Search found 121 matches
- Sat Sep 30, 2023 10:51 am
- Forum: The Construction Site
- Topic: Built a new pot still
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1023
Re: Built a new pot still
Bushman, I use a flour and water gasket. I use self-rising flour so it expands as it heats. Haven’t had a leak so far.
- Thu Sep 07, 2023 3:09 pm
- Forum: The Construction Site
- Topic: Built a new pot still
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1023
Re: Built a new pot still
Thanks, all. In terms of clips, this thing is airtight. I only had 4 clips on my smaller still (permanently attached with SS screws and PTFE gaskets). Now I have twice the clips and I haven’t come close to having a leak.
- Mon Sep 04, 2023 3:43 am
- Forum: The Construction Site
- Topic: Built a new pot still
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1023
Re: Built a new pot still
Thanks, yummyrum.
- Sun Sep 03, 2023 1:38 pm
- Forum: The Construction Site
- Topic: Built a new pot still
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1023
Re: Built a new pot still
Thanks, Mooseman. I’m thinking of getting a larger propane burner, although I don’t really care how long it takes to strip. I used to make 3 5-gallon washes and strip all 3 separately. Now I can make 20 gallons of wash and it only takes 2 runs to strip it. Is there any reason not to use the larger s...
- Sun Sep 03, 2023 8:07 am
- Forum: The Construction Site
- Topic: Built a new pot still
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1023
Re: Built a new pot still
Thanks, Mod and Salt Must Flow.
- Sat Sep 02, 2023 2:20 pm
- Forum: The Construction Site
- Topic: Built a new pot still
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1023
Built a new pot still
After 6 years using a 34 quart SS pot for a still, I built a new one. This is a 60 quart SS pot with standard worm and flake stand. I went through the full clean and break-in protocol and now I’m stripping a 10-gallon wash for gin. I upgraded from 3/8” copper to 1/2” but it doesn’t seem to have incr...
- Fri Jan 25, 2019 1:31 pm
- Forum: My First .....
- Topic: My first first batch
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1034
Re: My first first batch
I age all my whiskey at 120 and I've conducted blind taste tests and most people can't tell my whiskey from commercial whiskey. I can say that it comes out really good at 120. Never tried 130.
Fish
Fish
- Tue Sep 25, 2018 12:13 pm
- Forum: What Not To Use/Do
- Topic: Can I store my "low wines" @ 40%
- Replies: 14
- Views: 5456
Can I store my "low wines" @ 40%
I recently learned the hard way about storing low wines in plastic. I have always stored them in plastic buckets from Lowes or Home Depot. Last time I went to run my gin, I opened my bucket and found nothing but juniper berries. I examined the bucket and the alcohol had caused the plastic to crack o...
- Wed Aug 29, 2018 10:47 am
- Forum: Recipe Development
- Topic: Gin development
- Replies: 13
- Views: 13076
Re: Gin development
Hi, guys. I'm late to this thread, but wanted to echo I use almost the same procedure as Bencornish. 3 stripping runs of DWWG and the botanicals macerate in the low wines for a week. I go much heavier on the juniper though. I found 1 lb. bags of fresh juniper berries from a company in California. I ...
- Wed Aug 15, 2018 9:36 am
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: A few questions from a newbie related to fermentation
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1537
Re: A few questions from a newbie related to fermentation
I would echo what AC fixer said. A hydrometer is a must. Without knowing your starting gravity, it’s hard to tell if that’s a fast fermentation. At those temps, I’d taste the beer for sure to see if it’s done. Also, without knowing your mash or wash recipe it’s impossible to comment. If you just add...
- Wed Aug 01, 2018 6:07 am
- Forum: Recipe Development
- Topic: Malted barley & corn flake whiskey
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1812
Re: Malted barley & corn flake whiskey
Thanks for the edit, Shineon!
- Mon Jul 30, 2018 2:06 pm
- Forum: Recipe Development
- Topic: Malted barley & corn flake whiskey
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1812
Re: Malted barley & corn flake whiskey
Shoot! Wrong title. Corn flake, not corn meal.
- Mon Jul 30, 2018 12:49 pm
- Forum: Recipe Development
- Topic: Malted barley & corn flake whiskey
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1812
Malted barley & corn flake whiskey
This recipe owes its beginnings to Odin's cornflake whiskey. For 10 gallons of mash, I use 6 lbs. of American 2-row malted barley and 2 boxes of generic cornflakes. I mix the ingredients together as if doing a traditional beer mash and mash for 45 minutes at 150 degrees F. Sparging is tricky, but I ...
- Fri Mar 09, 2018 1:21 pm
- Forum: My First .....
- Topic: My first attempt at gel/mashing corn... didn't go well!
- Replies: 14
- Views: 7147
Re: My first attempt at gel/mashing corn... didn't go well!
I would echo what frunobulax said about the overhead stirrer and the video he linked. I have a 1/2" drill mounted on a 2 x 4 that is bolted to a joist in my basement, so it can be folded up out of the way or brought down with a mud mixer to stir a big old pot. It's very handy. The other thing I...
- Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:31 am
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: All bran vs tomato paste?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 8088
Re: All bran vs tomato paste?
Personally, I prefer the deathwish wheat germ recipe. Seems to make a very nice neutral base for my gin. Note: I don't have (nor do I care to build) a reflux still. I've never had a stuck ferment with the DWWG and it always ferments down to around .995 or lower.
- Wed Jan 17, 2018 5:05 am
- Forum: Recipe Development
- Topic: Corn/grain to malt ratio for mashing ?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 15076
Re: Corn/grain to malt ratio for mashing ?
Right down the road from me. I've been purchasing my beer supplies from them for years. Good folks.Here's a Briess 6 row at 150 http://store.homebrewden.com/us-6-row-m" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow ... -p599.aspx
- Tue Jan 02, 2018 1:20 pm
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: Corn whiskey backset must be frozen?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2562
Re: Corn whiskey backset must be frozen?
I refrigerate mine. If it gets a little infection, no big deal, as it will be sterilized again when running the corn mash. Plus some of that lactobacillus makes a nice sour taste.
- Fri Dec 22, 2017 10:47 am
- Forum: My First .....
- Topic: My First Impressions
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2245
Re: My First Impressions
Making “flour paste” in a breadmaker to a stiff pizza dough consistency makes it easy to work with and after the run, it comes off easily. In the bread maker, I make a big batch and just leave it in a plastic bag in the shed, which is like a fridge. For those of you in warmer climes, you may need l...
- Thu Dec 21, 2017 1:24 pm
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: Fermentation to Distillation Time Frame
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1440
Re: Fermentation to Distillation Time Frame
FWIW, my ferments take at least 2 weeks on average. I do mine in a basement in Florida, which stays around 66 or so in the winter and up around 74 in the summer. OG is usually around 1.090 and FG is 1.000 or below. On average, I lose around 10 "points" a day. But once they're finished, I h...
- Mon Dec 18, 2017 10:05 am
- Forum: What Not To Use/Do
- Topic: Mice got into my cracked corn
- Replies: 41
- Views: 6830
Re: Mice got into my cracked corn
Mice around here will sometimes chew through buckets and tubs. I store bulk grain in plastic bags inside galvanized trashcans. I tried buckets, but I have rats and they chewed right through the bucket, so I now have large galvanized cans too. But as someone else said, it goes rancid over time, so I...
- Mon Dec 18, 2017 10:01 am
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: Uncleared corn wash...issues running it?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1958
Re: Uncleared corn wash...issues running it?
Agree with NZ Chris. I run uncleared corn mash all the time and never had a scorching issue.
- Mon Dec 11, 2017 6:30 am
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: First ferment... could be better from the start
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2379
Re: First ferment... could be better from the start
Sounds like you released some starch from the corn, but didn't do anything to convert it to sugar. In the absence of some enzymes (liquid or via malted barley or other source), the starch from the corn won't ferment. Also, corn needs about 180 degrees to fully gelatinize. I would suggest reading the...
- Sun Dec 10, 2017 7:06 am
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: Another person with Corn Trouble.
- Replies: 36
- Views: 4399
Re: Another person with Corn Trouble.
I use Sebstar high-temperature alpha amylase for 1 hour at 180 degrees, then Seb-Amyl beta amylase at 148 degrees for one hour or until the iodine test shows no more starch.What do you use to convert the starch?
- Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:28 am
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: Pre-cooking corn
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1029
Re: Pre-cooking corn
I don't think it takes much energy. Gas stove on low all day.
- Wed Dec 06, 2017 4:23 pm
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: Pre-cooking corn
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1029
Re: Pre-cooking corn
I use a 5 gallon bucket with 3/32" holes drilled in the bottom and a drill with a plaster paddle. No squeezing here.
- Tue Dec 05, 2017 11:54 am
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: Another person with Corn Trouble.
- Replies: 36
- Views: 4399
Re: Another person with Corn Trouble.
Late to this thread, I know, but FWIW, I cook my corn in the oven at 200 for 8 hours. Never boils, and it renders 100% of the starch. After that, once I've mixed it into my brew pot, and it's being stirred by the overhead mixer, I hit it with an immersion blender for a couple minutes to break up the...
- Mon Dec 04, 2017 6:58 am
- Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
- Topic: Pre-cooking corn
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1029
Pre-cooking corn
I know this has been addressed in some of the T & T threads, but it bears repeating. I recently started adding my cracked corn to a 4 gallon pot and filling it with water, then leaving it in the oven for 8 hours at 200 degrees before starting my mash procedure. The first time, I used 15 pounds o...
- Fri Nov 10, 2017 11:25 am
- Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
- Topic: Just curious... Why do we make alcohol?
- Replies: 70
- Views: 7431
Re: Just curious... Why do we make alcohol?
I'm with irvingsprinkle. I have a skill which will be in high demand when my job as a lawyer becomes useless. I'm a prepper, which I figure most around here are. Alcohol is a valuable commodity, so stocking up on it is smart in my opinion. Otherwise, I do enjoy the process. There's so much more to d...
- Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:53 pm
- Forum: What Not To Use/Do
- Topic: Just Post a Pick of a Rig To NOT Make
- Replies: 78
- Views: 25179
Re: Just Post a Pick of a Rig To NOT Make
The old M*A*S*H still has been a source of amusement since I started distilling. They never mash anything, just put 1/2 a cup of grain in a small boiler and voila! endless supply of vodka.
- Wed Oct 25, 2017 11:43 am
- Forum: Recipe Development
- Topic: Looking for a good 100% corn whiskey recipe
- Replies: 12
- Views: 5363
Re: Looking for a good 100% corn whiskey recipe
Incidentally, I've started using a modification of pintoshine's method. Instead of continuing to heat once the mash reaches 180 and keeping the mud mixer going, I just add the enzymes, stir for another minute or so, then turn off the heat and the mixer and leave for an hour with the top on and some ...