Search found 1397 matches

by 8Ball
Wed Mar 27, 2024 12:16 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Freedom Bourbon AG
Replies: 11
Views: 256

Re: Freedom Bourbon AG

8Ball, I've heard the blue corn is "unique". I'm debating on a malted blue corn and barley run after this one. IMG_2024-03-27-160844.jpg Oh, it’s unique alright. I guess you either like it or you don’t. I don’t. This is a comparison of my own red Bloody Butcher vs a commercial Balcones Bl...
by 8Ball
Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:23 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Freedom Bourbon AG
Replies: 11
Views: 256

Re: Freedom Bourbon AG

I’m not a fan of blue corn. Way too funky. Now the red & white will treat you right!
by 8Ball
Fri Feb 23, 2024 11:15 am
Forum: Distilling News
Topic: Tennessee Seizure
Replies: 5
Views: 368

Re: Tennessee Seizure

Don't sell, don't tell. The neighbor might be your friend today, but tomorrow he could be your worst fucking nightmare +1 When I got started in this hobby, I was tempted to brag a little to my neighbor about it. The “don’t sell, don’t tell” saying here on HD came to mind, and I kept my mouth shut. ...
by 8Ball
Wed Feb 21, 2024 9:00 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: question about fermentation
Replies: 6
Views: 300

Re: question about fermentation

Stonecutter wrote: Wed Feb 21, 2024 6:55 pm I don’t boil my water. It’s straight city water from the tap. I’ve never had any infection issues.
+1

I add a couple pinches of ascorbic acid (pure vitamin C powder) for about 7.5G of tap water. I read somewhere that its supposed to neutralize the chloramine.
by 8Ball
Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:43 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: A list of abbreviations and meaning
Replies: 4
Views: 239

Re: A list of abbreviations and meaning

New scott wrote: Wed Feb 21, 2024 9:21 am Hay I found the glossary sorry for previous post
Thanks again for help and the site
Thanks
Scott
Stick around, Scott. You’ll have this stuff figured out soon enough. Pretty soon you’ll be sipping on some of your own home made.
by 8Ball
Wed Feb 07, 2024 8:32 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Stuck fermentation
Replies: 39
Views: 962

Re: Stuck fermentation

summary: you're done. want to try and avoid this next time? pay attention to PH during mash, i use 6.2 for dough in, which is where my water comes in at anyway. i use some citric acid at mash in temps (before enzymes) to get PH 5.5 i have had much, much more success avoiding bacterial ph stalls by ...
by 8Ball
Wed Feb 07, 2024 8:23 am
Forum: Safety and Related Issues
Topic: thermometer broke in end of run
Replies: 12
Views: 636

Re: thermometer broke in end of run

Yummyrum wrote: Sun Jan 14, 2024 7:57 pmput a small wad of stainless scrubber in the bottom of their Parrot to cushion the Alcometer
Now that is a good nugget of info to file away for future reference. I’ve dropped mine in the parrot a couple times without incident— yet.
by 8Ball
Sun Feb 04, 2024 9:38 pm
Forum: Safety and Related Issues
Topic: Hydrochloric Acid and Stainless Steel
Replies: 5
Views: 515

Re: Hydrochloric Acid and Stainless Steel

+1 Good on you, Twisted, for advocating appropriate safety chemical safety protocol.
by 8Ball
Sun Feb 04, 2024 8:18 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Stainless fermenter with fine scratches - ok to use?
Replies: 17
Views: 638

Re: Stainless fermenter with fine scratches - ok to use?

I’ve heard scratched up plastic fermenters can harbor bacteria - is there a similar concern on a stainless conical fermenter like this one? I got it free, but don’t want it to be expensive! Lol The pics are dried out - it’s less obvious after a little cleaning, but there’s no doubt there are lots o...
by 8Ball
Fri Feb 02, 2024 5:22 pm
Forum: Grains
Topic: Vienna malt
Replies: 10
Views: 510

Re: Vienna malt

I ran a 100% Vienna malt mash back in September -- your post reminded me to check on how it's coming along... It was a simple strip-and-spirit-run pot distillation, and I remember that the barley grassiness really overpowered everything at first. Now, after four months on Hungarian oak, that grassi...
by 8Ball
Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:46 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Winter project fill 5 gal barrel
Replies: 16
Views: 660

Re: Winter project fill 5 gal barrel

Once one becomes familiar with the time and processes involved in distilling, focus is eventually turned (or not) to the quality of the spirit produced. Many learn that sugar is for moonshine, and the flavor profile of all-grain is to be developed from just grain. If you are re-designing your outpu...
by 8Ball
Tue Jan 16, 2024 6:24 am
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: How to use this white oak ?
Replies: 16
Views: 909

Re: How to use this white oak ?

You can cut the dark, center (heart) part of the wood out with an axe/hatchet. Stack it off the ground as mentioned earlier. You can carefully split off the portions you need with a hatchet as well. If you know what you are looking for, you can find good seasoned heart wood from roadside woodpiles i...
by 8Ball
Thu Jan 11, 2024 11:49 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Old SA distiller in Orewa New Zealand
Replies: 3
Views: 182

Re: Old SA distiller in Orewa New Zealand

Great intro. Welcome. You’ve come to the right place.
by 8Ball
Wed Jan 03, 2024 8:24 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: Have Blue Corn, is it any good?
Replies: 28
Views: 1763

Re: Have Blue Corn, is it any good?

Let me go downstairs and taste my Balcones again. It has been a while. My palate is all warmed up tonight so i should be good. Balcones Blue is different for sure. It's not my taste. After sipping it again I might make some tortilla chips with the bag of ground blue corn I have. It's interesting to...
by 8Ball
Thu Dec 14, 2023 5:19 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: JFO
Replies: 6
Views: 681

Re: JFO

Ahoy 8Ball! Surrounded by immaculate weather, a bevy of spirits and best of all, family, it sounds like you got life cornered as you enjoy the moment and contemplate your next round before the ice melts. Sending good vibes back your way for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! TB, vibes received a...
by 8Ball
Thu Dec 14, 2023 5:12 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: JFO
Replies: 6
Views: 681

Re: JFO

OtisT wrote: Thu Dec 14, 2023 10:45 am Sure, I’m paying attention during my work breaks and living vicariously through your exploits making stuff. Sounds like you are having a few wonderful days there. Keep enjoying life. Marry Christmas to you too.
Thanks OtisT!
by 8Ball
Thu Dec 14, 2023 8:53 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: JFO
Replies: 6
Views: 681

JFO

Just fucking off today. Grand kids slept over last night and their Moms picked them up happy & spoiled. My wife is out spending my hard earned money and that should take at least 6 hours or more. I’m planning on tapping into my 5G all malt & 10G Bloody Butcher bourbon casks today. Will draw ...
by 8Ball
Mon Dec 11, 2023 9:45 am
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: STA1+ yeasties
Replies: 11
Views: 868

Re: STA1+ yeasties

Stags wrote: Mon Oct 02, 2023 8:55 am … an experiment using STA1+ WLP099 to fire a 40 gallon ferment of UJSSM.
That’s an awful large experiment size. What do you do with it all if the experiment produces crap?
by 8Ball
Wed Nov 22, 2023 4:31 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: Calculating Diastatic Power?
Replies: 13
Views: 2891

Re: Calculating Diastatic Power?

A grain bill with at least 30% malts @ 2.25 pounds per gallon will also get you there. Toss in some enzymes for insurance if you have them.
by 8Ball
Wed Nov 22, 2023 4:26 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Cremated remains as…. Yeast nutrient??
Replies: 13
Views: 790

Re: Cremated remains as…. Yeast nutrient??

Ummm … no.
by 8Ball
Tue Nov 14, 2023 11:29 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: If you've ever....you might be a Stiller
Replies: 719
Views: 104955

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

If you ever simultaneously toasted a couple of white oak sticks & heated up a can of beanie wienies on your grill’s side burner while keeping an eye on your drip stream you might be a stiller.
by 8Ball
Tue Oct 24, 2023 2:28 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: A "good friend" just bought another airplane.
Replies: 18
Views: 1368

Re: A "good friend" just bought another airplane.

I’m an A&P. A ‘friend’ of mine asked me to help get his flight school started. It was nice for a while. Working on planes while semi-retired and plenty of ‘test’ flights. Then he asked me to sign off on work that wasn’t performed. We parted ways quickly afterwards.
by 8Ball
Thu Oct 19, 2023 9:50 am
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: My first barrel
Replies: 18
Views: 1314

Re: My first barrel

My 5G Gibbs takes 5.5G to top off with about an inch of head space. The bungs they provide are of poplar wood and I tap mine in until it’s snug; about half way. Make some extra to top off a second time about a month later. +1 on earlier comments about Gibbs being a pleasure to deal with. Great produ...
by 8Ball
Thu Oct 12, 2023 9:28 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: Corn Preference
Replies: 1
Views: 397

Re: Corn Preference

I don’t think you can go wrong with any heirloom corn. But my vote is Bloody Butcher for the clean, earthy aroma & slightly sweet & spicy flavors.

https://www.dancingstarfarmseed.com/distilling-grains/
by 8Ball
Thu Oct 12, 2023 9:24 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Golden Rye Smoked Whisky
Replies: 5
Views: 769

Re: Golden Rye Smoked Whisky

OtisT wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2023 5:56 pm
By chance do you have a pic of that hanging drill motor agitator setup? Would love to see how you pulled that off.
Hey OrisT, here ya go. Thats 16 pounds of rye & 2.5 pounds of barley in that pot. Gonna split it and make two 6G ferments on grain.
IMG_2023-10-12-131555.jpeg
by 8Ball
Wed Oct 11, 2023 7:15 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: On a Lark
Replies: 6
Views: 719

Re: On a Lark

Sounds good except for the sugar. I’ve got a 10G Gibbs full of AG bloody butcher bourbon. Do yourself a favor and save the sugar for piggy backs.
by 8Ball
Fri Oct 06, 2023 3:41 pm
Forum: Sugar
Topic: Possible molasses source
Replies: 17
Views: 1442

Re: Possible molasses source

Evolved Habitats blackstrap molasses at Tractor Supply Co has been good to me @ $11/gallon. The Golden Barrel stuff is good too. 13 pounds of panela, a half gallon of blackstrap, all made up into a 9 gallon wash is wonderful.
by 8Ball
Thu Oct 05, 2023 3:36 pm
Forum: Boilers
Topic: Thermometer Placement
Replies: 39
Views: 1913

Re: Thermometer Placement

The finishing temperature of a stripping run has little to do with head temperature or charge temperature until you have run the same wash in the same conditions for so long that their numbers mean something to you. It's the same for heart cuts … but your records are little use to a newbie asking f...
by 8Ball
Wed Oct 04, 2023 11:33 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Wood reuse
Replies: 21
Views: 1036

Re: Wood reuse

I didn’t object, I said I didn’t think it was a good idea. Go for it.
by 8Ball
Wed Oct 04, 2023 9:02 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Wood reuse
Replies: 21
Views: 1036

Re: Wood reuse

subbrew wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2023 6:36 am You continue to impress me. Please start an off topic thread and making black powder
While the idea of making your own black powder is very interesting, I’m not convinced that it is a good idea to post it publicly. My two cents.