My latest HBB
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My latest HBB
So I'm finishing my spirit run of my first large batch of large batch honey bear bourbon.
I run a 15.5 gallon keg boiler and an 8 gallon keg Thumper with copper columns and two 120 volt heating elements. I stripped four batches of Honey Bear bourbon ferments putting the clear beer in my boiler and all the slop in my Thumper. I saved up about 10 gallons of 40% low wines.
This morning I poured the low wines into my boiler converted it to a pot still as shown below and began running.
I started out collecting at 78% ABV and I'm now into my tenth pint holding steady at 78. I'm running it right now at just under a stream. I'm getting three pints per hour or right at 1 pint every 20 minutes. At the end of the day I should have enough to fill my 5 gallon Balcones Barrel.
Any comments, critiques, or advice are welcome as always.
I run a 15.5 gallon keg boiler and an 8 gallon keg Thumper with copper columns and two 120 volt heating elements. I stripped four batches of Honey Bear bourbon ferments putting the clear beer in my boiler and all the slop in my Thumper. I saved up about 10 gallons of 40% low wines.
This morning I poured the low wines into my boiler converted it to a pot still as shown below and began running.
I started out collecting at 78% ABV and I'm now into my tenth pint holding steady at 78. I'm running it right now at just under a stream. I'm getting three pints per hour or right at 1 pint every 20 minutes. At the end of the day I should have enough to fill my 5 gallon Balcones Barrel.
Any comments, critiques, or advice are welcome as always.
Re: My latest HBB
My man I've got no criticisms but let me be the first to say Congratulations!
- jonnys_spirit
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Re: My latest HBB
That's awesome and congrats! I just wanted to compare yield but I guess recently I did about three stripping runs out of my 13g still then the ~11g spirit run and got around 2.5 gallons of 130proof after cuts...
So in total somewhere close to 60-70# grain into 30-35g water stripped 3x then spirit ran down to 2.5g of 130pf.
Seeing similar?
Thx,
j
So in total somewhere close to 60-70# grain into 30-35g water stripped 3x then spirit ran down to 2.5g of 130pf.
Seeing similar?
Thx,
j
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i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred
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i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred
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Re: My latest HBB
Sounds similar to me. I was hoping to get close to 5 gallons of 120 pr out of this but I have no idea how the mash /cuts will work out. I'll update you guys later.
Re: My latest HBB
Funny seeing this. I am actually just finishing up my 3rd stripping run from 50 Gallon was. Well didn't get 50 gallons out since I stopped at the grains. This is just a basic moonshine with corn and sugar. Anyway I don't think I ran fast enough although much faster then previously. (this is the first time using stripping runs.) So far I have about 8 gallons of 40%. Will be interesting to see the final yield.
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Re: My latest HBB
Just an FYI for comparison purposes: My last few HBB spirit cuts have been right at 45% of the total vol collected (and I run down fairly deep into the tails.) I recycle feints in my HBB, so w/o feints my cut would likely be a bit wider. Would love to know what kind of cut % you are taking. It's all personal preference, I know. Otisjon1163 wrote:Sounds similar to me. I was hoping to get close to 5 gallons of 120 pr out of this but I have no idea how the mash /cuts will work out. I'll update you guys later.
Otis’ Pot and Thumper, Dimroth Condenser: Pot-n-Thumper/Dimroth
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Learning to Toast: Toasting Wood
Polishing Spirits with Fruitwood: Fruitwood
Badmotivator’s Barrels: Badmo Barrels
Re: My latest HBB
When i was stripping spirit runs of 12g 40% low wines I would keep between 9.5 and 10 liters of 72% after cuts.
I've noticed a pattern in my notes. I typically end up with very close to the amount of aging proof liquor, as pure alcohol in the starting mash. 12g still charge of 10% abv, I normally end up with 1.2-1.3g after cuts and diluting to 62%.
I've noticed a pattern in my notes. I typically end up with very close to the amount of aging proof liquor, as pure alcohol in the starting mash. 12g still charge of 10% abv, I normally end up with 1.2-1.3g after cuts and diluting to 62%.
Swedish Pride wrote:
get a brix reading on said ball bearings and then you can find out how much fermentables are in there
get a brix reading on said ball bearings and then you can find out how much fermentables are in there
Re: My latest HBB
Well I finished. I have 36 jars ranging from 80 ABV down to 20. Actually seven of the jars are liter jars so technically I filled 43 pints.
Quick back-of-the-napkin math:
43pints%8=5.4 gallons
5.4 gallons x .4 = 2.16 gallons of hearts at roughly 70% (.4 or 40% being the rough estimate of hearts)
Quick back-of-the-napkin math:
43pints%8=5.4 gallons
5.4 gallons x .4 = 2.16 gallons of hearts at roughly 70% (.4 or 40% being the rough estimate of hearts)
Re: My latest HBB
Nice pic!
Next, cuts. Then comes the patience.
Next, cuts. Then comes the patience.
- still_stirrin
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Re: My latest HBB
I’m thirsty now.
Good job.
ss
Good job.
ss
My LM/VM & Potstill: My build thread
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
Re: My latest HBB
So after letting my jars air out for 24 hours I lined them all up and started making my cuts. I ended up keeping jars 11 through 31 of 43 jars total. The 10th jar had a distinct bite to it and while still kind of good I didn't like the bite. Jar 32 tasted like wet dog. For ease of description I've just counted my liter jars as 2 pint jars each.
Combining those jars that I kept and then diluting them to 120 proof with reverse osmosis water yielded me right at 3 gallons of distillate. I filled my Balcones barrel with a 3 gallons corked it up and set it away.
Cheers to everyone who's following this and if you have any questions let me know I'd be happy to share.
Combining those jars that I kept and then diluting them to 120 proof with reverse osmosis water yielded me right at 3 gallons of distillate. I filled my Balcones barrel with a 3 gallons corked it up and set it away.
Cheers to everyone who's following this and if you have any questions let me know I'd be happy to share.
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Re: My latest HBB
Now is the really hard part- waiting!
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Re: My latest HBB
2-month-old Honey Bear Bourbon is sitting in a barrel in my basement feeding angels.
It's mocking me, knowing there's nothing I can do but wait. A few select friends are like that little devil sitting on a shoulder saying "Drink it! Drink it!"
The battle looms large, my friend. Wait 'em out.
It's mocking me, knowing there's nothing I can do but wait. A few select friends are like that little devil sitting on a shoulder saying "Drink it! Drink it!"
The battle looms large, my friend. Wait 'em out.
Re: My latest HBB
I did save a jar of the white... To compare... And in anticipation of those cravings.fizzix wrote:2-month-old Honey Bear Bourbon is sitting in a barrel in my basement feeding angels.
It's mocking me, knowing there's nothing I can do but wait. A few select friends are like that little devil sitting on a shoulder saying "Drink it! Drink it!"
The battle looms large, my friend. Wait 'em out.
- rgreen2002
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Re: My latest HBB
Don't ya just love that barrel....!? I have one and am looking into maybe a few more.
I made an oak bung out of a sanded and charred dowel instead of using that silicone one they send ya.... just a thought.
Congrats and good luck! Now if that barrel only came with a lock....
I made an oak bung out of a sanded and charred dowel instead of using that silicone one they send ya.... just a thought.
Congrats and good luck! Now if that barrel only came with a lock....
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A little spoon feeding *For New & Novice Distillers - start here
BEST WAY TO GET ANSWERS FROM HOME DISTILLER
"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."