Search found 57 matches

by decomissioned
Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:14 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Other hobbies...
Replies: 81
Views: 6821

Re: Other hobbies...

Hehe,.. You name it. Cars motorcycles gardening hunting fishing hiking mountain biking camping canoeing shooting electronics survival primitive tools cooking and next week I am taking my technician exam to be a licensed amateur radio operator (ham).
by decomissioned
Tue Nov 02, 2010 9:12 pm
Forum: My First .....
Topic: rum
Replies: 49
Views: 6089

Re: rum

I just ran off my Generation 2 of hooks rum and I have to say that using dunder and lees from the previous batch is absolutely the only way to make rum. Well.. I just mean that it makes such a huuuuge difference in flavor compared to the first batch. After my second batch came out I threw my entire ...
by decomissioned
Wed Oct 27, 2010 9:19 pm
Forum: My First .....
Topic: rum
Replies: 49
Views: 6089

Re: rum

I'm trying Hooks recipe for rum. On generation two right now. Fermenting for 13 days so far and is pretty slow so about ready. I messed up the cuts on my first batch but will be a lot more conservative this time. Using both lees and backset this time has really changed the smell. The first batch jus...
by decomissioned
Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:41 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Great site
Replies: 2
Views: 523

Re: Great site

Welcome to the boards! I just finished up my first grappa run using left over grape pomace as well. I'd love to hear how you do yours. I thought mine turned out really well.. but after airing, I'm not so sure. Then again, I've only had grappa a few times. I'm going to let it rest for a few months be...
by decomissioned
Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:02 am
Forum: Condensers/Cooling Methods
Topic: Water diverter
Replies: 1
Views: 653

Re: Water diverter

Howdy PN. I have basically the same setup on mine. I have a T before the condenser though, not after. Having them separate allows you to tune your column as well and turning it off completely to run in pot still mode. When running in reflux mode you can turn the water to the column all the way wide ...
by decomissioned
Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:27 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Where the hell is everybody...guess ill drink alone
Replies: 171
Views: 11600

Re: Where the hell is everybody...guess ill drink alone

Yeah, I hear ya OD. No doubt about it. Us youngins are still buyin diapers while you old timers buy copper! :D
by decomissioned
Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:15 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Where the hell is everybody...guess ill drink alone
Replies: 171
Views: 11600

Re: Where the hell is everybody...guess ill drink alone

Howdy KS. Too bad we are on other ends of the country from each other. I'd let you drink and tell me how to run! That's what we call a win-win right there. I just finished up a 7 hour run from a 3 gallon still! Well.. it just takes time when you are starting out.. I had two weeks into that wash so n...
by decomissioned
Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:08 pm
Forum: Grappa
Topic: Grappa - My first fruit wash
Replies: 12
Views: 3873

Grappa - My first fruit wash

Having an abundance of free grape skins I decided my first non-sugar wash would be a grappa run. I picked up a Gott cooler full of some white wine variety skins that had just been pressed. The skins smelled musty, but still fresh. Here was my procedure: Loosely fill an 8 gallon fermenter full of ski...
by decomissioned
Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:36 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: austrian beer hot tub
Replies: 5
Views: 1009

Re: austrian beer hot tub

Yeah, you can absorb alcohol through the skin, by inhaling alcohol vapors, and of course by drinking. Absorption through the skin has been confirmed by a report (Dalt et al, 1991) of a case of a 1 – month old infant who became intoxicated as a result of absorption of ethyl alcohol from dressings app...
by decomissioned
Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:25 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Bourbon help
Replies: 13
Views: 1143

Re: Bourbon help

As RD pointed out Bourbon is a rather convaluted process -- up to and including legally protected naming rights with rigid rules and regulations for its use. The two hardest requirements to meet (at least for me) would be the expense in getting a new charred oak barrel, and keeping my mitts off it ...
by decomissioned
Fri Oct 08, 2010 12:20 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Uses for fores?
Replies: 7
Views: 877

Uses for fores?

Saw this article today for uses for vodka. The article is a little girly, but some good info. Could you dilute your fores and use them like this? I don't have much use for lighter fluid,.. I'm trying to find some use for them. http://www.diylife.com/2010/10/06/household-vodka-uses/" onclick=&qu...
by decomissioned
Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:31 am
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Growing Brewers Yeast
Replies: 12
Views: 7006

Re: Growing Brewers Yeast

I found a good article that talks about this and how to do it if you are interested. Basically it takes a bit of work to do it right, but it can be done without crazy lab equipment or fancy machines. http://www.bodensatz.com/staticpages/index.php?page=yeast-culture-FAQ" onclick="window.ope...
by decomissioned
Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:01 am
Forum: Distilling News
Topic: Legal Distillery making "moonshine"
Replies: 1
Views: 821

Legal Distillery making "moonshine"

This might be a little old, but I enjoyed it anyway. Video of an old time moonshiner gone legit. Making white lightning, whiskey, and bbq sauce. Although he calls it moonshine, being he is a legal operation, I don't think it really is technically 'shine' anymore, but regardless, he's a character and...
by decomissioned
Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:41 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Post a Favorite food recipe <<>> Lets see what's cookin.
Replies: 8
Views: 1167

Re: Post a Favorite food recipe <<>> Lets see what's cookin.

Here is one that I came up with all by myself. We try to eat fairly healthy, but that gets kinda boring. So I made up this sauce for chicken and vegetable stirfry. 2 tbsl peanut butter.. i like crunchy 3 tbsl soy sauce 1 tbsp red curry paste, comes in a little jar at the grocery 1 tsp garlic powder,...
by decomissioned
Mon Oct 04, 2010 5:20 pm
Forum: Grappa
Topic: Grappa
Replies: 42
Views: 14442

Re: Grappa

Here's a picture of the grape skins that I picked up. IMG_0932.JPG And after being put into my fermenter and topped off with water and inverted sugar. IMG_0933.JPG The airlock was going so hard last night we could it hear from the bedroom.. which is downstairs, and the fermenter is upstairs and half...
by decomissioned
Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:42 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Whats Your Favourite Parts of Stillin...
Replies: 14
Views: 1706

Re: Whats Your Favourite Parts of Stillin...

I'm the 1 that voted for Legalization. I'm not sayin its really my favorite in terms of enjoyment.. I mean, talkin to a bunch of politicians is never a good time when you could be sitting out back sippin a lil homemade goodness.. but, I truly think now is the time. If cali can legalize weed, surely ...
by decomissioned
Sat Oct 02, 2010 9:32 pm
Forum: Grappa
Topic: Grappa
Replies: 42
Views: 14442

Re: Grappa

So to be "grappa" does the ferment have to include stems and seeds? If the ferment just includes skins and juice is that a brandy? I picked up an ice chest full of white wine skins this afternoon. Got an 8 gallon fermenter filled with skins plus 8 lbs of sugar inverted in a gallon of water...
by decomissioned
Sat Oct 02, 2010 9:59 am
Forum: Distilling News
Topic: new distillery in pacific northwest
Replies: 1
Views: 592

Re: new distillery in pacific northwest

Thanks for the links cob. The last link includes a distillery fairly close to me so I went by there yesterday. Soft Tail Spirits, http://softtailspirits.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow They primarily make Grappa because of all the available wine...
by decomissioned
Thu Sep 30, 2010 10:10 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Hard Cider
Replies: 4
Views: 9337

Re: Hard Cider

hi richard. distilling hard cider gives you an apple brandy commonly called 'apple jack'. it is not only worth it, but apparently very tasty. You can search around here, there are a few threads that talk about it. I haven't tried it myself but it looks very straight forward and yields a great result.
by decomissioned
Wed Sep 29, 2010 2:24 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Drinking Made Easy (tv show)
Replies: 4
Views: 760

Drinking Made Easy (tv show)

Zane Lamprey is the host of a pretty awesome cable tv show called Three Sheets. He basically travels around the world and explores the local drinks and drinking customs. Zane is a comedian by trade, so the show is not only entertaining because of the booze, but he's pretty funny himself. Anyway, he ...
by decomissioned
Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:19 pm
Forum: Grappa
Topic: Grappa
Replies: 42
Views: 14442

Re: Grappa

There is a lot of great info here on grappa. I was reading through it earlier today for the first time. There is a thread titled "Grape Must" that is pretty detailed.. a couple of winery guys working through the process.. find that and read up on it. It's that time of year and I have over ...
by decomissioned
Tue Sep 28, 2010 10:48 am
Forum: Condensers/Cooling Methods
Topic: Mini radiator
Replies: 20
Views: 2903

Re: Mini radiator

I've started putting gallon ziplocks not-quite-full of water in the freezer. Then when you are ready to run you can just drop 2-3 bags (now ice blocks) into the water bucket. At the end of the run they will be melted, but still intact.. so I just fish em out and put them right back in the freezer. S...
by decomissioned
Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:59 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Hello + a few Questions
Replies: 3
Views: 382

Re: Hello + a few Questions

Hello diyftw, welcome to the boards. There is a ton of info here, so the first stop to any question should be the search feature in the top right corner. It can be a bit tricky at times, but it will usually get the job done. There was post just a week or so back about this same unit which you can se...
by decomissioned
Sun Sep 26, 2010 9:38 pm
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: Mile Hi 8 gallon Milkcan still
Replies: 37
Views: 18299

Re: Mile Hi 8 gallon Milkcan still

Howdy Freddy57. I have the same still but with the smaller 3 gallon boiler. I wrote up a thread about it here . From the picture you attached.. you might not have your water hoses connected correctly. Check out my picture below for the correct method. Water should flow from your pump/faucet/hose int...
by decomissioned
Sun Sep 26, 2010 8:46 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Hook Rum
Replies: 351
Views: 200382

Re: Hook Rum

Ingredient list on the 1g container was: molasses, water, phosphoric acid. I am assuming the acid was a preservative? Probably not a helping with perservation. Phospheric acid is a cheap source of flavor.. it's what gives Coke and Pepsi that "bite" on the tongue. Pretty similar to citric ...
by decomissioned
Fri Sep 24, 2010 11:09 am
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: MileHi Mighty Mini 3 Gallon
Replies: 30
Views: 10706

Re: MileHi Mighty Mini 3 Gallon

I got the still all set up today.. my hot plate should arrive any minute now. I took a video of the split water inlet. I'm using a spare fermenter as my water bucket and use a 1600 gph pump with auto relief valve (because I had it already). I dropped a digital thermometer into that water reservoir t...
by decomissioned
Thu Sep 23, 2010 7:49 pm
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: MileHi Mighty Mini 3 Gallon
Replies: 30
Views: 10706

Re: MileHi Mighty Mini 3 Gallon

I went in search of the copper cap to replace the tan gum rubber stopper and to add in the reducing coupler to push the distillate into the center of the packing.. but I think I'm going to have some problems. The column is actually 2" OD stainless pipe, with a ID of 1 7/8th inches. That means I...
by decomissioned
Thu Sep 23, 2010 8:33 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Driving the hot plate market
Replies: 7
Views: 573

Re: Driving the hot plate market

I bought all 3 from Amazon recently. LL: how do you like that hot plate? does it perform well? So far it is leading the pack in terms of power, price, and good reviews. One of those amazon reviews says he runs it nearly 24/7 for months at a time (sounds familiar) with great results. It's only a few...
by decomissioned
Wed Sep 22, 2010 8:47 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Driving the hot plate market
Replies: 7
Views: 573

Re: Driving the hot plate market

I think that is because a lot of people buy hot plates for pressure canning if they have induction stovetops. Not to make stills from them.
by decomissioned
Wed Sep 22, 2010 8:24 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Driving the hot plate market
Replies: 7
Views: 573

Driving the hot plate market

I was cruising amazon tonight looking for a hot plate to run my new milehi unit and stumbled on to this. I got really paranoid for a second, then laughed out loud. amazon.PNG Here's the direct link: http://www.amazon.com/Cadco-PCR-1S-Professional-Range-Stainless/dp/B00028X2Y6/ref=pd_sbs_k_14" o...