Search found 680 matches

by astronomical
Tue Mar 10, 2015 6:20 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Where to find fresh picked juniper retailers
Replies: 4
Views: 920

Where to find fresh picked juniper retailers

Pretty strtaight forward. I had a supplier in NM that no longer exists. The product that juniper made was unreal. Ive bought several other organic sources and they are no comparison regardless of amount. The flavor is completely different. This fresh stuff was floral and out of this world good. Im w...
by astronomical
Tue Mar 10, 2015 5:40 am
Forum: Absinthe
Topic: Absinthe Absinthe Absinthe
Replies: 159
Views: 27287

Re: Absinthe Absinthe Absinthe

My approach to absinthe was to make a palette of single herb macerations which were then redistilled. It allows me to make tons of blends on the small scale and try many crazy combinations. Unfortunately, my approach is rather non tradiitional, so, I dont have much to add. I dont particularly like a...
by astronomical
Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:55 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Mash Box for Jimbo's Easy 1/2 Barrel Bourbon
Replies: 42
Views: 5934

Re: Mash Box for Jimbo's Easy 1/2 Barrel Bourbon

Are you going to both mash and ferment in those drums? Cool in place then pitch?
by astronomical
Sun Oct 14, 2012 6:45 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: thinking out of the box about potatoes
Replies: 11
Views: 1243

Re: thinking out of the box about potatoes

why go thru the hassle of conversion if you're fortifying with sugar?
by astronomical
Sun Oct 14, 2012 6:41 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Fruit Flies Helped ID Heads
Replies: 15
Views: 1984

Re: Fruit Flies Helped ID Heads

i noticed this too... they definitely like heads... heads also catch house flies... theyll drown in it
by astronomical
Thu Oct 04, 2012 4:06 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: flavoring with spices and such
Replies: 10
Views: 1560

Re: flavoring with spices and such

I've done a bunch of things and its all subjective to your personal tastes. No harm in trying anything. I have redistilled mascerations of just about everything you have in your spice cabinet. What oak are you using? I found that charring the oak myself was almost always the best flavor I could get....
by astronomical
Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:38 am
Forum: My First .....
Topic: My first infection ?
Replies: 6
Views: 980

Re: My first infection ?

Does lacto really hurt a sour mash?
by astronomical
Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:24 am
Forum: My First .....
Topic: first LM run 3"
Replies: 13
Views: 1614

Re: first LM run 3"

Thers no harm in running the water faster. The only serious drawback is it may decrease the effective height of your clumn and force you to takeoff a bit slower. The reason for having the water come off hot is so that you aren't dumping cold distillate back onto the packing. You want the column to u...
by astronomical
Sat Sep 29, 2012 7:59 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: Pot still design
Replies: 12
Views: 2934

Re: Pot still design

That definately aint no pot still... That being said, the liebig is rather small for running in potstill mode, but, it may suffice when using the dephlagmater

whatcha trying to make?
by astronomical
Fri Sep 28, 2012 4:33 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: 4L still ?
Replies: 8
Views: 1465

Re: 4L still ?

I know you guys say small stills are almost not useable but is the because of the small amount of mash ? Or boiler room ? I If I made 10g of mash and ran a 1g still would I get a ok product I'm not trying to be hard but I'm really trying to keep the desktop modal thing going I want everything to fi...
by astronomical
Tue Sep 25, 2012 2:44 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: "Top" 25 smokehouses in the US
Replies: 9
Views: 1294

Re: "Top" 25 smokehouses in the US

out of interest whats a good size meal cost in a BBQ joint (average $$) we dont really have them here in OZ Maybe 12-20 USD. In my experience its usually comparable to about any midpriced sit down meal and sometimes cheaper. Things like ribs are generally more expensive, but, thats true anywhere. G...
by astronomical
Fri Sep 21, 2012 6:01 am
Forum: Distilling News
Topic: Check out the accurate info in this bust.
Replies: 38
Views: 4627

Re: Check out the accurate info in this bust.

I think, rad, that while you speak reason, you also might have an inflated idea of the interest that people take in small scale distillation. The guy in this instance was obviously extremely small scale; did you notic the numbered jars with ABV written on them? Something he could have learned to do...
by astronomical
Thu Sep 20, 2012 9:14 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Still Kit to get By untill i can build my own?
Replies: 12
Views: 2478

Re: Still Kit to get By untill i can build my own?

get a stainless keg and build your own. That design is no easier to assemble , if not harder, than any typical potstill design youll find on this site.

I'd learne to use a basic potstill before adding a thumper.
by astronomical
Thu Sep 20, 2012 8:59 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: "Top" 25 smokehouses in the US
Replies: 9
Views: 1294

Re: "Top" 25 smokehouses in the US

Anything good in Arizona or southern Utah? I'll be visiting soon and most of it is green hippie garbage....
by astronomical
Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:46 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: "Top" 25 smokehouses in the US
Replies: 9
Views: 1294

"Top" 25 smokehouses in the US

Witchuns ya binta? Wuts mizzin from dem places dey sez?

http://thechive.com/2012/09/18/hungry-t ... 25-photos/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
by astronomical
Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:41 pm
Forum: Distilling News
Topic: Check out the accurate info in this bust.
Replies: 38
Views: 4627

Re: Check out the accurate info in this bust.

I use a radiator.. big deal... the water never touches the spirit... I dislike the use/overuse of the word "cook".



Ctrl+F ---> "distill" ----> No matches found on page! ... are you fucking kidding me?
by astronomical
Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:42 am
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Nutrient Question
Replies: 18
Views: 5295

Re: Nutrient Question

Those nutrient figures are off (meaning these washes will often require more than the label suggests) and most of those nutes are designed for beer. I like keeping my yeast super happy and fermenting at like 90F (that doesn't sound like my beer fermentations). Dried yeast hulls cost more than boilin...
by astronomical
Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:30 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: new member
Replies: 8
Views: 1128

Re: new member

Whatscha smoke last? post some pics of somtin good....
by astronomical
Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:19 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Ok i feel dumb Asking but i have to.
Replies: 41
Views: 3180

Re: Ok i feel dumb Asking but i have to.

Seems to me that in the case of Vodka, regardless what its made from, the distinction is that it is a neutral. It is distilled and re-distilled until all the favor is gone and you are left with a neutral spirit. In the case of the whiskeys the biggest variable is, not what the base mast was made fr...
by astronomical
Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:06 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Sprouting Marris Otter after conversion?
Replies: 21
Views: 1538

Re: Sprouting Marris Otter after conversion?

I don't have a problem with dnderhead any further than a very confusing post. (Sorry dnderhead if it sounded like more.) I called it that, and that it what it was. But everyone here seems intent on making it personal!. Dont act like you couldn't figure it out.... perhaps you're the dumbest one here...
by astronomical
Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:28 pm
Forum: Legalization of Home Distilling
Topic: Going commercial in Ohio
Replies: 29
Views: 4881

Re: Going commercial in Ohio

contract distiller, as in, make a fancy ass label and sell it as microdistilled liquor when its really just cranked out by some large company... thats the same as all the other $40 a 375ml swill on the shelf... correct me if I'm wrong most of the "microdistilled" stuff I've bought has suck...
by astronomical
Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:14 pm
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: distillers yeast?
Replies: 22
Views: 4246

Re: distillers yeast?

With Distillers Yeast you are running a turbo wash and tomato paste would not be required... And that would not be a Birdwatchers wash... You'd be further ahead doing a standard Birdwatchers wash as per the original recipe... Avoid the temptation to fall victim to the greed factor that turbo yeast ...
by astronomical
Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:58 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: New to making stills, Sealing and lids
Replies: 8
Views: 889

Re: New to making stills, Sealing and lids

cut a gasket from cardboard and wrap it in a shit ton of ptfe tape and clamp your lid to the keg securely... very securely since its holding the column!


just outta curiousity, did you butcher your keg and then go "What the fuck did I just do?"... :mrgreen:
by astronomical
Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:53 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: LM modifications to increase speed
Replies: 25
Views: 2522

Re: LM modifications to increase speed

I think a boka on top of a conventional thumper is a good idea. I actually have been wanting to try it. I'm building one of my brew keggles to double as a thumper. For many reasons. But this is one. The only problem I see may hurt this idea. Heatup time for a separate thumper. It will be more then ...
by astronomical
Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:29 pm
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: New boka, just about ready to run
Replies: 13
Views: 2444

Re: New boka, just about ready to run

You will be pleased when its finished. Ran mine today, cooked 40 liters of 40% stripped sugar wash. Took seven hours, stopped when the tails got down to 70%. Ended up with 13 liters of 96% and about a liter of tails. :mrgreen: including warm up time and finding equilibrium? hard to believe such num...
by astronomical
Wed Jul 04, 2012 12:47 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: LM modifications to increase speed
Replies: 25
Views: 2522

Re: LM modifications to increase speed

You think I could achieve similar results by just tossing my boka ontop of my thumper and using its heat source? no return line from thumper... just slow down main boiler and heat thumper directly


im gonna give it a go
by astronomical
Wed Jul 04, 2012 8:44 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: LM modifications to increase speed
Replies: 25
Views: 2522

Re: LM modifications to increase speed

I have considered centering rings but I don't know exactly how to go about making them, and, the ferrules make my column 1/8" "thinner" at the ends, so, I cant slide anything in that hugs the walls. Solutions? I thought about buying some SPP. What kinda increase, if any, should I expe...
by astronomical
Wed Jul 04, 2012 8:40 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: LM modifications to increase speed
Replies: 25
Views: 2522

LM modifications to increase speed

I've seen people boast of numbers close to a gallon an hour at 95% with a 2" LM. I'd like to get a bit closer to these elusive numbers. Please tell me what modifications I can do and explain a bit about how to do them (or please link to an in depth thread).
by astronomical
Wed Jul 04, 2012 8:20 am
Forum: Related Electric Accessories
Topic: element
Replies: 3
Views: 658

Re: element

wiring should be housed safely and grounded to boiler the wiring should be 10ga or lower... no extension cord is 10ga [that i've seen] short of welding extension cords.. dont plug in unless full submerged... You'll need something to control the element or it'll most likely run too fast What wattage ...
by astronomical
Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:54 pm
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: Water Distiller
Replies: 16
Views: 2478

Re: Water Distiller

laughing at the wording, not the situation.. relax... it was funny

i started on an air still rig and still use it for some of my projects.. I call mine "beakly"