Search found 2965 matches

by kiwistiller
Thu Apr 12, 2012 1:45 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: What'd ya'll make today?
Replies: 6949
Views: 737555

Re: What'd ya'll make today?

chuck in a bit of pectinase if you haven't already to deal with the marmalade :wink:
by kiwistiller
Sat Mar 24, 2012 6:23 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: piggyback some booze on yer beer
Replies: 64
Views: 11898

Re: piggyback some booze on yer beer

I like this idea :thumbup: . I throw away so much grain... Would like chooks but them next door won't like that. Last night I made chocolate chip cookies with spent grain from a porter, but it only uses a few cups... :roll: Based on what unboiled grain mash does at my place, it must get a raging lac...
by kiwistiller
Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:14 am
Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
Topic: Not another "new distiller"
Replies: 39
Views: 9122

Re: Not another "new distiller"

maybe it doesn't cost that everywhere :lol:
by kiwistiller
Wed Mar 07, 2012 2:00 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: aged backset film- Lacto?
Replies: 11
Views: 1892

Re: aged backset film- Lacto?

If there is a lot of it it produces flavours and odors normaly described as "old bandaid", "farmyard / barnyard", "spice", "sweat" or my favourite, "funk". Probably undesirable. But then again, essential in a lambic beer. I had problems with getting ...
by kiwistiller
Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:45 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: aged backset film- Lacto?
Replies: 11
Views: 1892

Re: aged backset film- Lacto?

looks like brettanomyces.
by kiwistiller
Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:16 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: All the same?
Replies: 54
Views: 4843

Re: All the same?

cool - Premiere Cuvee is the EC1118 strain as well I believe, Yes it is. Red Star is a bit easier to get if I'm not ordering online. You could also look into something designed for sucrose. Um. If it's that big of a deal, what would happen if I inverted all the sugar before fermenting? I haven't ev...
by kiwistiller
Thu Feb 23, 2012 1:41 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: All the same?
Replies: 54
Views: 4843

Re: All the same?

cool - Premiere Cuvee is the EC1118 strain as well I believe, should be a good choice to try to cut down on the cogener production. You could also look into something designed for sucrose.
by kiwistiller
Thu Feb 23, 2012 12:31 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: All the same?
Replies: 54
Views: 4843

Re: All the same?

No one has asked about your ferment temps yet - nail polish is normally an excess of heads, which can be generated by a bad ferment. Make sure your fermenting practice is perfect. I'd ditch the ale yeasts and try something with a more neutral profile if you're getting cogener problems. Don't get me ...
by kiwistiller
Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:46 am
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: rum 493-EDV or Ec-1118??
Replies: 5
Views: 1708

Re: rum 493-EDV or Ec-1118??

493! love it. It likes it warm though, unless you have ferment temp control save it for mid summer then ferment it in a (full) large vessel to keep the heat up (higher volume to surface area means relatively less heat loss). If you can get 493, I wouldn't even entertain the idea of using ec1118. It'...
by kiwistiller
Sun Feb 12, 2012 5:59 pm
Forum: Fruits & Vegetables
Topic: Strange fruit, anyone know what this is?
Replies: 25
Views: 5277

Re: Strange fruit, anyone know what this is?

Hey mate, don't stew them - you'll set the pectin. I make feijoa cider, apple juice and feijoas. Use normal winemaking practices, pectinase etc. They aren't especially fermentable but the flavour carries through well. Don't push it too hard with sugar or the flavour will be diminished. I'd suggest f...
by kiwistiller
Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:45 am
Forum: Distilling News
Topic: Home Distiller Parent site update
Replies: 59
Views: 7028

Re: Home Distiller Parent site update

bravo :clap:
by kiwistiller
Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:57 pm
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: thermometer in keg
Replies: 27
Views: 6205

Re: thermometer in keg

wish I had a thermo in my boiler, for exactly what mulekicker says. just saying! Then I could stop pissing round with an alcometer except for diluting pot stilled spirits. The temp in the boiler tells you the vapour ABV at the boiler and the wash ABV. Both are useful to me.
by kiwistiller
Thu Dec 01, 2011 1:02 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: NZ Made
Replies: 75
Views: 20246

Re: NZ Made

Hey mate, I reckon Manuka requires a really soft touch eh. Select heartwood if you can. Toasted or charred... You'll need to experiment. please report back though! If it's not really old dry wood I'd suggest a nice low temp kilning for a while first though - hold it at 100C ish for a couple of hours...
by kiwistiller
Thu Nov 24, 2011 2:08 pm
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Chlorophenol: I want that band aid taste
Replies: 3
Views: 1259

Re: Chlorophenol: I want that band aid taste

Try SO4 from fermentis safale range. pitch plenty but keep it warm - say 22, 23C. It's pretty well known to throw off phenolics when warm.

Or you could go crazy and get a saison strain, bet that'd make some interesting scotch :)
by kiwistiller
Wed Nov 23, 2011 11:12 am
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: High(er) Melting Point Solder
Replies: 23
Views: 2831

Re: High(er) Melting Point Solder

I don't use sil-fos as we have alternatives here, so I have only just looked it up. I note it is marketed as a refrigeration solder :? I'd say it's probably fairer to state that it's marketed as a general purpose solder, and because it's reasonably ductile, is often used in refridgeration. The MSDS...
by kiwistiller
Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:48 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: High(er) Melting Point Solder
Replies: 23
Views: 2831

Re: High(er) Melting Point Solder

Hey Usge, I thought I'd let you know that it IS possible - just done it on a narrower shell and tube with silfos 15 (sounds similar to yours and about the same melt points). My jacket (65mm) has a lot more mass than my core (7x 15mm), and of course it convects much more readily, so I just spent ages...
by kiwistiller
Sun Nov 20, 2011 2:37 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: New filtering idea - while stripping
Replies: 98
Views: 5786

Re: New filtering idea - while stripping

I reckon ethanol is a pretty big contributor too :lol:
by kiwistiller
Sun Nov 20, 2011 12:59 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: New filtering idea - while stripping
Replies: 98
Views: 5786

Re: New filtering idea - while stripping

You still make cuts but the cuts can be looser. What causes hangovers? I've seen acetaldehyde pointed out as the main culprit while I believe it to be ethyl acetate. Ethyl acetate is adsorbed by activated carbon. In the case of acetaldehyde it has a boiling point of 20ºC so just airing out probably...
by kiwistiller
Thu Nov 17, 2011 11:16 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: getting their
Replies: 20
Views: 1758

Re: getting their

Seriously? you're not looking for liquid stuff are you? It come in 100-200g sort of size jars in the baking section. Edmonds or Tasti branded. might be called "active dried yeast" as well. it looks like this http://junkfoodfromnewzealand.com/images/thumbs/0000364_300.jpg I'd bet you a poun...
by kiwistiller
Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:56 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: New filtering idea - while stripping
Replies: 98
Views: 5786

Re: New filtering idea - while stripping

Hey Vetter, without entering the debate about the relative merits of filtering, you would probably be better served in filtering the finished hearts cut rather than the low wines - you might as well start the filtering process with a cleaner product. The exception would be if you require higher than...
by kiwistiller
Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:20 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: First Run under the belt
Replies: 20
Views: 1718

Re: First Run under the belt

I will aslo take more fractions. have read Kiwistillers comments on Essencia instructions, would love to know more detail if you are reading this :wave: , but sounds like the heads I collected was insufficient and 75 mls not enough.... so we talking 100 mls or more to collect before hearts to be sa...
by kiwistiller
Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:13 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: getting their
Replies: 20
Views: 1758

Re: getting their

I've not seen a supermarket in NZ without bakers yeast. shouldn't be an issue.
by kiwistiller
Wed Nov 09, 2011 4:28 pm
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: T-58 Yeast?
Replies: 6
Views: 1359

Re: T-58 Yeast?

could be the protein in the rye?
by kiwistiller
Wed Nov 09, 2011 3:34 pm
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: T-58 Yeast?
Replies: 6
Views: 1359

Re: T-58 Yeast?

sure. A less flocculent yeast will settle out less, and also pack a bit looser. an agressive healthy yeast will also divide more and you'll end up with a thicker yeast cake. Doesn't ec1118 have a bit of a killer factor? it might not play that well with others.
by kiwistiller
Tue Nov 08, 2011 8:31 pm
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: T-58 Yeast?
Replies: 6
Views: 1359

Re: T-58 Yeast?

I've used it before in a rum. It is indeed fairly peppery. I didn't get that great an attenuation on it, and it doesn't like to flocculate very much (if you care about such things). The rum was OK I guess but far from my best. It suited the temps I had going in my garage at the time though. I've use...
by kiwistiller
Thu Oct 20, 2011 4:44 pm
Forum: Grains
Topic: Home malting and drying of wheat - advice please
Replies: 16
Views: 4799

Re: Home malting and drying of wheat - advice please

Hey mate, I've got a cold smoker at a brewing mate's place I have access to if you want to try smoke kilning any of it :D Let me know if you need to borrow a mash/lauter tun or a mill to get you started as well.
by kiwistiller
Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:13 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Packing column with coffee beans.
Replies: 5
Views: 1441

Re: Packing column with coffee beans.

Tried it (in my gin basket). Unmitigated failure - the first 10% or so of the run was ok, after that it just tastes and smells like a espresso knockbox. sorry :(

when I get around to doing some coffee stuff again I'll being doing a cold extraction then redistilling in the pot still.
by kiwistiller
Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:11 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: What's up homebrewcrew?
Replies: 2
Views: 576

Re: What's up homebrewcrew?

kia ora mate, which city are you in? As for "as cheap as possible", you'll be wanting to hit up some scrappies. copper or stainless, will depend a bit on your resources (can you weld, have a welder... etc). Your vac tube might be a bit on the narrow side as well as being made of dubious ma...
by kiwistiller
Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:24 pm
Forum: Boilers
Topic: Copper Boilers
Replies: 42
Views: 8118

Re: Copper Boilers

Just a shout out to help show people Mr. Lembic is legit- I've recieved an 8" ball from Mr Lembic. It's gorgeous :D It had a tiny bit of oxide on it when it arrived (so very minor that if I was building immediately instead of showing it off I wouldn't have done anything about it), but about 2 m...
by kiwistiller
Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:33 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Ultra Compact VM/LM/RLM Combo Head
Replies: 24
Views: 15111

Re: Ultra Compact VM/LM/RLM Combo Head

1) looks too short to me for total reflux - depends on your power input. Use the calculator on the parent site. 2) Define "efficient". I still think the rise and restriction on the VM path would render it ineffective without some very careful balancing of backpressures by constriction of t...