Search found 194 matches

by brewmaker1
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...
by brewmaker1
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...
by brewmaker1
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.
by brewmaker1
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.
by brewmaker1
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

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.
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.
by brewmaker1
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...
by brewmaker1
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...
by brewmaker1
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...
by brewmaker1
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 ...
by brewmaker1
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.
by brewmaker1
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...
by brewmaker1
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...
by brewmaker1
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
by brewmaker1
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 ...
by brewmaker1
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 ...
by brewmaker1
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.
by brewmaker1
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....
by brewmaker1
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.
by brewmaker1
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.
by brewmaker1
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...
by brewmaker1
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.
by brewmaker1
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...
by brewmaker1
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?
by brewmaker1
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...
by brewmaker1
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
by brewmaker1
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...
by brewmaker1
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 ...
by brewmaker1
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...
by brewmaker1
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...