Continuous Operation

[partsbill]

History tells me that whenever I find a hobby , I usually run with it. Current operations are:

5- 7 gallon fermenters of "sour mash moonshine"

Initially started with only horsefeed but now use a mix of feed and corn. Standard mix is 5 lbs of feed and 2 of corn in the fermenter alond with the bottom 2 inches of wort from the previous fermentation. Added to this is 2 gallons of backset and 7 lbs of sugar. Haven't added yeast(Fleishmans) in a couple of weeks. Ferments in 5 days.....seems to be finishing in more like 3 1/2 now that its warmer here.

I distill normally 1 batch per nite. Homemade still consisting of a steel enameled pot from Walmart...21 liters.. and a 2" column potstill. Out to a 1/2 inch tube running thru an 18" leibig condenser. Thermometer on top placed thru a cork. Normally start collecting @85 degrees and continue to 95 degrees. After tossing first 50ml, collection consists of generally 3 liters or so of hootch. I once broke it down to the first liter; @62% which went into my barrel(see previous post). The rest went for simple moon, collecting down to an average of 50%. Whole operation takes @ 3 hours from charging still to cutting off propane and going inside.

My bourbon friends tell me it makes great after-dinner sipping bourbon(from the barrel), while my shine friends tell me its the best they've ever had.

This very minute I'm at 86.4 degrees and the first liter(after the toss) is coming in at @73%.

The future: who knows???

I'll probably collect a bunch of shine in the 110 proof range to put up on some of the peach brandy recipes I've seen. My neighbor has 4 big pear trees so I'm sure they will come into play sometime this summer. My brother-in-law is an Irish Whiskey drinker so I'll also probably try some with a major portion of barley and a separate cask.

But then again...who knows?? I may grow tired of it, sell everything(equipment) and move on to bigger and better things.

I would like to point out, that since I've become part of this forum, criticism had been non-exsistent and helpful, benfiting explanation has been the rule. Much better that most forums I frequent. Thanks to all for making this an enteresting hobby.

Partsbill

[possum]

Glad you're getting such good results.
I found that most folks who don't act like trolls get good responses, but troublemakers and weiners usually get ignored.

I'm glad our hootch is satisfying to your fanbase (yourself, and your comrads).


Cheers