Search found 194 matches
- Mon Jun 22, 2020 5:25 pm
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: went all grain, questions
- Replies: 34
- Views: 4866
Re: went all grain, questions
I am familiar with the potential of rye to cake uo during mashing in for beer so will. E adding some rice gulls. Thus is my first attempt at an all grain for use in distilling. I started brewing all grain and can't seam to shake the need to do this "old school". Thanka for the help. If yo...
- Sun Jun 21, 2020 12:28 pm
- Forum: Recipe Development
- Topic: Whisky
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1759
Re: Whisky
To get the flavor you're looking for go with 100% peated malt for your grain bill and talk to a local home brewer about the other additives. If they can brew a good beer without the other stuff, you can make a good spirit. In beer you would only want 10 to 15% peated malt, but to get the flavor in s...
- Sat Apr 25, 2020 3:10 pm
- Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
- Topic: Mash Kettle
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3446
Re: Mash Kettle
A big camping cooler works great for mash. It'll hold the temp for quite a while. Check a couple homebrew sites for more ideas.
- Wed Sep 16, 2009 10:20 am
- Forum: My First .....
- Topic: Boiler for a still?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1828
Re: Boiler for a still?
I'm not sure about all water heaters, but the one's I have seen have two elements. One up high and one down low. If the one you plan to use has a top element you might want to disable it. You wouldn't want that element heating with no liquid around it. Just a safety thought.
- Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:44 am
- Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
- Topic: why's my shine alway hot and harsh
- Replies: 34
- Views: 6434
Re: why's my shine alway hot and harsh
I have, but I'm not a fan. It's a little hot. Their 3 year old whiskey (McCarthy's) isn't too bad though. It could use a couple more years to smooth out.Hutch- wrote: Has anyone tried any of the spirits from Clear Creek in Oregon... curious to know how the commercial unaged fruit brandy's turn out.
- Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:36 am
- Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
- Topic: why's my shine alway hot and harsh
- Replies: 34
- Views: 6434
Re: why's my shine alway hot and harsh
Thanks for the replies. Alright, here goes the audit lol. Lately I've been distilling with a detuned 36 inch column with a little clump of copper at its base. I thought that the taller column would make cutting easier?? bd. BD, when I ran mine with the copper at the bottom of the column, I'd have p...
- Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:57 am
- Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
- Topic: need help w/ first reflux run
- Replies: 16
- Views: 2070
Re: need help w/ first reflux run
78 degrees also just a reference point. Your thermometer may read differently depending on calibration and location in the column. The other thing to consider is if you're system is CM, and the cooling water is going through the cooling pipes and the product condenser (not split off), you're not goi...
- Sat Aug 15, 2009 7:51 am
- Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
- Topic: 10 gal. water cooler as fermenter?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 3415
Re: 10 gal. water cooler as fermenter?
I can see a few options here. One, when mash is fermenting, it is usually about 10F degrees warmer than the ambient air around it. If you're temps are in the 60s, the ferment will be in the 70s. Two, use plastic wrap instead of the lid and hang a 40w light bulb over the cooler. The light bulb will p...
- Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:07 pm
- Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
- Topic: Extracting grain alcohol from tincture
- Replies: 13
- Views: 10380
Re: Extracting grain alcohol from tincture
I would highly recommend that you don't try to distill grain alcohol off the tincture using normal techniques. The main reason is you're already working with 95% spirit, and unless you're willing to cut it to 40% first, you're taking great risks. I don't have any experience with a vacuum still, but ...
- Thu Jul 02, 2009 10:47 am
- Forum: Flavoring and Aging
- Topic: Aging proof
- Replies: 12
- Views: 2407
Re: Aging proof
You could throw a party tap on that and pump the spirit out.
- Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:41 am
- Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
- Topic: Reflux column inards
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1007
Re: Reflux column inards
I have the HC version of that still. Rad is right about there being better designs that are easier to use. Mine gets the job done, but requires a lot of adjusting in water flow during the process. What that picture doesn't show is all the tubing that needs to be hooked up to run it. This picture sho...
- Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:23 am
- Forum: Flavoring and Aging
- Topic: Flavoring with beer
- Replies: 1
- Views: 600
Re: Flavoring with beer
I think the better question would be. Did you taste it? We can use most anything to dilute spirits, but the question would be on taste. The good thing about dilution is you don't need to use big samples to see if it's going to be tasty or not. A shot of 95% and a shot of beer in a glass would be eno...
- Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:11 am
- Forum: Research and Theory
- Topic: Inline ethanol % meter
- Replies: 66
- Views: 22945
Re: Inline ethanol % meter
K.I.S.S. method.
Mount rheostat on side of parrot and attach an arm to alcoholmeter. Measure rheostat resistance as alcoholmeter raises and lowers. It should be pretty simple to write a program to convert the numbers
Mount rheostat on side of parrot and attach an arm to alcoholmeter. Measure rheostat resistance as alcoholmeter raises and lowers. It should be pretty simple to write a program to convert the numbers
- Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:22 am
- Forum: Flavoring and Aging
- Topic: is it possible to do a home made version of Grand Marnier?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 11045
Re: is it possible to do a home made version of Grand Marnier?
I've been doing a lot of experimenting with a simple version that has finally turned out a very good drink. Below is my latest (and best) version. It's not Grand Marnier, but it's become the favorite of many friends. I used a brandy double distilled from red wine. A good neutral would probably work ...
- Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:48 am
- Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
- Topic: Precipitating fusels possible?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1379
Re: Precipitating fusels possible?
Activated carbon will pull the fusel oils out if that's what is really the problem. But it will also pull out flavor. You can either set up a carbon filter, or just throw a few tablespoons of carbon in a jar of spirits and shake it up everyday for a week or so. I had to do that once when I was in a ...
- Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:08 am
- Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
- Topic: all malt foaming bad!
- Replies: 2
- Views: 818
Re: all malt foaming bad!
Beano won't help with foaming. Malted wash is going to foam, it's the nature of the beast. A couple options come to mind. Cut the charge in half and do two runs, add another teaspoon of vegie oil, or run it a lot slower on start up.
- Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:22 am
- Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
- Topic: distilling beer
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1998
Re: distilling beer
A lot will depend on the type of beer. Many commercial beers aren't real hoppy and the bitterness doesn't come through too bad. An IPA on the other hand can be bitter when distilled. I started out with an Old English Ale that soured in a wood barrel. Couldn't justify throwing out 55 gallons of beer....
- Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:32 pm
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: Advise needed please
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2959
Re: Advise needed please
Olddog,
Don't be discouraged with 3 litres of product. I figure if I get 10% of what I started out with, I'm doing pretty good. You got 3 litres out of 22, that's not bad for a malt wash.
Don't be discouraged with 3 litres of product. I figure if I get 10% of what I started out with, I'm doing pretty good. You got 3 litres out of 22, that's not bad for a malt wash.
- Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:53 pm
- Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
- Topic: Usual time for boil with 1500 watt hotplate
- Replies: 15
- Views: 9441
Re: Usual time for boil with 1500 watt hotplate
If you're using the diffuser plate, it'll take several hours. I tried the hot plate two times and then spent $30 on a turkey fryer and Lowes. Now the hot plate is used for disolving sugar.
- Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:32 pm
- Forum: Column Builds
- Topic: Advice on Essential Extractor PSII - Column with Connector
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1363
Re: Advice on Essential Extractor PSII - Column with Connector
Hi all i would like imput on this as i finaly got my hands on a 60liter keg i am now looking for column this on is a reflux and potstill design has anyone any experience with this one here is a link http://www.home-distilling.com/store/pc/Essential-Extractor-PSII-Column-with-Connector-62p602.htm#de...
- Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:30 pm
- Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
- Topic: Fruit Flavoring
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1044
Re: Fruit Flavoring
If you want to smooth things up a bit. Invert the sugar first. I did a side by side making an orange brandy and the inverted one is crystal clear and very smooth. The dissolved sugar one isn't.
- Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:39 am
- Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
- Topic: Filtration
- Replies: 6
- Views: 716
Re: Filtration
If you're going for rum, carbon filtering is going to strip most of the flavor. Did you remember to pack some copper mesh around the cooling pipes in your still? The Brewhaus still needs some copper in the vapor path when used as a pot still. Otherwise you'll get some off flavors and smell. The copp...
- Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:22 am
- Forum: Recipe Development
- Topic: Graham Cracker SMOP
- Replies: 36
- Views: 7834
Re: Graham Cracker SMOP
One question. When did you add the graham crackers?
- Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:39 pm
- Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
- Topic: new member pot still(alembic)
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1294
Re: new member pot still(alembic)
just one more question as a beer brewer we always boil the mash for 90mins but reading a lot on this site some people do and some don't is this just a matter of choice or does it have a big affect on the final product I'd hate to spent years waiting for it to mature only to find out its no good not...
- Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:46 am
- Forum: Flavoring and Aging
- Topic: What are the "windows" on factory stills?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2744
Re: What are the "windows" on factory stills?
Ahh, but if you could see in, the Leprechauns would get pissed because they couldn't work they're magic. Then all your hooch would be tails
- Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:52 pm
- Forum: Flavoring and Aging
- Topic: is it possible to do a home made version of Grand Marnier?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 11045
Re: is it possible to do a home made version of Grand Marnier?
damn.
Thanks Mud
Thanks Mud
- Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:26 am
- Forum: Flavoring and Aging
- Topic: is it possible to do a home made version of Grand Marnier?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 11045
Re: is it possible to do a home made version of Grand Marnier?
Bringing this back up. EuroStiller, have you improved your formula to something you wouldn't mind sharing yet? I have two gallons of 90% brandy that I'm airing and would like to get some good finished product. One idea I have is to invert some sugar with a few drops of orange oil. Maybe go extra lon...
- Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:12 am
- Forum: Flavoring and Aging
- Topic: What are the "windows" on factory stills?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2744
Re: What are the "windows" on factory stills?
Here's one explanation: Further up the neck can be seen a small glass porthole which allows inspection of the contents of the still to ensure it does not rise too far up the neck and boil over. Before the advent of the porthole a wooden ball was swung against the neck of the still and the resulting ...
- Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:42 am
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: iodine test question
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3812
Re: iodine test question
Here ya go for pictures of the test: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Iodine_test" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow I hope I was reading your post wrong about where you did the test. It almost looks like you just put a drop of iodine in the m...
- Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:05 am
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: Pics: Made my new hopper! - Grind too fine?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2994
Re: Pics: Made my new hopper! - Grind too fine?
The barley picture is still a little too coarse for my taste. When I started brewing beer, I tried just cracking the grain like in your last picture, but the efficiency was terrible. After visiting a local craft brewery I got a chance to see how fine they were grinding and it looked more like your r...