Hello From Another Newby

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:40 pm

Just a hello to all. I've been lurking in the background for quite some time.

After reading on and off for a couple of years, I finally decided to build my first still. It's a "hybrid" pot still using a 16 gal. keg and a 2" dia. by 18" tall column. Also with a half inch jacketed in 1" condenser, what you all call a liebig or something like that, it's 32" long. My lyne arm is 1" dia. about 14" long reducing to half inch where it goes into the condenser. I connect this to the keg using a tri-clover fitting. My only worries are cleaning the keg through the small hole. Carboy brush?

I've been making all grain beer for about 7 years now, but this year hops are so hard to come by, I've decided to make a little hobby switch, and man this is exciting! And I just love a little taste of the good stuff when I can get it. Hopefully, that will be more often soon.

After running some cheap wine through the system without a hitch, I'll be running off my first mash this weekent if it finishes in time. I mashed 50% corn, 30% malted barley, and 20% malted wheat, distillers yeast. I had to add sugar to get it to the O.G. I wanted, but it sure smells and tastes good fermenting. I've also got some UJSM fermenting. On it I soured half the corn first hoping for a decent product on the first or second run.

Sorry for the rambling. I look forward to sharing info with you all.

CoopsOz · Post by **CoopsOz** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:48 pm

G'day, it sounds like you are well on the way........you'll probably never make beer again!

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:55 pm

That's what I'm afraid of Coop. Mashing grain seems so much easier when I know it's going into the still. Fermenting on the grain is a great thing also, I wouldn't dream of doing that with beer. The UJSM is soooo simple and it has that great sour taste right out of the fermenter. I can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Ricky · Post by **Ricky** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:58 pm

sounds pretty good for a first post. let us know how it works out. good luck to you and welcome to the site.

CoopsOz · Post by **CoopsOz** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:00 pm

My advise when you run the UJSM ( I only say this as my still is similar to yours in regards to the 2" column) is collect your hearts from about 67% down to 53%. You will get about 1L of heads from a 30L UJSM @ about 10%, it's better to waste some of the good stuff than it is to contaminate the entire run.

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:07 pm

Yeah, Coops. I plan to collect in many smaller containers and let air out over night, and make my cuts the next day. My still looks very similar to the one you have pictured below your user name.

Thanks Ricky, I'll be posting more as I go. I've been "hooked" for a while now.

I think that all of my malted grain on hand for making beer has a new destination!

Hey Coops, are you using any scrubbers in that column?

Thanks to everyone for all the good info here.

punkin · Post by **punkin** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:36 pm

Its so good to hear from someone has done the research and is trying after reading all the info, instead of asking all the stoopid questions

A bit like me when i started a few months ago, but you're heaps better...more advanced on your first run than i am now

Run the whiskey twice, it's heaps easieer to make cuts, is the only advice i got 4 you

WishIWasThatThouroghPunkin

Post by **blanikdog** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:40 pm

Well done Mac. Welcome.

blanik

Post by **HookLine** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:50 pm

Welcome aboard. Sounds like you got everything under control, and are having some good times.

Let us know how it turns out.