Search found 1014 matches

by zed255
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:09 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Marble magic and a theory yet to be proven
Replies: 64
Views: 2309

Re: Marble magic and a theory yet to be proven

It's just coloured glass. I've used that type and others sold as decoration. They do occasionally crack or split but I have no concerns.

One columns worth is ~13mm and another columns worth is ~10mm. I run a 3" setup and have never been able to flood with the 13mm but can with the 10mm.
by zed255
Mon Feb 26, 2024 10:28 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Dextrose VS White Sugar ?
Replies: 6
Views: 411

Re: Dextrose VS White Sugar ?

I've primed beer with it and didn't find it better nor worse than sucrose for the purpose. I tried sweetening some of my products with it and it was decidedly 'odd', went back to sucrose. I thought about trying it in a basic shine, but was turned off by the poor taste when sweetening that I abandone...
by zed255
Mon Feb 26, 2024 6:51 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: My solution to stripping low ABV wash
Replies: 9
Views: 446

Re: My solution to stripping low ABV wash

Cocktail shakers for the shell? How apropos.
by zed255
Wed Feb 21, 2024 8:07 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Marble magic and a theory yet to be proven
Replies: 64
Views: 2309

Re: Marble magic and a theory yet to be proven

I've used different media in my reflux column and seem to return to marbles time and again. I agree that they seem to outperform their theoretical capabilities and had wondered as you have if the thermal properties were at play. I bought a full columns worth of Siporax sintered glass aquarium filter...
by zed255
Sun Jan 21, 2024 1:18 pm
Forum: Liqueurs
Topic: Lemoncello Making (Odin's Recipe)
Replies: 25
Views: 2294

Re: Lemoncello Making (Odin's Recipe)

I like to juice the lemons and use some of the juice in place of water for a more rounded or complete lemon flavour.
by zed255
Tue Jan 16, 2024 8:30 am
Forum: Rum
Topic: Beginner rum issue
Replies: 17
Views: 1207

Re: Beginner rum issue

Your rum just needs to age a bit on some used toasted oak. New make rum tastes nothing like even 'white' rum from the store, so maybe you just didn't know what to expect. Rum is really easy, and for me there's little difference between a 100% molasses ferment and one cut with sugar up to 50%, it wil...
by zed255
Mon Jan 15, 2024 4:53 pm
Forum: Safety and Related Issues
Topic: Plastic codes
Replies: 79
Views: 63029

Re: Plastic codes

Ss, you usually give solid considered advice but this time you seemed to not read the post you appeared to be responding to. He was asking about hard cider, not brandy.
by zed255
Wed Dec 27, 2023 6:32 am
Forum: Steam Mashing and Distilling
Topic: Yummy’s Steam generator
Replies: 36
Views: 1717

Re: Yummy’s Steam generator

Hey Yummy, great project. Look forward to seeing this one. :egeek: As long as water level above the element is maintained you can have a more headspace. About three inches of headspace is what I use in my 1/2 or full keg boilers. If boiling water were to start getting pushed up the steam outlet thi...
by zed255
Mon Dec 25, 2023 10:10 am
Forum: General Stilling questions
Topic: Sacrificial Run?
Replies: 23
Views: 2883

Re: Sacrificial Run?

May depend on where you are. For me a quick sugar wash is soooo much cheaper than even to worst rot gut vodka available it makes no sense to buy sacrificial booze, full stop.
by zed255
Sat Dec 23, 2023 11:23 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: How did you get into making alcohol
Replies: 33
Views: 5095

Re: How did you get into making alcohol

Brewed beer in college with my roommate a couple times at a you brew place, was ok. Years later I revisited home brewing again for a short while and again it fell to the wayside following a colossal flop of a batch. Fast forward another 15-ish years and I one again gave it another go, only it stuck ...
by zed255
Sun Dec 10, 2023 8:10 am
Forum: Legalization of Home Distilling
Topic: Stills for sale in Canada
Replies: 6
Views: 1643

Re: Stills for sale in Canada

Fella a few blocks down the street literally blew the roof off his house via a distilling oopsie. No charges were filed and even insurance repaired the house. Literally zero legal consequence in this instance, and luckily no injury either. Biggest things in Canada are don't make unreasonable quantit...
by zed255
Sun Nov 26, 2023 2:14 pm
Forum: Whiskey
Topic: ? on oats for "mouth feel"
Replies: 19
Views: 1589

Re: ? on oats for "mouth feel"

Some home distilled products have a thin or watery feel. Oats help give a thicker more viscous feel in the mouth while being reasonably neutral in taste, maybe a little earthy in higher amounts. Adds a richness or fullness that might be hard to get otherwise.
by zed255
Fri Nov 03, 2023 3:13 pm
Forum: Other Hobbies and Projects
Topic: Motorcycles
Replies: 103
Views: 15759

Re: Motorcycles

Owned a small barge load of bikes over the years, mostly either dirt/dual sport or sport bikes. I finally bought my 'old man bike', a '21 BMW R1250GS in 40th Anniversary livery and most of the options catalog checked off. I wear a stupid shit-eating grin every time I ride it. Also picked up a 2000 H...
by zed255
Sun Oct 08, 2023 4:20 pm
Forum: Rum
Topic: minimum time for rum ?
Replies: 8
Views: 974

Re: minimum time for rum ?

Can't speak to a minimum, it depends on your cuts and tastes, but I like no less than a year and longer is better. At three years it is becoming something really nice and very worthwhile. Time on oak really transforms a new rum into something special. Tight cut rum is more bland but enjoyable very y...
by zed255
Sun Sep 24, 2023 11:38 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: How Does LM Compress Heads Better?
Replies: 35
Views: 1598

Re: How Does LM Compress Heads Better?

A LM still head has one very real advantage. It doesn't need a product condenser. True, to a point. I still ran a small liebig as a product cooler, otherwise the output was very hot. You don't want to over-cool your reflux condensate to avoid upsetting the column. With this in mind, the product onl...
by zed255
Sun Sep 24, 2023 3:57 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: How Does LM Compress Heads Better?
Replies: 35
Views: 1598

Re: How Does LM Compress Heads Better?

Any reflux still can produce any result, just depends on the operators understanding of the differences and how the still is run. An LM might be easier to get well compressed fores / heads than a CM or VM for the average distiller, but a skilled operator could get similar results without regard to t...
by zed255
Thu Sep 14, 2023 10:09 am
Forum: Boilers
Topic: Brazing with 25%
Replies: 5
Views: 545

Re: Brazing with 25%

Brazing will require a high temperature flux, either the white or black pastes will do, though the black offers a little more work time and a little more heat tolerance and will be more forgiving of a novice. With either, heat the work, do not direct your flame at the flux, it will cook quickly and ...
by zed255
Tue Sep 05, 2023 1:22 pm
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: Question for welders
Replies: 8
Views: 772

Re: Question for welders

If you are going to stick weld them on be sure to either use a protective flux on the backside, like Solar Flux 'B', or purge with Argon. Otherwise you will get sugaring.
by zed255
Sat Aug 26, 2023 4:44 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Neutral made from sugar vs neutral made from grain?
Replies: 9
Views: 617

Re: Neutral made from sugar vs neutral made from grain?

In my opinion a sugar wash will make a fine gin, it is the base of almost all my gin batches. I do agree that all-grain will offer more mouth feel and will retain some flavour. Go with a fairly mild grain like wheat or rice to get very close to neutral and still offer some of the richness in the mou...
by zed255
Fri Aug 18, 2023 12:15 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: What proof do you like for your moonshine?
Replies: 41
Views: 3857

Re: What proof do you like for your moonshine?

I proof most of my booze to 50% ABV, stays clear under all circumstance and holds up to ice or a mixer better. Things like limoncello or my cinnamon sipper are more like 30% ABV or so.
by zed255
Sat Jul 29, 2023 12:53 pm
Forum: My First .....
Topic: All-trash mash!
Replies: 5
Views: 838

Re: All-trash mash!

Maybe Trashy White Dog would roll off (and onto) the tongue better?
by zed255
Wed Jul 26, 2023 6:50 am
Forum: What Not To Use/Do
Topic: can u use heads to make bugspray or fragrances
Replies: 17
Views: 1585

Re: can u use heads to make bugspray or fragrances

I give all my foreshots / heads to my wife to use as cleaner. She tells me it removes soap scum really well and she has a few other uses. I don't think a fragrance would play well because heads don't usually smell neutral or 'clean', but then the carrier is meant to evaporate leaving the oils, so I ...
by zed255
Sat Jul 22, 2023 4:33 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Can I distill it after all this time?
Replies: 11
Views: 724

Re: Can I distill it after all this time?

That wash really isn't very old, just run it and stop overthinking it. I routinely let washes sit and I find they are often better than ones run immediately after fermentation is complete. Just don't poke at it, either leave it alone or run it.
by zed255
Fri Jul 21, 2023 3:52 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Meme’s
Replies: 1364
Views: 135844

Re: Meme’s

Ha, my BD is February 2nd as well, Groundhog Day!
by zed255
Thu Jul 20, 2023 6:52 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Potential Fermentation Temperature Test
Replies: 20
Views: 1125

Re: Potential Fermentation Temperature Test

A yeasts recommended temperature range just indicates where it performs best. I sincerely doubt that 103F would have stressed the yeast to the point where it totally ruined the ferment. Let it have a nice long rest, like maybe a week or two, to let the yeast clean up after themselves. Then run it an...
by zed255
Sat Jul 15, 2023 7:22 am
Forum: Whiskey
Topic: Aged low wines, wheated bourbon, and cuts
Replies: 6
Views: 760

Re: Aged low wines, wheated bourbon, and cuts

It is not uncommon for me to let low wines sit for months,some have sat up to a year even, just because I'm not in a hurry. I always felt the low wines that sat around produced better spirit than low wines that were run right away. I don't use wood but there's usually some headspace in the carboy an...
by zed255
Fri Jul 07, 2023 1:30 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Question on NGS strawberry infusion
Replies: 14
Views: 569

Re: Question on NGS strawberry infusion

Hmm, my strawberry maceration gradually lost it's lovely colour. I did use some citric acid, but ascorbic acid might preserve colour better. First thing, don't plan on making large quantities, make what you can consume in a timely manner. Next, keep it out of the light, like anything with a natural ...
by zed255
Sun Jul 02, 2023 6:53 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: DADY yeast high ferment temp in birdwatchers.
Replies: 10
Views: 611

Re: DADY yeast high ferment temp in birdwatchers.

Welcome to Ferment Club. The first rule of Ferment Club is: you do not stress your yeast. The second rule of Ferment Club is: you DO NOT stress your yeast! You should care about stressing your yeast, as stressed yeast make all kinds of crappy tasting / smelling compounds that sully your product. A h...
by zed255
Sun Jul 02, 2023 6:33 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Wierd reaction with glass
Replies: 11
Views: 586

Re: Wierd reaction with glass

The pictures show some cloudiness or louching. As Ben suggests the glass may not have been well cleaned allowing the insolubles in the product to precipitate out preferentially onto the dirty areas. If you have louching, and it depends on what you made whether it is a fault or not, you may need to u...
by zed255
Fri Jun 30, 2023 6:16 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: If you've ever....you might be a Stiller
Replies: 719
Views: 104851

Re: If you've ever....you might be a Stiller

If you've ever...

Had your wife ask if there's a larger pot around so she could make a big batch of soup and you present her with a pot large enough to simmer 15 gallons worth with a wiley smirk on your face,

You might be a stiller.