Search found 710 matches

by BrewinBrian44
Sun Dec 10, 2023 7:36 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Has anyone made bottled beer from HBB
Replies: 12
Views: 777

Re: Has anyone made bottled beer from HBB

Before getting into brewing, you should consider buying the book “how to brew.” Lots of great info in there. For the most part, it still holds up today.
by BrewinBrian44
Sun Dec 10, 2023 7:11 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Has anyone made bottled beer from HBB
Replies: 12
Views: 777

Re: Has anyone made bottled beer from HBB

HBB as a beer would not be good IMO. It’ll come across as thin and too attenuated. Hops are also important to keep the beer balanced. That being said, you can make a HBB inspired beer. The bulk of the grain bill should be malted barley/wheat with corn making up a smaller portion of the grain bill. K...
by BrewinBrian44
Sat Dec 09, 2023 7:37 pm
Forum: Condensers/Cooling Methods
Topic: where to place cooling water flow control on shotgun
Replies: 14
Views: 1821

Re: where to place cooling water flow control on shotgun

NZChris wrote: Sat Dec 09, 2023 6:12 pm I put the valve before the inlet hose to minimize pressure on connections and hoses during runs.
^^ this
by BrewinBrian44
Fri Dec 01, 2023 7:57 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Bit of a scare tonight
Replies: 6
Views: 559

Re: Bit of a scare tonight

Yummyrum wrote: Thu Nov 30, 2023 11:10 pm CO2 boiling out of the wash can appear as a misty smoke on a cool night .
I recently distilled a couple full corney kegs of a buddies failed homebrew. When the boil gets going it’s crazy how the CO2 coming out of solution produces a strong wind blowing out of the condenser.
by BrewinBrian44
Sun Nov 26, 2023 9:23 am
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: Emergency Still Purchase
Replies: 16
Views: 978

Re: Emergency Still Purchase

I noticed a lot of manufacturing oil when I purchased Chinese stuff in the past. I had to do a lot of manual cleaning before I did my vinegar/sac runs. Mind you, was with stainless steel.
by BrewinBrian44
Sun Nov 26, 2023 7:52 am
Forum: History and Folklore
Topic: Found interesting history from Minnisota
Replies: 7
Views: 1258

Re: Found interesting history from Minnisota

Cool story!

I love how the local law was helping out. The manure pile aging was clever, last place the feds would want to investigate. Haha
by BrewinBrian44
Fri Nov 24, 2023 9:37 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Odin's Easy Gin
Replies: 1332
Views: 342270

Re: Odin's Easy Gin

I realise that in 45 pages, this may already have an answer. I cannot get tangerine here - what would be a good starting point for weight of fresh citrus peels per litre to get something approaching the balance of Odin’s Easy Gin? I would be looking to use a vegetable peeler to get only the pith an...
by BrewinBrian44
Thu Nov 23, 2023 12:27 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Milk Clarified Blackberry Panty Dropper
Replies: 5
Views: 815

Re: Milk Clarified Blackberry Panty Dropper

Just milk clarified my peach panty dropper, another tasty drink!

This time I tasted the left behind milk solids. It’s like a boozy peach yogurt. Surprisingly good.

Pre treating the milk still has me intrigued. I wonder what kind of drink I could make after soaking some Cocoa Puffs in the milk.
by BrewinBrian44
Thu Nov 23, 2023 12:22 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Milk Clarified Blackberry Panty Dropper
Replies: 5
Views: 815

Re: Milk Clarified Blackberry Panty Dropper

This sounds interesting. I have a few small jars of blackberry, cherry, and raspberry cordial I want to try this on. I’ll bet the mouth feel of this will be really nice. I hope this will clear up using a buchner filter, because I really don’t like the long wait. Since my cordials are already proofe...
by BrewinBrian44
Wed Nov 22, 2023 5:53 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Milk Clarified Blackberry Panty Dropper
Replies: 5
Views: 815

Milk Clarified Blackberry Panty Dropper

Hi guys, During my time perusing YouTube, I stumbled upon an advanced cocktail making technique: milk clarification. Cocktails made this way are described as a milk punch. Apparently this technique has been around since the 1700’s and perhaps pioneered by Benjamin Franklin himself. The milk punch te...
by BrewinBrian44
Wed Nov 22, 2023 7:31 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Cremated remains as…. Yeast nutrient??
Replies: 13
Views: 790

Re: Cremated remains as…. Yeast nutrient??

This is a doozy of a topic. Puts new meaning to desecrating remains. And the thought of physically drinking a loved one is a bit disturbing. That being said, to each their own, if your buddy is a distiller and leaves a recipe on his death bed, including his cremated remains, have at it. Just don’t m...
by BrewinBrian44
Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:41 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: strawberry panty-dropper
Replies: 747
Views: 278132

Re: strawberry panty-dropper

Tried my first attempt at this recipe. Well, when I say recipe I treated it more like a “process,” as I switched up the fruit used. I made a peach and a blackberry following the original process And notes from other members. For my base sprit, I used some clean neutral 95% (Shady’s) and made the dec...
by BrewinBrian44
Tue Oct 24, 2023 5:36 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: First run on new flute done! Some questions and comments
Replies: 23
Views: 1289

Re: First run on new flute done! Some questions and comments

put the needle valve on the hot side or the (out) so the deflag is always full of water I know it's personal preference, but I preferred the opposite, even though the defleg isn't completely full. Here's the logic: You get a smooth temperature gradient by having the cool water come into the top whi...
by BrewinBrian44
Mon Oct 23, 2023 4:37 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: First run on new flute done! Some questions and comments
Replies: 23
Views: 1289

Re: First run on new flute done! Some questions and comments

Another consideration in addition to a more precise needle valve is having a consistent inlet water flow and temperature. If these two things fluctuate a lot, you’ll have a hell of a time keeping the still in the sweet spot. I had to ditch my defleg when I moved because my well water pressure fluctu...
by BrewinBrian44
Mon Oct 16, 2023 5:57 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: SCD's Crow Bourbon
Replies: 207
Views: 33926

Re: SCD's Crow Bourbon

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/50-lb- ... YLWFN.html

I use this corn meal, works great. Good flavor and a good bulk buy shipped right to my door.

Because it’s so fine, it gelatinizes very quickly and provides a good yield with little fuss.
by BrewinBrian44
Mon Oct 16, 2023 5:11 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Odin's Easy Gin
Replies: 1332
Views: 342270

Re: Odin's Easy Gin

I really liked the citrus. Too bad it goes away. it could be time to try and get a bit more adventurous with the botanicals after 6 x OEGs. :) I swapped out some of the tangerine peel with a bit of lemon peel and it’s got a more complex citrus character I really like. I also added Orris root to hel...
by BrewinBrian44
Sun Oct 15, 2023 1:49 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Odin's Easy Gin
Replies: 1332
Views: 342270

Re: Odin's Easy Gin

Speaking of citrus. I laid down my 6th run of OEG today, and for the first time, forgot to separate the citrus peels when I dumped the botanicals in the boiler, whoops. Yeah, it’s a total citrus bomb. I will say, it’s not bad. My wife actually likes the extra citrus. Any of you guys make the same mi...
by BrewinBrian44
Sun Oct 15, 2023 12:04 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Odin's Easy Gin
Replies: 1332
Views: 342270

Re: Odin's Easy Gin

Just got done proofing my first go at this recipe. It’s been really cool doing this during the Autumn season. I didn’t have access to tangerines so I substituted “little cutie” oranges. Of course I tried a little dram after proofing and the citrus is really upfront. It’s not bitter at all but I get...
by BrewinBrian44
Sun Oct 01, 2023 3:54 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Apple Pie moonshine season has come!
Replies: 32
Views: 8619

Re: Apple Pie moonshine season has come!

Just made my first batch of the season today. I’m sure it’ll disappear quickly. :P
by BrewinBrian44
Sun Oct 01, 2023 10:26 am
Forum: Boilers
Topic: Minimum Distillable Amount in a T500 Boiler.
Replies: 14
Views: 1178

Re: Minimum Distillable Amount in a T500 Boiler.

I too started the hobby with a T500 boiler. I wanted to Increase the usefulness of my time, so I quickly upgraded to the keg boiler I use today. I still use the T500 for small runs when I know I’ll have very little left behind in the boiler. In the keg boiler, my threshold of comfort means I’ll alwa...
by BrewinBrian44
Sat Sep 23, 2023 5:41 am
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: Modularity, or why I like tri-clamp stuff
Replies: 4
Views: 653

Re: Modularity, or why I like tri-clamp stuff

Agreed! Tri clamp modularity allows me to break down my components to a point that everything fits in drawers in my stillin room “aka laundry room,” completely concealed. The boiler unfortunately won’t fit anywhere accept the in the garage. All my configurations, pot still, plates and packed column ...
by BrewinBrian44
Mon Sep 18, 2023 3:18 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Shady's Sugar Shine
Replies: 623
Views: 123540

Re: Shady's Sugar Shine

Well, I ran my spirit run yesterday with a little recycled feints and a couple quarts of old UJSSM from when I started the hobby. Got a pretty decent yield of 1.5 gals at 95%ABV after cuts. Pretty pumped. Everything is very clean and crisp.

Now I need to make some Gin, apple pie and panty dropper!
by BrewinBrian44
Sat Sep 16, 2023 7:32 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Removing Dangerous Chemicals before Cold Distillation ?
Replies: 8
Views: 607

Re: Removing Dangerous Chemicals before Cold Distillation ?

I have a couple people in my home brewing club that freeze jack cider to bump up the ABV rather than simply adding sugar to the ferment. They don’t do it to the point where they’re trying to achieve sprits level ABV though. The apple flavor intensity really goes up. Tastes awesome, but…. Drink too m...
by BrewinBrian44
Tue Sep 05, 2023 2:44 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Shady's Sugar Shine
Replies: 623
Views: 123540

Re: Shady's Sugar Shine

Good advice again. I always rinsed them off before using them in the past. As far as placement of the bag, I have a handle on the outside of the large kettle I can just tie a piece of string to before putting the lid on. Only downside is the shells will be all the way to one side. Not sure how criti...
by BrewinBrian44
Mon Sep 04, 2023 4:50 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Shady's Sugar Shine
Replies: 623
Views: 123540

Re: Shady's Sugar Shine

Look in your clothes drawer for the sock that doesn't have a mate. Or go to amazon and buy some mesh bags. Don't clean or rinse the dust off the crushed shell. :shock: The balance between fine and coarse will dissolve at different rates and keep the pH more stable. Good advice! I think I have some ...
by BrewinBrian44
Sun Sep 03, 2023 10:32 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Shady's Sugar Shine
Replies: 623
Views: 123540

Re: Shady's Sugar Shine

Yeah I think I’m gonna ditch the powdered CC and switch to crush oyster shell from here on. I have a bag of it laying around. Sounds like the powdered CC was pitched early before fermentation had started and there wasn't enough acid to react with. Then the CC fell to the bottom of the fermenter, go...
by BrewinBrian44
Sun Sep 03, 2023 6:44 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Shady's Sugar Shine
Replies: 623
Views: 123540

Re: Shady's Sugar Shine

shadylane wrote: Sun Sep 03, 2023 6:04 pm
BrewinBrian44 wrote: Sun Sep 03, 2023 7:56 am Well, at 2 weeks in it got down to 1.012, so it was able to squeeze out a bit more alcohol.
What are you using to measure the gravity?
I’m using my hydrometer. I’m also correcting for temperature.
by BrewinBrian44
Sun Sep 03, 2023 7:56 am
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Shady's Sugar Shine
Replies: 623
Views: 123540

Re: Shady's Sugar Shine

Well, at 2 weeks in it got down to 1.012, so it was able to squeeze out a bit more alcohol. The ferment looks pretty dead at this point. If it’s reading the same FG tomorrow, I’ll pull a couple buckets of wash to cold crash in the chest freezer. I installed a rotating racking arm to the 50gal kettle...
by BrewinBrian44
Thu Aug 31, 2023 3:42 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Shady's Sugar Shine
Replies: 623
Views: 123540

Re: Shady's Sugar Shine

Were you controlling the temperature? Plus-one on keeping the temp constant. Once I got a temp controlled fermenter, there hasn't been a problem. That's been the biggest reason for success. The temp sweet spot for bakers yeast is around 86'f Try to avoid higher than that because of stress. But don'...
by BrewinBrian44
Wed Aug 30, 2023 5:15 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Shady's Sugar Shine
Replies: 623
Views: 123540

Re: Shady's Sugar Shine

I’m running a 3” SPP packed column. I don’t have a lot of height and my SPP isn’t sized perfectly for my column, but I can consistently achieve a little north of 95% ABV running once distilled low wines.