Well I've come to the end of my first fermentation and have something which looks, smells and tastes like not-so-great beer with a SG of 0.99. I used the DWWG recipe with plain old bread yeast and substituting brown sugar and toasted wheat germ. I've siphoned everything as close to the yeast cake as I could get (running it all through coffee filters) and I'm going to let it settle out for another 24 hrs or so, but would you all recommend my using one of the special clearing products?
The wort doesn't taste sweet to me at all and I'd say it's about as clear as your average hefeweizen. My still is an offset head valved reflux variety and with these first runs I'm going a neutral spirit to turn into vodka or gin. Any reason to make it super clear or is it just going to be a waste of time/money?
Thanks
To clear or not to clear?
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I'm new to this as well but from what I've read you didn't need to use this recepie if your looking for a neutral wash. Its for more of a scotch. If your looking for a Vodka you just need a basic sugar wash. No wheat germ.
That said I don't think you have to clear it. Your just going to boil the booze out of it anyway.
I'm sure the more experianced will chime in.
That said I don't think you have to clear it. Your just going to boil the booze out of it anyway.
I'm sure the more experianced will chime in.
If you don't clear it or let it clear on its own then I would do a stripping run first then do a spirit run. You have a reflux column, so just open her all the way up and don't worry about collecting heads and tails and stuff, just push it. Then dilute and run again separating the heads and tails. You are going to strip the flavor out with a reflux column anyway. If you want the flavor of your DWWG you need a pot still.
Shine on you crazy diamonds!!