Re: Distilling Old Bottles Of Liquor ?

olecajun wrote:Found some partial bottles of old liquor, Rum, Whiskey , Bourbon ,Vodka . Capt. Morgan , Jack Daniels and such. She wants them gone. What would happen if I dump them all together and re-distilled ? Curious :ebiggrin:
Easy solution is to drink them.
by speedfreaksteve
Wed Apr 19, 2017 7:29 pm
Forum: Fruit and grain season is here
Topic: SRD and I
Replies: 315
Views: 46624

Re: SRD and I

Then do 3 passes . Work with your mill and your drill to find a comfort zone . I still have my Grandfather's cast iron , hand cranked mill . Well over 100 years old . It will not do it all in one pass either . Adjust your goal to desired result rather than speed of the deed . Oh yes.. I will try 3 ...
by speedfreaksteve
Tue Apr 18, 2017 8:41 pm
Forum: Fruit and grain season is here
Topic: SRD and I
Replies: 315
Views: 46624

Re: SRD and I

Gonna try a new grain bill on the next 2 mashes . 75% corn/25% oats to maybe improve the mouth feel off the spout . If that works I'll probably set the next 2 with 20% 6 row malted barley , 20% oats and 60% corn . I love this hobby :clap: How are you finding grinding the oats? I was grinding up 8lb...
by speedfreaksteve
Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:36 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Get a larger fermenter. Saves so much effort.
Replies: 15
Views: 2473

Re: Get a larger fermenter. Saves so much effort.

When I did my research, pre internet Youtube and forums, it was clear that to make the products that I wanted, I needed a fermenter at least three times what my boiler could take, so I didn't start off with the illusion that I could make conveniently sized quantities of quality product one ferment ...
by speedfreaksteve
Sun Apr 16, 2017 6:40 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Get a larger fermenter. Saves so much effort.
Replies: 15
Views: 2473

Re: Get a larger fermenter. Saves so much effort.

Agree with everybody . I moved from buckets to 44 gallon Brutes . Aquarium heaters had a way of crudding up in sugar washes . SRD developed the idea of 32 gallon Brutes inside the 44 gallon Brutes . Lining the 32 gal with a clear 55 gal trash bag and gathering the top of the bag around a bleeder ho...
by speedfreaksteve
Sun Apr 16, 2017 4:55 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Get a larger fermenter. Saves so much effort.
Replies: 15
Views: 2473

Re: Get a larger fermenter. Saves so much effort.

+2 :thumbup: :thumbup: just wait until you move up to a 60 Gal fermentor :) Ovz Oh I think the 35 gallon should be more than adequate for my quantities. I guess the main takeaway here is that it would be extremely rare that anyone has ever complained that their fermenter/still/boiler is too big and...
by speedfreaksteve
Sun Apr 16, 2017 4:15 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Get a larger fermenter. Saves so much effort.
Replies: 15
Views: 2473

Get a larger fermenter. Saves so much effort.

This is my realization after my first couple of batches made in my 35 gallon plastic drum. These were 15+ gallon batches to run in my 15.5 gallon keg pot still. Just so much easier to have your fermenter hold a full batch. Instead of messing around with 3-4 5 gallon pails. Not to mention less cleani...
by speedfreaksteve
Tue Apr 11, 2017 7:53 pm
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Where To Check For 30 Gallon Drums ?
Replies: 23
Views: 7636

Re: Where To Check For 30 Gallon Drums ?

Picked up 2 a few weeks ago for $25 each off Craigslist. They smelled weird but I let them soak in Oxyclean and water for several hours and they smell like new now.
by speedfreaksteve
Tue Apr 11, 2017 6:00 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: What's your mason jar cleaning method?
Replies: 14
Views: 3867

What's your mason jar cleaning method?

As an example, let's say I'm cleaning out a dozen or so consumed mason jars to use for a spirit run. I feel like there must be something better or more efficient than what I'm doing. What I normally do: One by one, give the jar a quick rinse, then refill to around 1/8-1/4 full. Close lid, shake for ...
by speedfreaksteve
Tue Apr 11, 2017 10:56 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: moving mash into larger container from smaller?
Replies: 3
Views: 773

Re: moving mash into larger container from smaller?

As long as the bigger container is cleaned and sterilized first, then there should be no problem.
by speedfreaksteve
Tue Apr 11, 2017 10:55 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Assistant Distiller job.
Replies: 18
Views: 1617

Re: Assistant Distiller job.

I'm going to apply for it, it's an established bigger sizes brewery and distillery with great products and the Distiller is a great intelligent person and friend of mine. I don't mind the pay cut, I can live on less and if it doesn't work out i still have welding to fall back on Best of luck! Actua...
by speedfreaksteve
Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:51 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Assistant Distiller job.
Replies: 18
Views: 1617

Re: Assistant Distiller job.

A good friend of mine is the head Distiller at a decent sized distillery located nearby Vancouver BC. He was over lastnight and was telling me they have an opening for an assistant position. I would love to take the job and I'm sort of qualified, except I'd have to give up my job welding and take a...
by speedfreaksteve
Sat Apr 08, 2017 8:54 pm
Forum: Boilers
Topic: looking for used keg
Replies: 8
Views: 2203

Re: looking for used keg

Also, what do you mean by proper holes?
by speedfreaksteve
Sat Apr 08, 2017 8:53 pm
Forum: Boilers
Topic: looking for used keg
Replies: 8
Views: 2203

Re: looking for used keg

Kijiji or Craigslist usually has people selling them.
by speedfreaksteve
Sat Apr 08, 2017 12:01 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Un-malted wheat mash. Protein rest needed?
Replies: 18
Views: 3669

Re: Un-malted wheat mash. Protein rest needed?

1 hour rest at 125F seems to split the difference for me in allowing rye or whole wheat a sufficient rest.
by speedfreaksteve
Thu Apr 06, 2017 5:32 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Wash went from dark brown to clear in 3 days. Infected?
Replies: 6
Views: 860

Re: Wash went from dark brown to clear in 3 days. Infected?

Update - I had a swig of some distillate that I cut down to 100 proof. Tasted fine. Damn is this wheat bourbon smooth especially for just part of a stripping run.
by speedfreaksteve
Wed Apr 05, 2017 5:03 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: The liar's bench
Replies: 6676
Views: 487561

Re: The liar's bench

Ok, so I woke up last night around 3am to crashing and smashing around in the basement. Who the hell is down there? Well all I can say that there is so much frigging snow here and its still storming that even the moose are coming indoors! You know yo have too much grain on hand when the animals bre...