How long can a sugar wash sit?

Billy Joe Jim Bob · Post by **Billy Joe Jim Bob** » Wed May 11, 2005 11:08 am

I have a sugar wash that's done fermentin' and I just can't get the time to run it. How long can it sit before somethin' bad happens? Can it turn to vinegar? I used 14# sugar and Turbo Yeast in 6 gals of water and it's resting in a dark 60 degree room....BJJB

The Chemist · Post by **The Chemist** » Wed May 11, 2005 12:05 pm

Billy Joe Jim Bob wrote: Can it turn to vinegar?

Yes. Hmmm, seems I've heard this before. Check the post thread about "time from ferment to distill".

Billy Joe Jim Bob · Post by **Billy Joe Jim Bob** » Fri May 13, 2005 8:39 am

Hi Chemist: I thought I saw something like that a while back. Thanks for pointing the right direction. In fact, It might be good to let it sit a while, another post in another string somewhere, someone said the run tasted better once it settled out. We will try to see if that's the case soon. I hope to run some on the weekend. Thanks again for the heads up....BJJB

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 14, 2005 3:22 pm

i heard if you let it sit for a lil while it improves the end product also. i also heard that some bacteria turns alcohol into acid(vinegar)

The Chemist · Post by **The Chemist** » Sun May 15, 2005 6:21 am

Right, that can happen (the vinegar bit). I recommended before that you add a liter or so of store-bought vodka, or Everclear, to raise the proof a bit to prevent bacterial infection. Some of those bacteria are more alcohol tolerent than our yeasts.

Virginia Gentleman · Post by **Virginia Gentleman** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:59 am

On a similar thread, I've got a rum wash (molasses and brown sugar) that finished about a week ago, but I've been sick as a dog and not able to run it. Plus with the head stuffed up I couldn't smell or tatste a damn thing which makes it kinda hard to make cuts and such. So question is, has this wash sat too long? No vinegar smell, and it tastes all right. No obvious contamination. Any other way I should check it before I run it? Glad to be back amongst the living.

The Chemist · Post by **The Chemist** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:22 am

Glad to see you back, VG. I have run beer fermentations up to about a month (sometimes longer, if they have a lot of honey), so if you don't have any off smells, I'd say it's okay. Assuming it's covered, has a fermentation lock, etc.

Virginia Gentleman · Post by **Virginia Gentleman** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:32 am

Thanks Chemist, I hate being sick during warm weather. Seriously cuts down on the dirnking too! Anyhow, it should be OK. It's covered, has a lock, and I've only opened occasionally to check smell/taste. So I reckon I'll run it tonight and see!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 17, 2005 12:05 pm

Virginia Gentleman wrote:Seriously cuts down on the dirnking too!

"Dirnking"?

Ready for the kudzu?

Virginia Gentleman · Post by **Virginia Gentleman** » Tue May 17, 2005 12:15 pm

Makin' up for lost time!

brett · Post by **brett** » Wed May 18, 2005 4:42 am

surely its the same as wine? as long as it was brewed well (everything steralised first and campden tablets used(be sure there disolved before u add the yeast)) its all sealed up good and not open to the air then you wont get vinegar and nothing will happen, the brew will just age and the flavour may improve. Vinegar will only occur if the intial process is poor allowing contanimation before or during fermentation or if the finished brew is alowed to breath the oxygen containing bacteria. If you wish to keep the brew/mash a some time before stilling it i would recomend syphoning it of the yeast/dirt at the bootom of the fermentation vessle (as this can give a bad taste) pop in a crushed campden tablet n cork it up (demijohns would be a good thing here)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 18, 2005 6:42 am

I don't think I would add camden tablets. You don't want to introduce more sulphor into the mix before distilling.

The Chemist · Post by **The Chemist** » Wed May 18, 2005 6:54 am

Brett makes a good point above. If you're going to let a wash/fermentation sit awhile, it is better to get it off the yeast lees. They will autolyze and cause funky smells/flavors.

Guest is also correct in saying that you should stay away from sulfur if you're planning to distill.

Josesillo · Post by **Josesillo** » Wed May 18, 2005 8:10 pm

brett wrote: (demijohns would be a good thing here)

what is a demijohn, i have senn them some where, and recall the name but i just cant figure out what they are for or how they work

Post by **Grayson_Stewart** » Wed May 18, 2005 8:22 pm

Demijohns I've seen were large teardrop shaped glass carboys.

Virginia Gentleman · Post by **Virginia Gentleman** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:26 am

Something like this, although there are many varieties:

KatoFong · Post by **KatoFong** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:29 am

That's pretty. What's its purpose?

brett · Post by **brett** » Thu May 19, 2005 8:27 am

the demijohns im refering to are more like this

and there use is in winemaking to ferment a 1 gallon batch of wine (with a big rubber bung and bubbler), most if not all places that sell wine making equipment sell these (at least they do in the uk) and more recently a plastic variety is being used (like a supermarket square 1 gal water bottle) but i prefer the glass option both for fermenting and storing, i just syphon out into a bottle when i want one.

Virginia Gentleman · Post by **Virginia Gentleman** » Mon May 23, 2005 6:48 am

The rum turned out just fine, and in fact got all drunk up the night after I made it, no falvoring or aging, just straight 54% abv rum. Seems like the extra "rest" didn't hurt the wash at all.

Billy Joe Jim Bob · Post by **Billy Joe Jim Bob** » Tue May 24, 2005 4:35 pm

I finally got to my sugar wash and it ran fine. Sitting didn't hurt it, nor did it appreciably help it....BJJB

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How long can a sugar wash sit?

How long can a sugar wash sit?

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