Search found 409 matches
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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.
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.
- 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...
- 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 ...
- 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 ...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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 ...
- 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 ...
- 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...
- 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.
- 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. ...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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. ...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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 ...
- 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...
- 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.
- 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 ...