Search found 635 matches

by howie
Sun Apr 21, 2024 7:19 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Ted's Fast Fermenting Vodka
Replies: 643
Views: 326275

Re: Ted's Fast Fermenting Vodka

I’m trying to get an idea of how much citric acid to add this wash. My water is around 7.5. I’ve done some testing on a gallon of water and just a quarter teaspoon takes it down to 3.8. I’m not much of a water chemist so some insight would be helpful. I’m looking at a 45 gallon wash, which will req...
by howie
Sun Apr 21, 2024 6:52 pm
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Angel Yeast Question
Replies: 12
Views: 482

Re: Angel Yeast Question

Why kind of mash efficiency do you get with YLAY? as twisted said there are no figures afaik. in my personal experience with just a couple of side by side comparisons fermenting on the grain & YLAY. 1) i sieve the wash, through a BIAB on a pulley, into the boiler. i have noticed the bulk of spe...
by howie
Fri Apr 19, 2024 10:38 pm
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Angel Yeast Question
Replies: 12
Views: 482

Re: Angel Yeast Question

Why kind of mash efficiency do you get with YLAY? as twisted said there are no figures afaik. in my personal experience with just a couple of side by side comparisons fermenting on the grain & YLAY. 1) i sieve the wash, through a BIAB on a pulley, into the boiler. i have noticed the bulk of spe...
by howie
Thu Apr 18, 2024 6:57 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Ted's Fast Fermenting Vodka
Replies: 643
Views: 326275

Re: Ted's Fast Fermenting Vodka

Going back to water, whilst it's clearly nowhere near as important as when brewing beer or cider, I have found that adding a campden tablet and leaving it overnight really helps before adding the ubiquitous epsom salts and citric acid. Obviously everyone's water might be different, but we have high...
by howie
Wed Apr 17, 2024 9:44 pm
Forum: Boilers
Topic: Stilling in a BrewZilla 35l?
Replies: 30
Views: 4632

Re: Stilling in a BrewZilla 35l?

i use the BZ 3.1 for mashing and distilling, making beer (ie mashing also) you can set a solid temp for mashing, using the recirculating arm, malt tun etc, with excellent results. the temp sensor is on the bottom of the chamber, so when you're mashing, the element turning off & on are not a prob...
by howie
Fri Apr 12, 2024 8:10 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: When to put the column in full reflux
Replies: 4
Views: 210

Re: When to put the column in full reflux

maybe you have read that some folk (including me) heat up the wash and put the still in full reflux for a period of time before the spirit run. this (apparently) is to encourage the mix of low wines/dunder/& muck to produce more esters? the only reason i have it in full reflux is to stop any vap...
by howie
Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:47 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Wheat and OG Question
Replies: 14
Views: 395

Re: Wheat and OG Question

yellow angel says for 10kg of grain, to use 50-80gms of YA. temp range 28-36°C, with an optimum temp of 32°C. i just put 25-27L of water at a certain temp in a fermenter.(using a strike water calculator) add the milled grain which drops the temp to 32°C. adjust PH as required. add the hydrated YA an...
by howie
Wed Apr 03, 2024 8:39 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Wheat and OG Question
Replies: 14
Views: 395

Re: Wheat and OG Question

i went through the same process with unmalted feed wheat. first attempt i was trying to mash normally in a malt pipe using high temp alpha amalase.(my alpha is best at 90°c too) i experienced the swelling of wheat about 85°C, which is it's liquefaction temp(?), where it almost doubled in size and tr...
by howie
Wed Apr 03, 2024 6:58 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Wheat and OG Question
Replies: 14
Views: 395

Re: Wheat and OG Question

unmalted or malted wheat?
iodine test can be misleading, it only means
1) you converted the starch you extracted (but it doesn't tell you if you extracted some or all of the starch)
2) doesn't tell you if you converted the starch to fermentable sugars (or left them as unfermentable sugars)
by howie
Tue Apr 02, 2024 1:47 am
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Ted's Fast Fermenting Vodka
Replies: 643
Views: 326275

Re: Ted's Fast Fermenting Vodka

Thanks yummy 🙏 My hydro is calibed for 20°c, I had around 27-28 degrees C in my wash and accounted for it in brewfather and it actually rose a little (from 1.072 to 1.074) when I did this, I might need to check my crushed rye (afaik kibbled rye, or as close as I can get to it in my local store) and ...
by howie
Sat Mar 30, 2024 5:41 pm
Forum: Gin
Topic: Vapor only grams to liter ratio
Replies: 18
Views: 499

Re: Vapor only grams to liter ratio

are you using GNS/neutral or refluxing low wines through the botanicals?
by howie
Sat Mar 30, 2024 5:31 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: HAPPY EASTER
Replies: 23
Views: 900

Re: HAPPY EASTER

happy ester, did my cuts on the latest rum yesterday, the place still smells of the muck pits i opened 2 days ago.
homemade burgers and proper chips is on the menu.
looking after my mates dog and 2 x grandkids.
dog is alright :)
by howie
Wed Mar 27, 2024 5:03 pm
Forum: Condensers/Cooling Methods
Topic: QD water connections
Replies: 19
Views: 526

Re: QD water connections

everything i've got involved with water has got S/S camlocks fitted (deflag, condenser, cooling coil) makes everything interchangeable and easy to connect/disconnect. includes 1 x small female/female 'straight through' camlock to insert ie when i'm not using the deflag. 90° S/S angles eliminate hose...
by howie
Tue Mar 26, 2024 11:24 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: The Badmotivator Bain-Marie and Oak Barrel
Replies: 1231
Views: 232869

Re: The Badmotivator Bain-Marie and Oak Barrel

is the grain ok on those for using on a barrel?
i assume you intend to make heads for a barrel.
by howie
Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:43 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: White Rum flavour too strong
Replies: 36
Views: 1065

Re: White Rum flavour too strong

Swamptrout wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:16 am Most members are trying to add more flavour to their rums, and you are trying to reduce it lol.

Sounds like the start of a wonderful union with some oak.
TBF i think the OP is trying to make a light white rum, not a full flavoured dark rum
no oak involved :D
by howie
Wed Mar 20, 2024 4:59 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: White Rum flavour too strong
Replies: 36
Views: 1065

Re: White Rum flavour too strong

if you have the reflux air still, reflux it.
if not, at least double distill it.
can those old style airstills can have a power controller attached, leaving the top (fan bit) separately powered?
find a way to to fit some copper mesh, (they sell a infusion basket?)
scrunch some copper in that?
by howie
Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:10 am
Forum: Rum
Topic: Larger Rum recipe
Replies: 10
Views: 419

Re: Larger Rum recipe

i also reckon the total sugars will be on the high side :think: i wouldn't be adding that much citric until you've mixed everything together and then tested your PH. my tap water is usually PH 8, but the acidic dunder i add, brings the ph down. so i need very little citric. BTW i've just noticed you...
by howie
Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:26 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Liquid Malt Extract Experiment
Replies: 54
Views: 2634

Re: Liquid Malt Extract Experiment

i don't think that the LME has any hops in them. the last time i used one for beer was 3 years ago, and looking at my notes, after dissolving the LME, i still had to bring everything to the boil and then go through the bittering process with a hop schedule. i did test my caramalt whiskey sugarwash. ...
by howie
Tue Mar 19, 2024 6:05 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Brewzilla 35l gen 4 with power controller
Replies: 30
Views: 1009

Re: Brewzilla 35l gen 4 with power controller

good news from kegland. i agree with grumble and yummy about testing with water. i think the test would be to make sure you can obtain a rolling boil with a power setting, without the elements cycling on/off? the only flaw in the test could be that water does actually boil at 100°c and might make th...
by howie
Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:57 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Brewzilla 35l gen 4 with power controller
Replies: 30
Views: 1009

Re: Brewzilla 35l gen 4 with power controller

Howie, I'm starting to lean in the direction of making the same mod you did. The external controller they shipped won't do the trick (they sent me one with 120v input, won't work, shipping it back). I'll have a look under the hood at the wiring on the gen 4 against the pic you provided. Any addition...
by howie
Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:52 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: RIMS Mashing
Replies: 4
Views: 571

Re: RIMS Mashing

wow, $60usd for 15lbs of grain and a few bits.
seems a bit steep?
can you post the instructions so folk can make any suggestions.
by howie
Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:59 pm
Forum: My First .....
Topic: First spirit run
Replies: 30
Views: 920

Re: First spirit run

there has been talk of matching your ferments to your boiler size etc, maybe we should include lifestyle/spare time in this equation :D i can cope with 6-8 hr reflux spirit runs mainly because of 2 things. 1. i am almost completely r̶e̶t̶a̶r̶d̶e̶d̶ retired 2. the still is by the workshop doors, so i...
by howie
Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:32 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Brewzilla 35l gen 4 with power controller
Replies: 30
Views: 1009

Re: Brewzilla 35l gen 4 with power controller

i have just found this on the kegland site, shows the pin outs and the relays. for a clearer picture, it's the 5th picture in this link..... https://www.kegland.com.au/products/brewzilla-gen-4-main-circuit-board?variant=43494992642304 brewzilla gen 4 circuit board with pin outs.jpg [/quote] Thank yo...
by howie
Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:08 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Liquid Malt Extract Experiment
Replies: 54
Views: 2634

Re: Liquid Malt Extract Experiment

i did this one about 9 months ago. it's still on wood (one french oak/one USA medium oak) in glass, peat is noticeable to the nose, but not too strong in the taste. needs a proper airing & tasting, now i've noticed the different woods 25L 4 kg of sugar 1kg medium peated barley (for taste) 1 tin ...
by howie
Thu Mar 07, 2024 5:54 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Brewzilla 35l gen 4 with power controller
Replies: 30
Views: 1009

Re: Brewzilla 35l gen 4 with power controller

Thats interesting tolwyn. I do wonder how they control the power . Looking at the Gen4 PCB it uses a Mechanical relay to turn the heater elements on /off. https://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7771040#p7771040 So it must use time proportional switching . I could be wrong , but if it has s...
by howie
Thu Mar 07, 2024 5:47 pm
Forum: Related Electric Accessories
Topic: Brewzilla GEN 4 display board
Replies: 11
Views: 723

Re: Brewzilla GEN 4 display board

Yummyrum, thanks for the information. I put the project on the backburner due to available time so now I was able to finish it. I purchase a new display and controller, before Xmas, for a DigiBoil upgrade because of the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth features plus I wanted to be able to monitor/control the displa...
by howie
Wed Mar 06, 2024 6:30 pm
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Yellow Label Angel Yeast & Rum Yeast
Replies: 18
Views: 1155

Re: Yellow Label Angel Yeast & Rum Yeast

just thinking, when the ferment has stopped for a few days, why not experiment with the YL? if your slightly low SG was due to starch still left in the corn, why not let the YL loose and see if it releases and converts any remaining starch? :think: as for keeping processes simple....a recent test ma...
by howie
Mon Mar 04, 2024 6:28 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Final gravity reading issue with sugarwash
Replies: 13
Views: 575

Re: Final gravity reading issue with sugarwash

lol i i might struggle to replicate their distillation with a 2" CM :) i did a strip and reflux run on my first try. if i do another, i might try a strip and normal flavour spirit run . i did find this video that goes through the process, including the 5 x columns. the last column is 'interesti...
by howie
Mon Mar 04, 2024 3:03 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Final gravity reading issue with sugarwash
Replies: 13
Views: 575

Re: Final gravity reading issue with sugarwash

Thanks all, I added more water, pitched some bakers yeast, fermented to below 1 and distilled it yesterday and it came out fine, not sure why I added so little water, looking at my notes from my last sugarwash the ratio I have no idea why this time I used so little. I'll try Bird Watches recipe nex...
by howie
Mon Mar 04, 2024 2:52 am
Forum: Liqueurs
Topic: Lemoncello Making (Odin's Recipe)
Replies: 25
Views: 2946

Re: Lemoncello Making (Odin's Recipe)

Hey can you tell me what is DAP
[/quote]

Diammonium phosphate i think.
i get mine off an ebay supplier, some HBS have it in stock