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Ok wasn't sure if that was common practice from reading or not. The only thing I saw you said to be careful of is mixing with the paint stirring on drill and nicking the wall. Not looking to clean up 30 gallons of mash.jonnys_spirit wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 2:53 pm Yep I've used those. I'd get the dolly too and a lid so it's easy to move around. You don't really need to put it into a larger can/warm water bath.
Cheers!
-jonny
The dolly caused me problems when mashing in. The hot water softened the barrel enough that it started to list sideways. Wasn't enough to spill, but could if using small headspace.jonnys_spirit wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 2:53 pm Yep I've used those. I'd get the dolly too and a lid so it's easy to move around. You don't really need to put it into a larger can/warm water bath.
Cheers!
-jonny
In my experience the list was related to the casters tilting, they're just not rated to weight of that much water weight. I swapped mine out for a custom platform with enough capacity.Hambone wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:01 pmThe dolly caused me problems when mashing in. The hot water softened the barrel enough that it started to list sideways. Wasn't enough to spill, but could if using small headspace.jonnys_spirit wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 2:53 pm Yep I've used those. I'd get the dolly too and a lid so it's easy to move around. You don't really need to put it into a larger can/warm water bath.
Cheers!
-jonny
I've got two 55g olive barrels which are definitely more sturdy. But I do like the Brute for mashes that I need to strain, because the wide opening makes it easier to scoop up the grain in paint strainers to squeeze.Expat wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 5:02 pmIn my experience the list was related to the casters tilting, they're just not rated to weight of that much water weight. I swapped mine out for a custom platform with enough capacity.Hambone wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:01 pmThe dolly caused me problems when mashing in. The hot water softened the barrel enough that it started to list sideways. Wasn't enough to spill, but could if using small headspace.jonnys_spirit wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 2:53 pm Yep I've used those. I'd get the dolly too and a lid so it's easy to move around. You don't really need to put it into a larger can/warm water bath.
Cheers!
-jonny
55g blue barrel would be better though.
I hear ya, my blue barrels have a ring clamp lid so it's easy to access everything.Hambone wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 5:07 pmI've got two 55g olive barrels which are definitely more sturdy. But I do like the Brute for mashes that I need to strain, because the wide opening makes it easier to scoop up the grain in paint strainers to squeeze.Expat wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 5:02 pmIn my experience the list was related to the casters tilting, they're just not rated to weight of that much water weight. I swapped mine out for a custom platform with enough capacity.Hambone wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:01 pmThe dolly caused me problems when mashing in. The hot water softened the barrel enough that it started to list sideways. Wasn't enough to spill, but could if using small headspace.jonnys_spirit wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 2:53 pm Yep I've used those. I'd get the dolly too and a lid so it's easy to move around. You don't really need to put it into a larger can/warm water bath.
Cheers!
-jonny
55g blue barrel would be better though.
Are you able to get 2 still charges to fit in the 32g brute? I will be doing similar and filling boiler then draining boiling water into the brute over the cracked corn. That's why worried about the boiling water.jonnys_spirit wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:14 pm Yes. Please be careful with the paint stirrer drill gun. I dump about 15-16 gallons boiling water in because that’s my boiler capacity and mash the batch with that then top up with 8 gallons or so once it’s all converted and somewhat cooled so i’m not filling it with boiling water. Just about 1/2 way but I do let it all sit for maybe 24h insulated and it keeps the temp well. It does really work well but I’ll upgrade to a 50gal blue HDPE barrel someday just for more mash and ferment capacity.
Cheers!
-jonny
Sugar/molasses, yes, grain, no.ddizzle22 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 2:02 pmAre you able to get 2 still charges to fit in the 32g brute? I will be doing similar and filling boiler then draining boiling water into the brute over the cracked corn. That's why worried about the boiling water.jonnys_spirit wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:14 pm Yes. Please be careful with the paint stirrer drill gun. I dump about 15-16 gallons boiling water in because that’s my boiler capacity and mash the batch with that then top up with 8 gallons or so once it’s all converted and somewhat cooled so i’m not filling it with boiling water. Just about 1/2 way but I do let it all sit for maybe 24h insulated and it keeps the temp well. It does really work well but I’ll upgrade to a 50gal blue HDPE barrel someday just for more mash and ferment capacity.
Cheers!
-jonny
Hi ddizzle22,ddizzle22 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 2:02 pmAre you able to get 2 still charges to fit in the 32g brute? I will be doing similar and filling boiler then draining boiling water into the brute over the cracked corn. That's why worried about the boiling water.jonnys_spirit wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:14 pm Yes. Please be careful with the paint stirrer drill gun. I dump about 15-16 gallons boiling water in because that’s my boiler capacity and mash the batch with that then top up with 8 gallons or so once it’s all converted and somewhat cooled so i’m not filling it with boiling water. Just about 1/2 way but I do let it all sit for maybe 24h insulated and it keeps the temp well. It does really work well but I’ll upgrade to a 50gal blue HDPE barrel someday just for more mash and ferment capacity.
Cheers!
-jonny
Yeah I need to look into corn flour just afraid would be a hassle trying to strain. Im new to AG and looking at the bourbon recipes in the tried and true. Easiest option seems draining the boiling water over the corn for conversion. My boiler is a keg so looking for a way to mash in a container big enough. If could get 2 still charges that would be a plus.jonnys_spirit wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 2:18 pmHi ddizzle22,ddizzle22 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 2:02 pmAre you able to get 2 still charges to fit in the 32g brute? I will be doing similar and filling boiler then draining boiling water into the brute over the cracked corn. That's why worried about the boiling water.jonnys_spirit wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:14 pm Yes. Please be careful with the paint stirrer drill gun. I dump about 15-16 gallons boiling water in because that’s my boiler capacity and mash the batch with that then top up with 8 gallons or so once it’s all converted and somewhat cooled so i’m not filling it with boiling water. Just about 1/2 way but I do let it all sit for maybe 24h insulated and it keeps the temp well. It does really work well but I’ll upgrade to a 50gal blue HDPE barrel someday just for more mash and ferment capacity.
Cheers!
-jonny
I just use one still charge of boiling water to mash in the 32g with the full grain bill then top up next day to about 2/3 - 3/4 full and/or SG of 1060 to 1070. When I squeeze after ferment I might be able to get about 18 gallons or three carboys full... I leave good headspace in the fermenter so the cap doesn't overflow... So estimating something like 2'ish -to- 2.5'ish # grain/gallon or so to get to 1060-1070 range... I'll look in my notebook tonight to see what I've done in the 32 gallon brute for total grains and mash/top-up water. 2.5 starts to get a little thick to mash easily at least with corn...
It's sort of an estimate because over the course of a batch it could be a small handful or so of mash/ferment/strips to collect all the low wines for a spirit run or two. I buy all the grain for that batch then eyeball it for each mash and it all gets stripped and blended and spirit run then fractioned and blended/cut back together so being too exact on each mash/ferment isn't too important by the time you're done with the batch...
Corn flour will give better conversion than cracked. Squeezing isn't really that bad if you roll up your sleeves and don't mind getting a little mucky.
Cheers!
-jonny
I really like your thinking. I will look into the 55g blue containers i see popping up from time to time. Most of my time is spent indoors however so that might not be a bad idea if you said the 32g brute fits inside with half water.ShineonCrazyDiamond wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 3:53 pm I can do either 3 or 4 strippings to get a full spirit run.
Here's a good schedule.
Get (2) 55 gallon blue barrels, and (2) 32 gallon brut cans. In the summer, make your grain recipes in the blue barrels. You'll be able to get three charges from each barrel. The weather's good, so no need for insulation. Then in the winter, fill the blue barrels half way with water, and put an aquarium heater and a small pond pump in there. Put the Brut cans inside the blue barrels - they fit perfect. This will keep your ferment perfectly warm through the winter. Make your sugar washes and rum in the bruts in the winter. Each Brut will give you 2 charges.
This allows for a full spirit run from the strippings of 1 blue barrel in the summer, and both Bruts in the winter. The loss of capacity in the winter is offset by the lack of need for grain room with sugar washes. Plus you can ferment rums in the 90s in the dead of winter.
All about the long term planning
Is anybody just putting an aquarium heater directly in the mash/ wash?ShineonCrazyDiamond wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 3:53 pm Then in the winter, fill the blue barrels half way with water, and put an aquarium heater and a small pond pump in there. Put the Brut cans inside the blue barrels - they fit perfect.
I used to. Burns the grains around it, and doesn't heat evenly. Warm in the bottom middle, cold everywhere else. Plus, if you break it in the mash...Hambone wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 4:05 pmIs anybody just putting an aquarium heater directly in the mash/ wash?ShineonCrazyDiamond wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 3:53 pm Then in the winter, fill the blue barrels half way with water, and put an aquarium heater and a small pond pump in there. Put the Brut cans inside the blue barrels - they fit perfect.
Wow, didn't realize they got that hot. Looking to expand to year round this winter. Thanks for the tip!ShineonCrazyDiamond wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 4:06 pmI used to. Burns the grains around it, and doesn't heat evenly. Warm in the bottom middle, cold everywhere else. Plus, if you break it in the mash...Hambone wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 4:05 pmIs anybody just putting an aquarium heater directly in the mash/ wash?ShineonCrazyDiamond wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 3:53 pm Then in the winter, fill the blue barrels half way with water, and put an aquarium heater and a small pond pump in there. Put the Brut cans inside the blue barrels - they fit perfect.
Really?? I've never had an issue in mine. I'm using two in parallel perhaps that makes a difference.ShineonCrazyDiamond wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 4:06 pmI used to. Burns the grains around it, and doesn't heat evenly. Warm in the bottom middle, cold everywhere else. Plus, if you break it in the mash...Hambone wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 4:05 pmIs anybody just putting an aquarium heater directly in the mash/ wash?ShineonCrazyDiamond wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 3:53 pm Then in the winter, fill the blue barrels half way with water, and put an aquarium heater and a small pond pump in there. Put the Brut cans inside the blue barrels - they fit perfect.