Search found 409 matches

by Birrofilo
Wed Jun 23, 2021 2:34 am
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Slow proofing and Saponification, have you had it happen?
Replies: 17
Views: 3625

Re: Slow proofing and Saponification, have you had it happen?

From this very interesting thread, I distilled this knowledge to "bring home": "Saponification" is a non-issue unless charred wood is involved, or coriander. In all other occasions, adding slowly water to distillate while mixing should work without problems. Thinking better about...
by Birrofilo
Tue Jun 22, 2021 1:04 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Single malt whiskey using LME
Replies: 173
Views: 11766

Re: Single malt whiskey using LME

Is it possible that some LME retain active enzymes ? No it isn't, because those products are sold to the homebrewing (or the brewing) community, and having active enzymes in the product would be a non-desirable quality, actually it would be quite a serious fault. What they do is they denaturate com...
by Birrofilo
Mon Jun 21, 2021 8:14 am
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Slow proofing and Saponification, have you had it happen?
Replies: 17
Views: 3625

Re: Slow proofing and Saponification, have you had it happen?

I am very interested in this subject. I will be diluting my 95% ABV neutral soon into drinking strength. My questions for those in the know: a) Does saponification only happen in an alkaline environment, would a slight acidification of the liquor prevent the problem? b) Is this a problem that only h...
by Birrofilo
Thu Jun 10, 2021 11:26 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Single malt whiskey using LME
Replies: 173
Views: 11766

Re: Single malt whiskey using LME

Ingredients LME, water and yeast. Guess the first step is to figure out how many pounds of LME is needed per 15 gallons of wash. I'm also guessing this is going to get expensive. :roll: Any ideas, suggestions or warnings are welcome. :lol: The seller will normally state the "potential" of...
by Birrofilo
Tue May 18, 2021 7:28 am
Forum: Related Electric Accessories
Topic: Power Fluctuations
Replies: 13
Views: 1334

Re: Power Fluctuations

I have noticed on my 5.5k electric boiler that there are power fluctuations, sometimes .5a or more. This seems to be on the mains side of things. [...] Anyone run into this? Have a solution? I run into this continuously. For me, it's a supply side problem. I investigated solutions, and I also broke...
by Birrofilo
Tue May 18, 2021 6:52 am
Forum: Distilling News
Topic: Distillery fire in Washington State
Replies: 18
Views: 3219

Re: Distillery fire in Washington State

The "distillery", from the image appearing in the link two posts above mine, appears to be made with a simple and naked wood frame. I don't know what might have caused a fire, but any problem which might have occurred, if resulting in a fire, might have easily and rapidly destroyed that &q...
by Birrofilo
Wed Apr 28, 2021 2:51 pm
Forum: Gin
Topic: Macerating or Vapour Infusing
Replies: 14
Views: 2249

Re: Macerating or Vapour Infusing

The general idea taken from the book Il Liquorista that I am reading is that maceration also extract the amaro , the bitter part of the botanical, things like aldehyde and polyphenols and other things with names above my pay grade. Those substances give body, complexity, strength to the overall arom...
by Birrofilo
Mon Apr 26, 2021 3:27 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: Building Carbon Filter help
Replies: 29
Views: 3979

Re: Building Carbon Filter help

@Winnipeg204

Many thanks, just the information I wanted.

Can some Italian distiller suggest where can they be sourced? I couldn't find them, not even in the Distillex shop on Aliexpress.
by Birrofilo
Mon Apr 26, 2021 2:18 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: Building Carbon Filter help
Replies: 29
Views: 3979

Re: Building Carbon Filter help

@SheepDale May I ask you what carbon did you buy, and where? Do you have an ASIN for it? Technical specifications, such as microsizewhatever, so that I can buy something equivalent if I don't find the same product? I think making the pipe is easy, but I cannot find a reliable guidance on which carbo...
by Birrofilo
Fri Apr 23, 2021 7:58 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Iodine test accidentally tossed back into mash
Replies: 5
Views: 709

Re: Iodine test accidentally tossed back into mash

For what I know, iodine tincture is toxic if ingested. I don't know if that's bad for the yeast, but for you, it ain't good. I don't know whether it will come up with the vapours or it will remain in the kettle. Also, it's the dose that makes the poison, so feel free to test on your body the effect ...
by Birrofilo
Thu Apr 22, 2021 8:39 am
Forum: Related Electric Accessories
Topic: Arduino Microcontrolled still
Replies: 46
Views: 3861

Re: Arduino Microcontrolled still

The Arduino microcontroller will move the nozzle to the Hearts collecting jar using a Servo-Motor I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with. The original poster posted a video which I have looked into. The servomotor exists and works. The original poster seems to have the "basic and ...
by Birrofilo
Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:55 am
Forum: Related Electric Accessories
Topic: Arduino Microcontrolled still
Replies: 46
Views: 3861

Re: Arduino Microcontrolled still

Great work It is certainly useful for stripping runs. When doing a stripping run, that is what most people do: take away a certain predefined amount of foreshots, then collect everything until a certain threshold is reached. It could also be used for making neutral. If you make "conservative&qu...
by Birrofilo
Fri Apr 16, 2021 10:52 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: SS pot discoloring, anything to worry about?
Replies: 11
Views: 762

Re: SS pot discoloring, anything to worry about?

Still concerned about what appears to be machining marks left on the inside of the pot during production. But guessing there is nothing to be done there, and hopefully no worries to be had. The machining marks should appear of the same colour of the steel. You can see from the picture a brownish ba...
by Birrofilo
Fri Apr 16, 2021 2:18 am
Forum: Gin
Topic: Gin botanicals and spices in the uk
Replies: 7
Views: 1353

Re: Gin botanicals and spices in the uk

Try asking a pastry shop where do they source sugar. They probably don't buy it in 1 kg packs. Amazon and eBay can be good sources for botanicals. Gentian, Dog-rose. I also buy at my local herbalist. Some botanicals might be difficult to source, but they can be substituted with anything. Gin is juni...
by Birrofilo
Thu Apr 15, 2021 10:18 am
Forum: Whiskey
Topic: Grain Gelatinization
Replies: 16
Views: 2800

Re: Grain Gelatinization

1. how long does it need to sit in that temp range (assuming a fine grind)? 2. will it gelatinize at temps higher than the given range? 3. can gelatinization and enzyme conversion take place simultaneously, or does it need to be gelatinized first? 1. The answer to this question should be given by t...
by Birrofilo
Thu Apr 15, 2021 4:50 am
Forum: Materials Safety
Topic: Plastics and mashing
Replies: 14
Views: 1637

Re: Plastics and mashing

Yes, I also think that plastic and high temperature is a no-no. I use a very 60 cm long SS spoon for my mash and boil when making beer, the plastic ones are much more widespread, but I prefer not to do it. https://www.mr-malt.it/cucchiaio-acciaio-60-cm.html I also ruled out installing a transparent ...
by Birrofilo
Wed Apr 14, 2021 4:28 pm
Forum: Materials Safety
Topic: Plastics and mashing
Replies: 14
Views: 1637

Re: Plastics and mashing

Truth be told, it is common in the USA, for what I read, to use a "camping cooler" as a "mash tun". Those are typically in plastic and the drainage is made with some plastic water pipes. It is true that a typical monostep mash is something like 40' @ 63 °C which shouldn't stress ...
by Birrofilo
Wed Apr 14, 2021 3:41 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: KOH for boosting pH?
Replies: 19
Views: 1618

Re: KOH for boosting pH?

I enjoy distilling mostly as it's an "extension" to homebrewing, if I can call it that. I saw it as the next step, and I took it. I certainly call it a "fatal attraction". But I suppose the attraction works equally well for the winemakers. Many homebrewers and winemakers inevita...
by Birrofilo
Tue Apr 13, 2021 4:39 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: KOH for boosting pH?
Replies: 19
Views: 1618

Re: KOH for boosting pH?

When I had a similar problem, I solved it with four eggshells in a 30 litres batch. I ate the eggs, rinsed the shells, took away the inside pellicle, made the shells into little fragments, and put those in the fermenter. Worked a charm. No risks.
by Birrofilo
Tue Apr 13, 2021 4:31 am
Forum: General Stilling questions
Topic: Pot still or column still in pot mode, which is faster?
Replies: 20
Views: 2542

Re: Pot still or column still in pot mode, which is faster?

The column still will have some internal reflux even without packing and therefore it will be somehow slower than the pot still. That said, if the power is high enough, the effect of the reflux will be substantially negligible and the two stills will substantially operate with the same speed. IMHO. ...
by Birrofilo
Fri Apr 09, 2021 1:08 pm
Forum: Safety and Related Issues
Topic: Fire Extinguishers
Replies: 39
Views: 3286

Re: Fire Extinguishers

Another demonstration that ethanol burns with a transparent flame. This danger is well known to backpackers. The stove comes with a lid which is to be put on the stove before any operation. It's easy to be absolutely certain that that flame is out, just cover it and wait a few seconds, or better don...
by Birrofilo
Fri Apr 09, 2021 2:18 am
Forum: Safety and Related Issues
Topic: Fire Extinguishers
Replies: 39
Views: 3286

Re: Fire Extinguishers

I have one of those water pipes with a "pistol" two meters from myself. The tap is opened and the pistol controls the water. The device can "spray" water on a large surface and can extinguish any alcohol fire in no time. Alcohol is simply extinguished by diluting it with water. S...
by Birrofilo
Tue Apr 06, 2021 4:38 pm
Forum: Condensers/Cooling Methods
Topic: Function of a surge breaker
Replies: 7
Views: 818

Re: Function of a surge breaker

thanks @LWTCS I don't know if I got it right. For a married parrot, I think to get it. The alcohol which is forced to overflow the parrot by the insertion of the hydrometer will, in turn, create a depression in the condenser. A hole in the lower part of the condenser will allow air to enter and alco...
by Birrofilo
Tue Apr 06, 2021 2:14 pm
Forum: Condensers/Cooling Methods
Topic: Function of a surge breaker
Replies: 7
Views: 818

Re: Function of a surge breaker

In answer to myself, I think I am seeing part of the picture. For a married parrot, the problem is that the elbow "pushes" the vapours down the final condenser. Even though those vapours are condensed, I think I understand that some a pressure is created at the end of the final condenser. ...
by Birrofilo
Tue Apr 06, 2021 1:31 pm
Forum: Condensers/Cooling Methods
Topic: Function of a surge breaker
Replies: 7
Views: 818

Re: Function of a surge breaker

Here's a hint. If you don't use one, buy more than one hydrometer. I suppose your answer refers to the use of a parrot. I agree that it saves alcoholmeters in the long run, although I still haven't broken one :shh: My question is about surge breakers. I want to buy a parrot, but I don't know why/if...
by Birrofilo
Tue Apr 06, 2021 11:44 am
Forum: Condensers/Cooling Methods
Topic: Function of a surge breaker
Replies: 7
Views: 818

Function of a surge breaker

It is not clear to me what a surge breaker is for. I am considering buying a distilling parrot, and I would like to buy a "married" parrot, to be connected to the final condenser through the 2" tri-clamp connection. If I buy such a parrot, I will dismount my present "surge breake...
by Birrofilo
Mon Apr 05, 2021 2:20 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Quality of Ethanol
Replies: 13
Views: 1682

Re: Quality of Ethanol

Methanol will be present throughout the distillation run and will not be eliminable if not partially (there appears to be, in general, more methanol in heads and tails than in hearts, but it's there in any case). Pure methanol burns blue without yellow fringe. Pure ethanol burns blue without yellow ...
by Birrofilo
Mon Apr 05, 2021 1:39 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Flavoring neutrals with spent grain?
Replies: 9
Views: 988

Re: Flavoring neutrals with spent grain?

I heard something like that, it goes under the name of "Farmer's whisky" or something to that effect. Spent grain can contain a decent amount of sugars if the brewer doesn't make any "sparging", which some brewers don't do for various reasons. Adding them to a sugar wash will imp...
by Birrofilo
Mon Apr 05, 2021 12:28 pm
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Alpha-amylase UK
Replies: 20
Views: 2383

Re: Alpha-amylase UK

The enzyme in the Alcotec Single Strain Whisky Yeast is glucoamylase, an enzyme which works in the 20-70 °C range and which is also produced by the human body.
by Birrofilo
Mon Apr 05, 2021 9:26 am
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Alpha-amylase UK
Replies: 20
Views: 2383

Re: Alpha-amylase UK

Correct me if I’m being dumb here how does the alcoteck yeast work when combined with the enzyme if you need a higher temp for it to be effective? Surly it would kill the yeast. The enzyme is with the yeast. You "pitch" the yeast and the enzymes. They will work during fermentation and at ...